Embracing Our Mission: Messengers of Grace and Truth

 

Summary

In today's reflection on Luke 10:1-21, we explore the profound calling Jesus extends to His disciples, emphasizing the mission, message, and motivation that define our journey as followers of Christ. Jesus appoints 72 disciples, sending them out with a mission to prepare the way for His coming, illustrating that every believer is called to be a messenger of the Gospel. This passage challenges us to consider the legitimacy and necessity of publicly sharing our faith, urging us to embrace our role in God's mission.

The mission is clear: we are sent out like lambs among wolves, tasked with healing, proclaiming the nearness of God's kingdom, and embodying the love and grace of Christ. This mission is not reserved for clergy alone but is a calling for every believer, symbolized by the 72 disciples representing all nations. Our experiences, joys, and even sorrows uniquely equip us to meet specific needs and touch lives in ways only we can.

The message we carry is the Gospel, the good news of a history-changing event that demands a response. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are not mere advice but a transformative reality that alters the course of history. As messengers, we are called to share this truth with urgency and compassion, recognizing that withholding it would be unloving and contrary to the very essence of the Gospel.

However, the motivation behind our mission is crucial. Jesus warns against finding our identity in our accomplishments or the power we wield. Instead, He calls us to rejoice that our names are written in heaven, grounding our identity in His grace rather than our performance. This perspective fosters humility, courage, and gentleness, enabling us to engage with others without coercion or pride.

Ultimately, our mission is to re-weave the fabric of the world, addressing both spiritual and physical needs with empathy and love. As we embrace our sentness, we are reminded that our true joy and security lie in the grace of God, which assures us of our place in His kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- Mission and Sentness: Every disciple is called to a mission, sent out to prepare the way for Christ. This mission involves healing, proclaiming the kingdom, and embodying Christ's love, emphasizing that our unique experiences equip us to meet specific needs. [07:49]

- The Gospel as a Transformative Message: The Gospel is not just advice but a history-changing event that demands a response. As messengers, we are called to share this truth with urgency and compassion, recognizing its transformative power. [15:09]

- Motivation Rooted in Grace: Jesus warns against finding our identity in accomplishments or power. Instead, we are to rejoice that our names are written in heaven, grounding our identity in His grace, which fosters humility and courage. [24:21]

- Engaging with Empathy and Love: Our mission involves addressing both spiritual and physical needs with empathy and love. We are called to be gentle, courageous, and empathetic, reflecting the grace we have received. [36:05]

- Rejoicing in God's Grace: True joy and security lie in the grace of God, which assures us of our place in His kingdom. This perspective enables us to engage with others without coercion or pride, re-weaving the fabric of the world. [34:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-21
- [03:30] - Shift in Theme: Who is Jesus?
- [04:06] - Disciples as Messengers
- [05:07] - Mission: Sent Like Lambs Among Wolves
- [06:36] - Authority Given to All Disciples
- [07:49] - Significance of the 72
- [09:03] - Called In, Sent Out
- [11:02] - Unique Mission for Each Disciple
- [12:15] - Message: The Gospel
- [14:13] - The Challenge of Public Faith
- [16:12] - The Gospel as History-Changing News
- [19:07] - The Necessity of Conversion
- [23:22] - Motivation: Rejoice in Heaven
- [30:08] - The Gospel's Assurance
- [34:54] - Rejoicing in Grace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 10:1-21

Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did Jesus give to the 72 disciples when He sent them out? ([00:33])
2. How did the disciples react upon returning from their mission, and what was Jesus' response to their joy? ([02:35])
3. What does Jesus emphasize as the true source of joy for His disciples? ([24:21])
4. How does Jesus describe the relationship between the disciples' mission and the kingdom of God? ([18:56])

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "sent out like lambs among wolves," and how does this metaphor relate to the mission of the disciples? ([00:47])
2. How does the concept of "rejoicing that your names are written in heaven" shape a disciple's identity and motivation? ([24:21])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Gospel is a "history-changing event" rather than just advice? ([15:09])
4. How does Jesus' warning against finding identity in accomplishments challenge common societal values? ([24:21])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways do you feel "sent" by Jesus in your daily interactions? How can you embrace this sense of mission more fully? ([07:49])
2. Consider a time when you hesitated to share your faith publicly. What fears or challenges did you face, and how can you overcome them in the future? ([14:13])
3. How can you ensure that your motivation for serving others is rooted in grace rather than personal achievement or recognition? ([24:21])
4. Identify a specific need in your community that you feel uniquely equipped to address. What steps can you take this week to begin meeting that need? ([11:29])
5. Think about a recent situation where you felt inadequate or self-absorbed. How can the assurance that your name is written in heaven change your perspective in similar situations? ([10:00])
6. How can you practice engaging with others with empathy and love, especially those who may reject your message or beliefs? ([36:05])
7. Reflect on the idea of "re-weaving the fabric of the world." What practical actions can you take to address both spiritual and physical needs in your sphere of influence? ([09:24])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Sentness
The mission Jesus gives to His disciples is not just for a select few but for every believer. In Luke 10:1-21, Jesus appoints 72 disciples to go ahead of Him, preparing the way for His coming. This act symbolizes the universal call to all believers to be messengers of the Gospel. We are sent out like lambs among wolves, tasked with healing, proclaiming the nearness of God's kingdom, and embodying the love and grace of Christ. Our unique experiences, joys, and even sorrows equip us to meet specific needs and touch lives in ways only we can. This mission is not about personal glory but about participating in God's redemptive work in the world. [07:49]

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of God's love and grace today? How can you step out in faith to share it with them?


