From Disciples to Apostles: Embracing Our Mission

 

Summary

In our study of Luke 9:1-9, we encounter a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, marking a significant transition for His disciples. Jesus calls the twelve disciples and empowers them with authority over demons and the ability to heal diseases. This moment signifies their transformation from disciples, or learners, into apostles, those who are sent with a mission. The distinction between a disciple and an apostle is crucial; while a disciple learns, an apostle is commissioned to act on behalf of the one who sends them. Jesus, the supreme apostle sent by the Father, now sends His apostles with His authority to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

Jesus instructs His apostles to travel light, relying on the hospitality of those they encounter. This directive emphasizes the urgency and reliance on God's provision. The apostles are to stay in one house per village, not seeking better accommodations, highlighting the importance of contentment and focus on their mission. Jesus also introduces a sobering concept: if a village rejects them, they are to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against that place. This act, rooted in Jewish tradition, symbolizes the rejection of paganism and serves as a warning of the consequences of rejecting God's message.

The passage underscores the finite nature of God's patience. While God is long-suffering, there is a limit to His forbearance. The story of Noah's flood and the warnings in Revelation illustrate that there comes a time when God gives impenitent sinners over to their sin. This serves as a stark reminder that we must not delay our repentance or take God's grace for granted. The call to repentance is urgent, and the consequences of rejecting the gospel are severe. We are urged to respond to God's call today, lest we find ourselves hardened and beyond the reach of His grace.

Key Takeaways:

- The transition from disciple to apostle marks a significant shift in responsibility and authority. As apostles, the twelve are sent with the authority of Christ, emphasizing the importance of being both a learner and a doer in the faith. [02:40]

- Jesus' instruction to travel light and rely on hospitality teaches us about dependence on God and the community of believers. It challenges us to trust in God's provision and to focus on our mission without being encumbered by material concerns. [09:24]

- The act of shaking the dust off one's feet serves as a powerful symbol of rejecting those who reject God's message. It reminds us of the seriousness of rejecting the gospel and the consequences that follow. [11:31]

- God's patience, while immense, is not infinite. The stories of Noah and the warnings in Revelation highlight the reality that there is a point of no return for those who persist in rejecting God. This calls us to urgent repentance and commitment. [14:14]

- The hardening of hearts is a real danger for those who repeatedly reject the gospel. Each rejection makes it more difficult to respond to God's call, leading to a state where one is given over to their sin. We must heed the call to repentance today. [19:44]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Reading of Luke 9:1-9
- [01:10] - Introduction to the Passage
- [01:46] - Prayer for Understanding
- [02:40] - Transition from Disciples to Apostles
- [03:30] - The Meaning of Apostleship
- [04:26] - Authority of the Apostles
- [05:22] - Rejection of Apostolic Authority
- [06:05] - Power and Authority Given by Christ
- [06:59] - Preaching the Kingdom of God
- [08:36] - Instructions for the Journey
- [09:24] - Traveling Light and Dependence
- [10:02] - Hospitality and Mission
- [10:42] - Shaking the Dust Off
- [11:31] - The Symbolism of Dust
- [14:14] - The Limits of God's Patience
- [17:05] - The Urgency of Repentance
- [19:44] - The Danger of a Hardened Heart
- [20:27] - A Plea for Repentance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 9:1-9

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific instructions did Jesus give to the apostles regarding their journey and provisions? [00:26]
2. How does the sermon describe the transition from being a disciple to becoming an apostle? [02:40]
3. What is the significance of the apostles being given authority over demons and the ability to heal diseases? [06:05]
4. What does the act of shaking the dust off one's feet symbolize, according to the sermon? [11:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the difference between a disciple and an apostle, and why is this distinction important for understanding the passage? [03:30]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' instructions to travel light and rely on hospitality challenge modern believers? [09:24]
3. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of rejecting the gospel message, and how does this relate to the concept of God's patience? [14:14]
4. How does the sermon use the story of Noah's flood to illustrate the limits of God's patience? [17:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to step out in faith with limited resources. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Jesus' instructions to the apostles? [09:24]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be delaying repentance. What steps can you take today to address these areas and respond to God's call? [15:21]
3. How can you cultivate a mindset of contentment and focus on your mission, as the apostles were instructed to do? What practical changes can you make in your daily life to achieve this? [10:02]
4. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a situation where someone rejected the gospel message? How did it affect you, and what can you do to lovingly share the message with others? [11:31]
5. In what ways can you rely more on God's provision and the support of your faith community, rather than being encumbered by material concerns? [09:24]
6. How can you ensure that your heart remains open and responsive to God's call, avoiding the danger of a hardened heart? [19:44]
7. Identify one person in your life who may be resistant to the gospel. How can you engage them in a meaningful conversation about faith this week? [20:27]

Devotional

Day 1: Transition from Learner to Messenger
The transition from disciple to apostle marks a significant shift in responsibility and authority. As apostles, the twelve are sent with the authority of Christ, emphasizing the importance of being both a learner and a doer in the faith. This transformation is not just about gaining knowledge but about being entrusted with a mission. Jesus, the supreme apostle sent by the Father, now sends His apostles with His authority to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. This calling challenges us to move beyond passive learning to active participation in God's work. [02:40]

Hebrews 3:1 (ESV): "Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's mission today, moving from being just a learner to a messenger of His word?


Day 2: Dependence on God and Community
Jesus' instruction to travel light and rely on hospitality teaches us about dependence on God and the community of believers. It challenges us to trust in God's provision and to focus on our mission without being encumbered by material concerns. By instructing the apostles to stay in one house per village, Jesus emphasizes contentment and the importance of building genuine relationships. This reliance on others is a reminder that we are not meant to journey alone but to support and be supported by the community of faith. [09:24]

Philippians 4:19 (ESV): "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more for provision? How can you lean on your community for support in this area?


