Sunday Livestream || Reach || Luke 10:1-12

God comforts grieving brothers and sisters as a good Father who stays near when life is going good and when life is not going so good. The church is called to come alongside hurting saints, to love on them, listen to them, help them, and serve them while they lament and cry, “Why, God?” God gives a real hope in grief, because those in Christ do not say goodbye as those without hope, but “see you soon,” through Jesus who died and rose again.

Luke 10 then sets the details for mission before the 72 go. Jesus sends not just the 12, but 72 others, showing that taking the gospel to the lost is not the job of a select few super Christians. The mission belongs to every disciple of Christ. Jesus says, “Go your way,” because the mission cannot be reduced to a “come and hear” model. The lost must hear the good news where they are.

Jesus sends the 72 two by two because the mission is best carried out together. Two witnesses support, encourage, and lift one another up. The king is coming, and the mission is radically urgent. The 72 go ahead of Jesus to ready people for his arrival, just as disciples now go ahead of his return. Jesus warns against getting caught up in long greetings and socializing, because people need saving and every minute matters.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. The world is full of souls headed toward judgment, and even Spearfish has thousands who need the gospel of Jesus Christ. The task is impossible in human strength, so the mission relies on the power of the Lord and requires earnest prayer to the Lord of the harvest. Evangelism is spiritual warfare, and prayer is one of the weapons that must be wielded.

Jesus sends lambs among wolves, so the mission is dangerous. Gospel proclamation will bring ridicule, hatred, persecution, and sometimes worse. Yet the mission still requires words. Good deeds may build a bridge, but homes, food, clothes, and wells do not save anyone from hell. The gospel must be proclaimed: Jesus died for sins, was buried, and rose on the third day.

The gospel requests a response. Some will mock, some will want to hear more, and some will repent and believe. When people reject the gospel, compassion must warn them about judgment. Jesus commissions and empowers disciples to dependently, compassionately, urgently, and faithfully proclaim the good news until the whole world hears.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Every disciple carries the mission Jesus sends the 72, not only the 12, so the work of gospel proclamation cannot be pushed off onto apostles, pastors, missionaries, or “super Christians.” A disciple who has repented and trusted Christ has also received responsibility from Christ. The call to make disciples is not an optional ministry interest, but part of belonging to the Lord who sends. [61:42]
• 2. The king is coming again The 72 entered towns before Jesus came, preparing people for his arrival. That same urgency rests on the church because Christ will come suddenly, like a thief in the night. Socializing can become disobedience when it replaces gospel proclamation, because there are no second chances at salvation after the Savior comes. [68:09]
• 3. Prayer is mission warfare The harvest is too large, the workers are too few, and the enemy is too active for mission to run on human confidence. Jesus commands earnest prayer to the Lord of the harvest because only God supplies workers, opens hearts, and saves souls. Gospel work is spiritual warfare, so prayer is not preparation around the edges, but dependence at the center. [75:48]
• 4. Compassion must look at lost people Jesus sees crowds with compassion because lost people are not numbers, projects, or interruptions. They are souls moving toward judgment unless grace rescues them. Looking at a town through the lens of eternity can break cold hearts and grow the kind of compassion that actually goes after people with the good news. [81:27]
• 5. Good works need gospel words Food, clothing, homes, and wells are good gifts, but none of them reconcile sinners to God. If gospel words are never spoken, kindness may leave a person more comfortable on the way to judgment. The greatest need is spiritual, and the power of salvation is the proclaimed good news of Christ crucified and risen.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [49:39] - Prayer for Grieving Families
• [54:12] - Mission From the Ends to Spearfish
• [57:39] - Luke 10 and the 72 Sent
• [61:22] - Mission Belongs to Every Disciple
• [64:20] - The Mission Requires Going
• [65:45] - Sent Together Two by Two
• [67:33] - The King Is Coming
• [70:06] - The Harvest Is Plentiful
• [74:36] - Power and Prayer Dependence
• [78:05] - Compassion for the Lost
• [82:24] - Lambs Among Wolves
• [83:49] - Gospel Proclamation and Response
• [90:17] - Warning Those Who Reject
• [93:28] - Launch Into Treacherous Waters

Bible Reading

Luke 10:1-12
“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.’” [57:39] [58:34]

Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Romans 10:13-15
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

Observation questions

1. In Luke 10:1-12, what details does Jesus give the 72 before they go, and what do those details show about how they were supposed to carry out the mission? [57:39]
2. What are some specific phrases in Luke 10 that show the mission is urgent, difficult, and dependent on God? [01:07:33]
3. According to Romans 10:13-15, what steps are necessary for a person to hear and respond to the gospel?
4. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, what are the core truths of the gospel message that must be proclaimed? [01:24:14]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus sent not only the 12 but also the 72. What does that seem to say about who is responsible for taking the gospel to the lost today? [01:01:42]
2. Jesus tells the 72 to go ahead of him into towns where he was about to come. How does that shape the way the church should think about living in light of Christ’s return? [01:08:09]
3. Jesus says the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, and then commands prayer. Why would prayer be the first command before action, and what does that reveal about evangelism? [01:15:48]
4. Jesus sends his people out as lambs among wolves. How should that warning shape expectations about rejection, hardship, and faithfulness in gospel ministry? [01:22:24]

Application questions

1. If every disciple carries responsibility for the mission, where is there a temptation to act like gospel witness belongs mainly to pastors, missionaries, or more outgoing Christians? What would repentance look like there? [01:04:20]
2. Jesus says, “Go your way.” Who are the actual people nearby that may need someone to go to them rather than waiting for them to come into a church setting? What might “going” look like in an ordinary week? [01:05:14]
3. Jesus sent the 72 two by two. Who could be a good partner for prayer, encouragement, and gospel conversations? What makes sharing the mission together wiser than trying to do it alone? [01:05:45]
4. The King is coming again, and there are no second chances after he comes. What tends to dull a sense of urgency most—fear, busyness, comfort, socializing, or something else? How has that shown up recently? [01:09:26]
5. Prayer is mission warfare. What would it look like for this group to pray more earnestly for lost people by name, for open doors, and for more workers? What keeps prayer from being central? [01:16:25]
6. Compassion grows when lost people are seen through the lens of eternity. Where are the places in town, work, school, or daily life where there is a need to stop and really look at people that way? [01:21:27]
7. Good works matter, but good works without gospel words cannot save. In what situations is it easiest to be kind and helpful but never actually speak about Jesus? What simple step could help move from kindness to clear gospel conversation? [01:24:54]