February 15th, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
Out of your comfort zone!
After months of intensive leadership training, it is finally time for the twelve apprentices to be sent out on their own mission trip. Remember, Jesus called these twelve guys for two reasons: first, so that they might be with Him and grow closer to him, and second, so that he might send them out (Mark 3:14). It is no surprise to them that Jesus is sending them out. It is an exciting time, yet the twelve are scared to death. How will they respond to the challenge? Where will Jesus send them? What will he say to them, and what will happen? Let’s dive in!
Read Luke 9:1-6; Matthew 10:5-23; Mark 6:7-13
Preparatory to this story is Matthew 9:35-38. What was happening in the heart of Jesus in those verses?
As the twelve listened to Jesus instruct them, what do you think they were feeling? What questions did they probably have?
What are Jesus’ instructions before he sends them out?
What lessons do you think they learned from the mission trip?
I think that Jesus waited until the night before to tell his disciples, “In the morning, I will send you out on a trip. Come ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Get a good night’s rest because you’ll need it!”. I imagine they did not sleep much that night as their minds raced with questions about the coming adventure. As the day breaks, they assemble around the fire and get a little breakfast. Jesus mingles among them and embraces each one. He takes note of what each one brought for their journey. Finally, he quiets the twelve down and has them sit on the ground. A few last words of instruction, and they will be ready to go. This was the culmination of His promise that He would send them out (Mark 3:14). I am sure some thought they were prepared, and others were scared and unsure of what was about to happen. What did he tell them before sending them off?
“First,” Jesus said, “drop everything you packed for the journey on the ground in front of you. You won’t need it. Take nothing! You won’t need that staff, Peter, and you can leave that bag, John. James, that loaf of bread in your pocket can stay behind. And Matthew, you will not need any of your money. No extra tunics, Andrew. Just leave everything here. I will be praying for you. You will go out like sheep among wolves, but you will see great things!”
Why would Jesus send them out with so little? What could he possibly be wanting to teach these leaders?
He wanted to teach them dependency on the Father. He sent them out just like the Father had sent him into the world, utterly dependent on God for everything they would need. This was a crucial time in the movement. Would they depend on the Father? Not just for their physical needs, but even for the words that would come out of their mouths? He instructed them, “…do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20)Wow! This experience is to teach them to depend entirely on the Father. Jesus so wanted them to understand that if they only had faith in the Father, He would provide everything they needed. Remember the expectations He gave them months before in Luke 6:20-22? He said you are blessed when you are poor, hungry, weeping, and people are speaking evil of you. Each of the things they leave behind corresponds to something from Luke 6.
Jesus then gives them instructions about where to enter the cities and villages and where they should go. This is a mission trip to the lost sheep of Israel (Mat. 10:5-6). This mission trip is to be within their own country, to people who look like them and speak their language. This is their first step– to take the gospel to their people. The transcultural trips are coming, but for now, the focus is on Israeli settlements and Jewish people. Jesus gives many more instructions on what house to enter, what exactly to say, how long to stay, and when to move on. He even tells them how to respond when persecuted for the message. It is like a training manual about how to do short-term missions within your own culture. This experience is meant to teach these young leaders complete dependence on the Father.
Finally, Jesus pairs them up and sends them out. How did Jesus pair them up? Who went with who? Did Peter and Matthew? That would have been some trip! I can only imagine the emotions that filled that place as, pair by pair; they set off in different directions. Six teams of two on the adventure of a lifetime, taking the Good news of the Kingdom to lost Jewish people. I imagine that Jesus called each pair forward, gave them specific instructions on where to go and when to return, and then prayed over each one. Jesus left without the twelve guys he had invested in as leaders for the last months. What will Jesus do as they are away for the next several weeks?
Have you ever been on a short-term mission trip within the country? If not, I highly encourage it! (Did you know that LCC is going on one this June 4-10? Big Creek is a great trip! Big Creek is in Eastern Kentucky, just down the road, and probably the best mission trip I’ve ever been on! Want more information? Download the Big Creek Info and Registration pack below or Fill out the form for someone to follow up with you about questions you may have!
Even if you haven’t been on a short-term mission trip, you now have the instruction manual for one! Why not place yourself in a position you usually are not in and trust God to provide for your needs? For example, go to the Clothing Closet in Cynthiana and volunteer there. Be sure to do more than fold clothes! Be sure to engage in conversation and point them to the Good News! Or go to Lowes and walk around. Ask God to bring someone to you so you can share the good news, and He will, EVERY TIME. Seriously- EVERY TIME!
Short Testimony- I've recently struggled because I felt that everyone I'm generally in contact with is a Christian (or at least thinks they are). How can I introduce anyone to Jesus if all I talk with are church people? It's just an occupational hazard. So I've started praying, "God, open doors for me to be with non-church people." He has! Constantly! At Lowes, at stores, at gas stations, etc. I've come to realize where ever there are people, there are opportunities for the gospel.
How are you walking by faith outside of your comfort zones?
Read Luke 9:1-6; Matthew 10:5-23; Mark 6:7-13
Preparatory to this story is Matthew 9:35-38. What was happening in the heart of Jesus in those verses?
