Living on Mission: Embracing Our Role as Ambassadors

Living on mission for Jesus is not reserved for a select few, but is the natural overflow of a heart transformed by Christ. Just as we instinctively share the things we love—our favorite restaurants, music, or family photos—so too should the love and freedom we’ve found in Jesus move us to share Him with others. Yet, it’s easy to lose our missional edge, becoming comfortable and distracted by the routines and responsibilities of life. The call is to ask God to break our hearts for those around us who do not know Him, to see our neighborhoods, workplaces, and social spaces as fields ready for harvest.

Jesus’ instructions in Luke 10 remind us that we are His ambassadors, sent intentionally into the places we already live, work, and play. We are not where we are by accident; God has sovereignly placed us to represent Him and to appeal to others to be reconciled to God. The spiritual need around us is great, but the workers are few. Jesus calls us to pray for more laborers, but not as spectators—He invites us to be part of the answer to that prayer.

Living on mission will bring opposition, but comfort and distraction are often greater threats to our faithfulness than outright resistance. Jesus urges us to fight for dependence on Him and to resist the pull of comfort and distraction that dulls our spiritual sensitivity. Rather than seeking to disrupt or force our way into people’s lives, we are to look for “people of peace”—those whom God is already drawing and who are open to spiritual conversations. Our role is not to initiate God’s work, but to discern and partner with what He is already doing.

Contentment and presence are also essential. Instead of constantly seeking the next upgrade or opportunity, we are called to be planted and present where God has us, trusting Him to provide and to use us right where we are. Ultimately, our identity is not found in our activity or perceived success, but in the unshakable truth that our names are written in heaven. This secure identity fuels our mission, freeing us from the need for results and anchoring us in God’s love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Ambassadors with Purpose: Every follower of Jesus is an ambassador, intentionally sent by God into their unique spheres of influence. Our lives are meant to represent Christ, not a political or cultural agenda, and we are called to appeal to others to be reconciled to God. Recognizing this purpose transforms ordinary routines into opportunities for eternal impact. [40:41]
• 2. Pray as Laborers, Not Spectators: The spiritual need around us is immense, but Jesus insists that the solution is not more spectators, but more laborers. When we pray for God to send workers, we must be willing to be part of the answer, stepping off the sidelines and into the mission field ourselves. Christianity is not a spectator sport; it is a call to active participation in God’s redemptive work. [46:47]
• 3. Dependence Over Comfort: Comfort and distraction are subtle enemies of mission, lulling us into spiritual apathy. Jesus calls us to fight for dependence on Him, stripping away self-reliance and the distractions that keep us from seeing and engaging with those around us. True spiritual awareness and missional living are born out of a posture of dependence and a willingness to be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel. [50:44]
• 4. Discernment, Not Disruption: Effective mission is less about forceful disruption and more about discerning where God is already at work. We are called to look for “people of peace”—those open to spiritual conversations—and to partner with God’s activity rather than trying to manufacture results. This approach requires sensitivity, patience, and a willingness to move on when doors are closed, trusting that God is orchestrating the harvest. [59:12]
• 5. Rooted in Identity, Not Activity: Our worth and motivation do not come from our missional achievements, but from our secure identity in Christ. Whether we experience visible success or apparent failure, our names are written in heaven, and that is our source of joy and confidence. This frees us to serve faithfully, knowing that God’s love and acceptance are not contingent on our performance. [69:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Gratitude for Partnership and Church Plant Update
• [03:10] - The Natural Overflow of Sharing What We Love
• [07:00] - Honest Confession: Losing Missional Edge
• [10:30] - The Challenge: Living on Mission in Everyday Life
• [13:30] - Luke 10: The First Mission Trip
• [16:00] - Point 1: Ambassadors for Christ
• [20:00] - Point 2: The Plentiful Harvest and Few Laborers
• [24:00] - Point 3: Expecting Opposition
• [28:00] - Point 4: Fighting for Dependence, Resisting Distraction
• [32:00] - Point 5: Pursuing People of Peace
• [38:00] - Point 6: Be Planted, Be Present, Trust God’s Provision
• [43:00] - Point 7: Resting in Identity, Not Activity
• [48:00] - Real-Life Stories and Application
• [54:00] - Prayer for Laborers and Closing Blessing

Bible Reading

Luke 10:1-12 (ESV) — After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 10:1-2, what does Jesus say about the harvest and the workers? What does he tell his followers to do in response?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be an “ambassador for Christ” in our everyday lives? [[40:41]]
3. What instructions does Jesus give about what to take (or not take) on the journey, and why do you think he says this? [[50:44]]
4. What is a “person of peace” according to Jesus’ instructions, and how are the disciples supposed to respond if they are not received? [[59:12]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus emphasize praying for more laborers instead of just sending the 72 out? What does this say about the role of prayer and participation in God’s mission? [[46:47]]
2. The sermon mentions that comfort and distraction are bigger threats to living on mission than outright opposition. Why might comfort be so dangerous to our spiritual lives? [[50:44]]
3. The idea of looking for “people of peace” is highlighted. How does this approach change the way someone might think about sharing their faith, compared to being disruptive or forceful? [[59:12]]
4. Jesus tells the disciples not to rejoice in their success but in their secure identity (“your names are written in heaven”). Why is this distinction important for someone living on mission? [[01:09:10]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to see our neighborhoods, workplaces, and social spaces as mission fields. What is one specific place in your life where you sense God might be calling you to be more intentional? What would it look like to live on mission there this week? [[40:41]]
2. When was the last time you prayed for someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus? What would it look like to ask God to “break your heart for what breaks his” regarding people around you? [[35:07]]
3. Are there areas in your life where comfort or distraction has dulled your spiritual sensitivity? What is one practical step you could take this week to fight for dependence on Jesus instead? [[50:44]]
4. Think about the idea of “people of peace.” Who in your life seems open to spiritual conversations or is inviting you in a little closer? How can you take a next step with them? [[59:12]]
5. The sermon talks about being “planted and present” instead of always looking for the next upgrade or opportunity. Is there a way you’ve been restless or discontent with where God has you? How can you practice contentment and presence this week? [[01:06:04]]
6. How does knowing your identity is secure in Christ (not based on your activity or success) free you to serve and share your faith without fear of failure or rejection? [[01:09:10]]
7. The pastor shared about a church “prayer and share” event where some people faced rejection but were encouraged to rest in their identity. Have you ever experienced rejection or discouragement when trying to live on mission? How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time? [[01:13:44]]