Day 2: The Gospel's Transformative Power
The Gospel is not merely advice or a set of moral guidelines; it is a history-changing event that demands a response. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection have altered the course of history, offering a transformative reality that we are called to share with urgency and compassion. As messengers, withholding this truth would be unloving and contrary to the essence of the Gospel. The urgency of our message is rooted in its power to change lives and bring hope to a broken world. We are called to be bold in our proclamation, trusting in the Holy Spirit to work through us. [15:09]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: What is one way you can share the transformative message of the Gospel with someone this week? How can you do so with both urgency and compassion?


Day 3: Grounding Our Identity in Grace
Jesus warns against finding our identity in our accomplishments or the power we wield. Instead, He calls us to rejoice that our names are written in heaven, grounding our identity in His grace rather than our performance. This perspective fosters humility, courage, and gentleness, enabling us to engage with others without coercion or pride. Our true worth and security lie in the grace of God, which assures us of our place in His kingdom. This understanding frees us from the need to prove ourselves and allows us to serve others selflessly. [24:21]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to find your identity in accomplishments or power? How can you shift your focus to rejoice in the grace of God instead?


Day 4: Engaging with Empathy and Love
Our mission involves addressing both spiritual and physical needs with empathy and love. We are called to be gentle, courageous, and empathetic, reflecting the grace we have received. This means being present with others in their struggles, offering support and hope, and being willing to listen and understand. As we engage with the world, we are to embody the love of Christ, showing compassion and kindness to all we encounter. This approach not only meets immediate needs but also points others to the ultimate source of hope and healing. [36:05]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: How can you show empathy and love to someone in need today? What practical steps can you take to reflect Christ's compassion in your interactions?


Day 5: Rejoicing in God's Grace
True joy and security lie in the grace of God, which assures us of our place in His kingdom. This perspective enables us to engage with others without coercion or pride, re-weaving the fabric of the world with empathy and love. As we embrace our sentness, we are reminded that our ultimate joy is found not in our achievements but in the grace we have received. This joy empowers us to live boldly and generously, trusting in God's provision and guidance as we participate in His mission. [34:54]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: What are some ways you can cultivate a deeper sense of joy in God's grace today? How can this joy influence the way you interact with others and approach your daily tasks?

Quotes


The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the lord of the harvest therefore to send out workers into the harvest field. Go, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or a bag or sandals and do not greet anyone on the road. [00:30:40]

Every disciple of Jesus is given a message to publicly communicate, urging everyone to believe it. And I want you to know that there is no more hot issue than the one we're about to look at here. It's a hot issue in our society. Is that even legitimate to do? [00:27:28]

A disciple is someone who's called radically in. You don't just know God from afar, you know him intimately. To be a disciple means to go radically in to experience closeness to God through Christ, intimacy, to be healed, to be blessed. So to be disciples to be called radically in. [00:47:52]

I only bless you to be a blessing. I only call you radically in so they can send you radically out into the world no longer to focus on your needs but the needs of others, and they go together. You know, every time God says Abraham come on in I want to bless you get out. [00:50:39]

Your experiences, not just your joys but even your sorrows, your race, your age, your gender, your gift mix, all those things mean put together have shaped you so there are some hands out there that only you can hold. There are some needs that only you can meet. [01:12:32]

The Gospel is not just advice but a history-changing event that demands a response. As messengers, we are called to share this truth with urgency and compassion, recognizing its transformative power. To not take that news out to every creature would be the ultimate in wickedness. [01:19:52]

Rejoice not that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. What is Jesus doing there? Now here's what he's saying. He is saying there is a kind of motivation for absolute religious claims for ministry for going out and teaching the truth. [01:48:48]

The Gospel is your name is already written down. How could that be? Past tense your name is written. My life's not over yet. We haven't found out how well they're going to live, and Jesus says that's what the Gospel is. The Gospel is don't rejoice in what you do. [01:79:44]

The Gospel is you're already in, you're already accepted. There's a res you know you go to the you go to the restaurant which is the nicest classiest restaurant in all of New York and you can't believe you're going and you walk up in and the maitre d says yes. [01:81:28]

If you're rejoicing in being a great mother or a great father so that's how I know I'm somebody or a great minister or a great social worker a great anything you're helping people then you're going to find that when people don't listen to you, you're going to freak out. [01:86:88]

Rejoice not in your power in your gifts, rejoice not in your accomplishments, rejoice not but rejoice that your names are written in heaven, rejoice in grace and then he gives a great example, he says then Jesus Christ full of joy through the Holy Spirit. [02:94:08]

If you rejoice in anything but the grace of God that writes your name down in heaven, if you're anything you rejoice in as your your blessings will become your curses. The only thing you can rejoice in that will re-weave the social fabric and not desert you in the end. [02:86:56]

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Transcript
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