As the twelve listened to Jesus instruct them, what do you think they were feeling? What questions did they probably have?
What are Jesus’ instructions before he sends them out?
What lessons do you think they learned from the mission trip?
I think that Jesus waited until the night before to tell his disciples, “In the morning, I will send you out on a trip. Come ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Get a good night’s rest because you’ll need it!”. I imagine they did not sleep much that night as their minds raced with questions about the coming adventure. As the day breaks, they assemble around the fire and get a little breakfast. Jesus mingles among them and embraces each one. He takes note of what each one brought for their journey. Finally, he quiets the twelve down and has them sit on the ground. A few last words of instruction, and they will be ready to go. This was the culmination of His promise that He would send them out (Mark 3:14). I am sure some thought they were prepared, and others were scared and unsure of what was about to happen. What did he tell them before sending them off?
“First,” Jesus said, “drop everything you packed for the journey on the ground in front of you. You won’t need it. Take nothing! You won’t need that staff, Peter, and you can leave that bag, John. James, that loaf of bread in your pocket can stay behind. And Matthew, you will not need any of your money. No extra tunics, Andrew. Just leave everything here. I will be praying for you. You will go out like sheep among wolves, but you will see great things!”
Why would Jesus send them out with so little? What could he possibly be wanting to teach these leaders?
He wanted to teach them dependency on the Father. He sent them out just like the Father had sent him into the world, utterly dependent on God for everything they would need. This was a crucial time in the movement. Would they depend on the Father? Not just for their physical needs, but even for the words that would come out of their mouths? He instructed them, “…do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20)Wow! This experience is to teach them to depend entirely on the Father. Jesus so wanted them to understand that if they only had faith in the Father, He would provide everything they needed. Remember the expectations He gave them months before in Luke 6:20-22? He said you are blessed when you are poor, hungry, weeping, and people are speaking evil of you. Each of the things they leave behind corresponds to something from Luke 6.
Jesus then gives them instructions about where to enter the cities and villages and where they should go. This is a mission trip to the lost sheep of Israel (Mat. 10:5-6). This mission trip is to be within their own country, to people who look like them and speak their language. This is their first step– to take the gospel to their people. The transcultural trips are coming, but for now, the focus is on Israeli settlements and Jewish people. Jesus gives many more instructions on what house to enter, what exactly to say, how long to stay, and when to move on. He even tells them how to respond when persecuted for the message. It is like a training manual about how to do short-term missions within your own culture. This experience is meant to teach these young leaders complete dependence on the Father.
Finally, Jesus pairs them up and sends them out. How did Jesus pair them up? Who went with who? Did Peter and Matthew? That would have been some trip! I can only imagine the emotions that filled that place as, pair by pair; they set off in different directions. Six teams of two on the adventure of a lifetime, taking the Good news of the Kingdom to lost Jewish people. I imagine that Jesus called each pair forward, gave them specific instructions on where to go and when to return, and then prayed over each one. Jesus left without the twelve guys he had invested in as leaders for the last months. What will Jesus do as they are away for the next several weeks?
Have you ever been on a short-term mission trip within the country? If not, I highly encourage it! (Did you know that LCC is going on one this June 4-10? Big Creek is a great trip! Big Creek is in Eastern Kentucky, just down the road, and probably the best mission trip I’ve ever been on! Want more information? Download the Big Creek Info and Registration pack below or Fill out the form for someone to follow up with you about questions you may have!
Even if you haven’t been on a short-term mission trip, you now have the instruction manual for one! Why not place yourself in a position you usually are not in and trust God to provide for your needs? For example, go to the Clothing Closet in Cynthiana and volunteer there. Be sure to do more than fold clothes! Be sure to engage in conversation and point them to the Good News! Or go to Lowes and walk around. Ask God to bring someone to you so you can share the good news, and He will, EVERY TIME. Seriously- EVERY TIME!
Short Testimony- I've recently struggled because I felt that everyone I'm generally in contact with is a Christian (or at least thinks they are). How can I introduce anyone to Jesus if all I talk with are church people? It's just an occupational hazard. So I've started praying, "God, open doors for me to be with non-church people." He has! Constantly! At Lowes, at stores, at gas stations, etc. I've come to realize where ever there are people, there are opportunities for the gospel.
How are you walking by faith outside of your comfort zones?
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2 Comments
Sometimes it can be scary to talk to someone about the gospel. I see Jesus showed them how to do it first. Then He sent them. There were so many needs. He gave them authority to drive out demons and heal every sickness and disease.
I think they listened more intently to the disciples preach when they saw with their own eyes that God wanted them well in every sense.
Being set free from anything that would hold us in prison from sickness to insecurity.
For me I don’t understand someone rejecting that but I do know that it becomes personal and you feel like they are rejecting you. Jesus is saying don’t let their rejection hang over you because then we switch our focus of faith off of Christ, the gospel and accomplish nothing.
I’m not saying I have arrived by any means but I have finally left the building.
I think sometimes we just need to go back to the basics like these disciples and we should follow these instructions as well. Meaning that we go into places with God alone as our guide. That can open up a world of communication with people that you’d never even expect to come in contact with!