Day 3: The Seriousness of Rejecting the Gospel
The act of shaking the dust off one's feet serves as a powerful symbol of rejecting those who reject God's message. It reminds us of the seriousness of rejecting the gospel and the consequences that follow. This symbolic act, rooted in Jewish tradition, was a testimony against those who refused to accept the message of the kingdom. It serves as a warning that rejecting God's message is not a trivial matter and carries eternal consequences. [11:31]

Acts 13:51 (ESV): "But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who has rejected the gospel? How can you continue to pray for them and show them Christ's love despite their rejection?


Day 4: The Limits of God's Patience
God's patience, while immense, is not infinite. The stories of Noah and the warnings in Revelation highlight the reality that there is a point of no return for those who persist in rejecting God. This calls us to urgent repentance and commitment. We must not delay our response to God's call, as each moment of hesitation risks hardening our hearts further. The urgency of repentance is a reminder that God's grace is available now, but it should not be taken for granted. [14:14]

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV): "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been delaying repentance? What steps can you take today to turn back to God in that area?


Day 5: The Danger of a Hardened Heart
The hardening of hearts is a real danger for those who repeatedly reject the gospel. Each rejection makes it more difficult to respond to God's call, leading to a state where one is given over to their sin. We must heed the call to repentance today, recognizing that the opportunity to respond to God's grace is not guaranteed indefinitely. This is a call to examine our hearts and ensure that we remain open and responsive to God's voice. [19:44]

Hebrews 3:15 (ESV): "As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'"

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel your heart has become hardened? How can you invite God to soften your heart and renew your responsiveness to His voice?

Quotes

"Notice in verse 1 of chapter 9, Jesus called His twelve disciples. He summoned them. And He summoned them for a particular reason. And in this summation, we see a critically important transition in the lives of the twelve disciples. Now, the disciples are becoming apostles. Now, I've mentioned this before — that sometimes we have the tendency to think that, since the Scriptures speak of the twelve disciples and of the twelve apostles, that the terms 'disciple' and 'apostle' are mere synonyms, but that's not the case at all." [00:02:40]

"A disciple — in the Greek, the 'mathetes' — is a learner, a student; one who followed after Jesus, learning at His feet. But to be an apostle is something quite different. An apostle — the word means 'one who is sent' — is one who is commissioned and called by a superior (such as a king, or a general in the army, or, in this case, by the Lord of glory) and is sent out from those in supreme authority carrying the authority of the one who sent them." [00:03:30]

"Jesus selected, from His Twelve, twelve men whom He would send with His authority. As He would say elsewhere, 'He who receives you receives Me, and if they reject you, they are rejecting Me.' Now, of course, the first apostle in the New Testament — the supreme apostle in the New Testament — was Jesus Himself, who was very conscious that He had been sent by the Father." [00:04:34]

"So, here, Jesus calls the Twelve to Himself for this purpose: to give them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. They had no power in and of themselves. They had no authority in and of themselves. But the authority and power by which they were to exercise this ministry of healing and of preaching was by the power and authority of Christ who, now, distributes that power and authority to His apostles." [00:06:23]

"Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs' — plural — 'nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.' Now, one of the other Gospel writers has Jesus saying, 'Don't take a staff,' and so the critics say, 'Here's a contradiction.' Or they say, 'Do take a staff,' and Jesus is saying, 'Yes, you can have one staff, but not two.' One tunic, but not two tunics." [00:09:24]

"In other words, the mandate that Jesus is giving is, 'You're to go out there and travel light. You're to be on the move every moment, and you don't take anything to even meet your own basic needs.' And then He goes on to say that you're basically to depend upon the Jewish principle of hospitality that was part of the law of Moses; that, if a stranger is in your gates, you are to give shelter, and food, and hospitality to them." [00:09:47]

"Jesus says, 'And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.' Now, if you've never read the Bible — and that can't be true of anybody in here this morning — but, if you're not familiar with Scripture, you probably have heard of this idiomatic expression of 'shaking the dust off your feet.'" [00:11:31]

"Now, if we follow up on this, we see a scary concept that is found throughout Scripture — from Genesis to the book of Revelation — and that's this: that God and His patience and long-suffering will not last forever. And we have a tendency to postpone our repentance and say, 'I will be committed to God tomorrow. I will change my ways tomorrow. I will give my life to Christ tomorrow. But not yet.'" [00:14:14]

"But the Bible warns us that God's patience does not endure forever. There is a limit to it. And there may come a time in a person's life where it's too late. Now, before I say anything more about that, let me say I know at least five or six people personally who came to Christ on their deathbeds. They repented of their sins and came to Jesus in their dying moments." [00:15:49]

"Let us please not tempt the Lord in His grace and in His patience. I mean, there are people in this room who have heard the gospel time, after time, after time, after time, and, every time they hear it, their necks become more stiff, greater calluses come on their soul, their hearts are hardened and become like stone. You cannot hear the gospel and be neutral to it." [00:19:44]

"If you receive it, you enter into heaven forever. If you reject it, you've hardened your heart, and you are heaping up wrath against the Day of Wrath. And, even in this life, God may give you up, may give you over; which is poetic justice. He's saying, 'You don't want Me? Okay, you don't have to have Me. You love your sin more than you love Me? Go ahead. Take your sin.'" [00:20:27]

"So I plead with you today: do not ever expose yourself to the point where the Lord God Almighty will shake your dust from His feet." [00:20:58]

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Transcript
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