As we seek to minister for Christ here in and around Poolesville, as we support missionaries in other contexts, I think this same manner and mindset will be helpful.
If you have you Bibles, open them to Luke 10. I’ll read the passage for us in order to help us gain a full picture of what’s happening and then we will look more closely as we walk through the manner and the mindset of the mission.
Luke 10:1–24 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.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
As Jesus calls out these seventy-two people and sends them to the towns in front of him, he does so by instilling in them, first of all…
The Manner of the Mission (10:1-24)
He doesn’t send them simply with his blessing. He wants them to go in a way that represents Him well. The message of the mission matters. The manner of the mission also matters.
As we think about this for us, we have to recognize that like them, He doesn’t send us to go any particular way, He wants us to go His way - in a way that honors Him most. I would guess we’ve all met people who say that they are Christians, but seem to act in ways that are off. Now, realistically, there are personality quirks in all of us and we all have varying degrees of growth - we’re not finished maturing until Jesus takes us home.
Thabiti Anybwile has noted five action items of this mission. These mark the manner of our mission.
First of all, we are called to…
Pray Earnestly (1-2)
Luke 10:1–2 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.
Their mission should be marked by prayer. Even as they are going, preparing the way for Jesus, they are called to pray for more people. It seems that Jesus is expecting something great, He’s anticipating a great harvest and yet as any farmer would know, harvest season requires extra workers.
As we think about the mission that God has called us to, how are we doing at praying for the Lord of the harvest to send workers? Each week, we have a variety of prayer requests published in the midweek email. In that we are encouraged to not only pray for one another but also for the work that God is doing around the world. Do we have a great harvest expectation? Do we pray for more workers for the harvest?
As a church, we tend to think about our mission work in three ways - modeled after Acts 1:8 - locally (Jerusalem), regionally (Judea-Samaria), globally (the ends of the earth).
Locally
For our local harvest - I was convicted recently in a conversation - that most of the growth that we’ve experienced as a church is in transfer growth. I’m so grateful for people who move into the area or want to join our fellowship.
But how are we doing at praying for the lost in our town?
How are we doing sowing seeds for the harvest?
How are we doing praying for more workers to work the harvest?
Elders - a few weeks ago, Armal noted that those who desire to the office of elder desire a noble task. While we have some good men serving, are we praying for God to call out and raise up more Elders.
Deacons,
children’s ministry workers,
youth workers,
volunteers for the thrift shop,
Good News club
Regionally
FRM camp - was at risk of not having enough workers for their camps this summer - may we pray earnestly that they will have an overflow of workers
Berryville Church plant - something that we are praying toward with the other Pillar Network churches
Globally
KSA -
India -
Other places
Jesus sent out these 72 on a short trip to prepare the way for Him. In much the same way, we are here, preparing the way for Jesus second coming. May we pray earnestly for the harvest and for the workers of the harvest.
Did you notice how he sent them? He did not send them alone. We are not solo ambassadors when we go. We are a community that gets to witness for the Lord
Not only are we to pray earnestly as we go, we are urged to…
Go Meekly (3-4)
Luke 10:3–4 ESV
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.
It seems odd that Jesus would send these people out as lambs in the face of wolves. It’s a dangerous mission. Lambs are not predators at all. They are near the bottom of the food chain. Beyond that, these people are going carrying no extra resources.
Darrell Bock notes that in their culture, this knapsack or bag would typically accompany traveling teachers or rabbis. It would contain garments or teaching supplies for the work. It would project a manner of independence or self-sufficiency.
I don’t think this mandate to go without supplies is a something that should mark every mission endeavor, but our going should be characterized by meekness or even need - dependence on God.
The more we do ministry, the more we can get comfortable with the work, the more we rely on ourselves rather than relying on God and on the people that He has called us to work with.
I can imagine how fear might have gripped these ambassadors.
Going in meekness urges the cry of our hearts be in tune with songs like “Lord I need you, every hour I need you.”
Psalm 127:1 ESV
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
Maybe we could rephrase that
unless the Lord builds this church, those who build it labor in vain
Unless the Lord leads this community group…
Unless the Lord feeds these people…
Unless the Lord leads this camp…
Unless the Lord prepares this sermon or plans this service…
The mission that we’re on requires that we become instruments in God’s hand.
does meekness mark our preparation - as we prepare to teach or welcome people into our homes
For those who teach - does meekness mark our attitude?
In our homes - do we interact with meekness - with our family and our guests?
Do we engage with meekness on social media?
Thirdly, we are called to seek peace as we go.
Seek Peace (5-8)
Luke 10:5–8 ESV
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.
This peace is essentially the concept of shalom in Hebrew or salam in Farsi or Arabic. Feinberg notes that it is a desire for “completeness, soundness, wholeness” (p. 896). It’s not simply a lack of conflict, but an overall state of well-being. We could even say that it is closely related to integrity, which some of the men discussed yesterday.
In their culture, it was considered an honor to be hospitable to someone, and yet there is also the disruption that is naturally present whenever hosting happens.
As people who have the knowledge of Christ through the gospel, our hope should be for people to receive Christ, not so that we can have more people in our pews, but so that they can have eternal peace with God.
Friend, I hope you recognize that our desire for you is not that we would have a bigger church but that you might be saved. Jesus came to bring peace and has sent us as ambassadors of peace. The person who invited you longs for your eternal peace.
