Radical Discipleship: Living for God's Global Mission

God has been incredibly faithful to our church, especially in the way He is moving among our students and young people. As we look at the growth and passion in our student and college ministries, it’s clear that our calling is not just to raise responsible kids with good morals, but to raise radical disciples who are willing to give their lives away for the sake of God’s mission. Our children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior—meant to be shaped and then sent out for a purpose far greater than comfort or achievement. This is a vision for every generation in our church: to see our lives, our families, and our resources leveraged for the fame and renown of Jesus.

We are not here to simply exist or chase after the American dream. Everything in our lives—marriage, parenting, business, education—can be used as a platform for the greater mission: spreading the gospel and making Jesus known. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 72 disciples as a preview of the global mission He would later give to the whole church. This number points back to the table of nations in Genesis 10, showing that God’s heart has always been for all peoples, all nations. The harvest is vast, but the laborers are few. Our first response must be to pray earnestly for God to raise up workers, and then to be willing to go ourselves, trusting in the provision and protection of our Shepherd.

Being sent on mission is not about our own comfort or strength. Jesus sends us out as lambs among wolves, which means we go in weakness, dependence, and trust—not in our own power, but in the care of our Shepherd. Our confidence is not in our ability, but in His faithfulness. We are called to proclaim peace and the nearness of God’s kingdom, knowing that some will receive and others will reject. Our responsibility is to faithfully share, not to force or manipulate.

For those who are not yet following Jesus, know that before you are sent on mission, you are the mission—God is pursuing your heart. For those who are believers, the call is to live on mission in every sphere of life, to pray for the nations, to give generously, and to consider whether God is calling you to take a radical step of obedience. Some of you may feel a burning in your heart for the nations or for church planting—don’t ignore that call. Surrender is costly, but it is worth it, because our lives are not our own; we have been crucified with Christ, and now live for Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Raising Radical Disciples, Not Just Good Kids Our aim is not simply to produce well-behaved children, but to shape young people who are willing to risk and sacrifice for the sake of God’s mission. Like arrows, our children are meant to be sent out, not kept for our own comfort. This vision challenges us to prioritize spiritual formation and mission over mere achievement or safety. [01:12]
• 2. The Mission Is Greater Than Our Pursuits Marriage, career, parenting, and personal goals are not the mission themselves, but platforms for the mission. God gives us these gifts not as ends, but as means to make Jesus known. We must continually ask whether we are using our lives to accumulate comfort or to advance the gospel. [06:04]
• 3. God’s Heart Is for All Nations The sending of the 72 in Luke 10 is a powerful reminder that God’s plan has always been global. The gospel is meant for every tribe, tongue, and nation, and the diversity of God’s kingdom displays His glory. Our church’s mission must reflect this heartbeat, praying and working to see the gospel reach the ends of the earth. [09:10]
• 4. Prayer Is the Engine of Mission Jesus commands us to pray earnestly for laborers because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Our prayers should be urgent, desperate, and specific—not just for our own needs, but for God’s glory among the nations. If our hearts are not moved to pray for the lost, we must ask God to ignite that fire within us. [14:07]
• 5. Sent as Lambs, Confident in the Shepherd Being sent as lambs among wolves means embracing weakness, vulnerability, and dependence on God. Our protection and provision are found in the Shepherd, not in our own strength. This posture frees us to take risks for the kingdom, knowing that our confidence is in Christ’s care and not in our own ability to control outcomes. [23:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:33] - Celebrating God’s Work in Student Ministry
• [01:12] - Raising Radical Kids for God’s Mission
• [02:23] - Back to School Weekend: Serving Together
• [03:33] - Our Purpose: More Than Possessions and Promotions
• [04:13] - The Parable of Two Dogs: Mission vs. Existence
• [06:04] - The True Mission: Using All of Life for God’s Glory
• [06:43] - Jesus Sends Us on His Mission
• [07:20] - The Harvest Is Plentiful, Laborers Are Few
• [09:10] - God’s Global Heart: The 72 and the Nations
• [12:14] - Praying Earnestly for Laborers
• [17:44] - The Unreached and the Urgency of Mission
• [19:34] - Radical Steps: Mission Pipelines and Sacrifice
• [23:48] - Sent as Lambs Among Wolves: Trusting the Shepherd
• [28:09] - College Students on Mission: Peace and Kingdom
• [32:06] - Application: You Are the Mission
• [34:35] - Practical Steps: Prayer, Giving, and Going
• [36:27] - Calling Out the Called: Surrender and Sacrifice
• [38:16] - The Cost and Joy of Surrender

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, what specific instructions does Jesus give to the 72 disciples as He sends them out? What are they supposed to say and do when they enter a house or a town?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus sending out exactly 72 disciples? ([09:10])
3. What does Jesus mean when He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”? How does the sermon illustrate this idea? ([07:20])
4. What does it mean to be sent out “as lambs among wolves,” and how does the sermon explain the difference between a lamb and a wolf? ([23:48])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says our children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior, meant to be shaped and sent out. What does this metaphor suggest about the purpose of parenting and discipleship in the church? ([01:12])
2. The pastor says that marriage, career, and parenting are not the mission themselves, but platforms for the mission. How does this change the way someone might view their daily life and responsibilities? ([06:04])
3. Why does Jesus command His followers to pray earnestly for more workers, instead of just telling them to go? What does this reveal about God’s heart and our dependence on Him? ([14:07])
4. The sermon talks about being sent in weakness and dependence, not in our own strength. How does this posture affect the way we approach sharing the gospel or serving others? ([23:48])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us not just to raise “good kids,” but radical disciples willing to risk and sacrifice for God’s mission. If you are a parent, what is one practical way you could shift your focus from comfort and achievement to spiritual formation and mission in your family? ([01:12])
2. Think about your current stage of life—marriage, work, school, parenting, retirement, etc. How could you use your situation as a platform for God’s mission, rather than seeing it as the end goal? ([06:04])
3. The pastor shared about praying earnestly for God to send out workers into the harvest. How often do you pray specifically for the nations, for missionaries, or for God to raise up people from our church? What could you do to make this a regular part of your life? ([14:07])
4. The sermon says we are sent as lambs among wolves, relying on the Shepherd for protection and provision. Is there an area where you feel weak or vulnerable in living out your faith? How could you trust God more in that area this week? ([23:48])
5. For those who feel a “burning in your heart” for the nations, church planting, or a radical step of obedience—what is holding you back from taking the next step? What would it look like to surrender and say, “Here I am, send me”? ([36:27])
6. The pastor mentioned using a 10:02 sticker as a reminder to pray for laborers at 10:02 each day. Would you be willing to set a daily reminder or find another way to pray regularly for God’s mission? What might help you remember? ([34:35])
7. The sermon says, “Before you are sent on mission, you are the mission—God is pursuing your heart.” If you are not yet following Jesus, what questions or hesitations do you have? If you are a believer, how can you help others see that God is pursuing them? ([32:06])