As much as we want to seek peace with other people and want to help them be at peace with God, we have to recognize that there is an inherent offense in the gospel - nobody wants to be told that they have a sin problem. We overcome that with the gospel, but we also must…
Proclaim Boldly (9-16)
Jesus sent them with some tasks along the way.
Luke 10:9 ESV
Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
They were given the authority to heal the sick, but they were also given a message about the nearness of the Kingdom. This proximity of the Kingdom of God - maybe related to Jesus coming to that town, but may also be with the presence of these missionaries.
The Kingdom of God is not a Kingdom that is limited by political boundaries. It’s a Kingdom that spans the globe and every country. It’s a Kingdom whose presence is made known by it’s citizens. Beloved, you and I bring the Kingdom near to those who are far from it. But we have to keep in mind that they may not want it.
Luke 10:10–12 ESV
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.
Jesus goes on to pronounce woes or warnings over several towns that either have or would reject the kingdom - Chorazin, Bethsaida, and even His home base of Capernaum.
A several months ago, a few of us where meeting with a woman for the purpose of sharing the gospel. But the more we talked, the more it became evident that she did not want the true gospel. She wanted her version. She wanted religion on her terms. She kindly rejected us, and yet we had to remember that it was ultimately Jesus she rejected.
Romans 10:13–17 ESV
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!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Beloved, may we go meekly but proclaim boldly the message of the gospel so that our friends and family who are far from God may have an opportunity to come to faith by hearing the word of Christ from our lips and seeing it in our lives!
Finally, our manner of going on this mission should include…
Rejoicing greatly and rightly (17-24)
Jesus concludes this sending and receiving by hearing the testimony of those who have been sent and then rejoicing with them in their report.
When people come to faith - we should rejoice greatly!
When people join our fellowship - we should rejoice greatly!
When people grow in their faith - we should rejoice greatly!
We should rejoice greatly when Jesus has entrusted us with his mission. We should rejoice greatly when we get to see and confirm things that we’ve read about in Scripture.
Luke 10:21–24 ESV
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Do you realize the blessing it is to be called a child of God? Oh what a joy to have His word as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Oh what a blessing to gain a bit of a perspective on the future plans of God. It’s been so fun in the Tuesday lunch sessions to be able to read the book of Revelation with those who are there. It’s challenged us to question things that we thought we knew. But we’ve walked away with a joy in knowing that Jesus wins and eternal life with Him is our reward for our faith!
We should rejoice greatly in that!
But there is also a “rightly” that should accompany our greatness of our rejoicing.
Luke 10:20 ESV
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Rejoicing in the things that can happen through us can also be a source of temptation as we think it’s about us. We can be tempted to take credit. It when we recognize that our salvation is through Christ alone and our work for him is done by his strength, then we realize that he gets all the glory - and that’s a good thing. The core of our rejoicing should be that our names are written in heaven. Oh what an undeserved privilege!
So Jesus sent them on this mission, instructing them in the way or the manner in which they should go. In the midst of this and tied in with something we witnessed last week, we get to be reminded of…
The Mindset of the Mission (16 and 9:48)
Last week, we saw briefly that the mindset of our life in Christ includes a mutual welcome and reception.
Luke 9:48 ESV
and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
We welcome and receive people as Jesus. That difficult neighbor, welcomed in Jesus name is like we are welcoming Jesus. Jesus is our audience. The world may be watching and experiencing the outworking of our faith, but Jesus is the One for whom we welcome and receive.
That welcome will not always be returned. He helpfully reminds us that when people reject us or our message - they are rejecting Him.
Luke 10:16 ESV
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
Beloved, there will be times when people will decline an invitation to church or an invitation to faith. Don’t be discouraged, they are rejecting Jesus, not you. May we pray that the Spirit would soften hearts so that the seed of the might be planted in soil that is ready to receive it and flourish.
Closing thoughts
Are we going in the way that Jesus would have us go?
Do we go with the proper mindset of being His ambassadors?
Benediction
Isaiah 52:7 ESV
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
1. How would you treat the representatives of a famous person?
2. Luke 10:1–24 provides five action items (or five manners of the mission) for reaching others for Christ. Which of these are strengths for you? Which are weaknesses?
3. Which of the attitude adjustments do you think the Christian church needs most? Why? Which of the attitude adjustments do you think you need most?
4. According to Jesus, why were His followers to pray for more workers? (10:2)
5. Do you have a specific plan for praying for workers to enter the harvest? If not, talk with others about how they organize their prayer lives to pray for the nations and for Christian workers.
6. To what did Jesus liken His followers? (10:3)
7. What were Jesus’ followers to do about accommodations and supplies? Why? (10:5–8)
8. To what could unbelieving towns look forward? (10:10–15)
9. When have you been rejected as a representative of Christ?
10. Would you say you are too quick to wish God’s judgment on those who treat you (or him) badly, or too slow to speak about his judgment at all, or both?
11. What are the trappings of being “wise and learned”?
12. What are the benefits of being like “little children”?
13. Why were the seventy-two to rejoice? (10:20)
14. In reality, what is your greatest source of joy? How would meditating on the truth that your name is “written in heaven” relocate your joy-source
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 1–12 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
