Matthew 10:5–15
5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. 11“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. 12“As you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13“If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15“Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Focused Thinking:
Who were the disciples sent to first?
They weren’t sent to the Gentiles first.
They weren’t sent to the Samaritans first.
They were sent to the LOST SHEEP of the HOUSE of ISRAEL FIRST.
Here’s the problem, the majority of Jews didn’t really think it was possible to be a LOST SHEEP and to be a member of the HOUSE of ISRAEL.
What is Jesus saying here?
Jesus’ first mission is to lost Jews.
- There were Jews who didn’t understand their heritage.
- There were Jews who didn’t understand the Scriptures.
- There were Jews who were Jews ethically, but who weren’t truly Jews in the faith of Abraham.
Remember, there hasn’t been a prophet in 400 years, Jesus first mission was to speak truth to the Jews.
- Jesus was coming to fulfill His promises to the Jews.
- Jesus was coming to work through the Jews to reach the world.
What was the message of the disciples?
The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The King of the kingdom is coming.
The rule and reign of the King is coming.
What were the disciples to do?
Heal the sick
Raise the dead
Cleanse the lepers
Cast out demons
WOW—Can you imagine?
How is that supposed to translate to today?
God still heals today, but our primary responsibility to heal the soul.
We heal the soul by loving people in Jesus name.
We heal the soul by teaching people Jesus’ truth.
We heal the soul by pointing people to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
What is in it for the disciples?
“Freely you received, freely give.”
Freed people worship freely.
Freed people serve freely.
This isn’t about this kingdom; this is about God’s kingdom.
“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.”
Don’t take from the people you are reaching, let the people of God support the mission of God.
We don’t want anything from the lost monetarily or materially; we trust the people of God to support the mission of God.
How are the disciples to survive practically?
Inquire who is worthy in it.
Inquire who is godly in it.
Inquire who believes and supports the mission of God.
“Stay at his house until you leave that city.”
Personal Application:
We need to find the people who are willing to resource the vision of God.
- Who are the people see it to be their role to fund specific visions?
- Who are those people in the church?
- Who are those people outside the church?
- Find the people of peace and purpose in our church and city.
Focused Thinking:
What if people don’t receive you?
14“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15“Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Shake the dust off your feet.
We are responsible to tell them the truth, but we can’t make them believe the truth.
We are responsible to tell them the truth, but we can’t make them obey the truth.
Don’t waste your time on people who don’t want the good news; go to those who want it.
Notice how strong His statement is about judgment.
It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Personal Application:
Here is something important to notice about disciples: Disciples are always sent out.
There is no such thing as an unsent disciple; there are only sent disciples.
There is no such thing as a “learner” disciple only; disciples are “learners” and “followers.”
Interactive Prayer:
Father, make us disciples who go out into the dark places to share the gospel. Make us a people who bring light into every community in the city. Give us favor with all the different communities so that they will receive and respond to our love. Father, send Your Spirit before us to prepare the way. Give us favor has we go into Overton High School, single parents and Celebrate Recovery. Give us favor as we go into specific neighborhoods and community. Give us favor with work community. Give us favor with reaching the unreached as well as growing, maturing and discipling the believers.
Father give us the ability to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. Father, focus our minds and hearts on loving You and loving others. Give me, our staff, our leaders and our people the heart and ability to be incredible lovers people. I pray that Your love in and through us will become the indefensible apologetic. Please give us the ability to destroy our idols and to love You more. Give us the ability to love You more so that we can love others more.
Father, give me specific visions of what it looks like for us to love our neighbors. Father, show me how You want our church to obey the simple but powerful truths of love God, love people and make disciples. Father, I pray that You will work through Big Stuf and Student Life to reveal Your love to our students and to show them their need for You. I pray that You will give our students the gift of repentance and faith. I pray for many salvations as well as many acts of repentance for believers. Father, please bring life to all of our students. Please heal their hurts. Give them the ability to be honest and to seek true help. Give Bob and every leader wisdom as to how to love each student. I pray for LaEarl and Larrianna to see, feel and embrace Your love this week. I pray for Ebony to have a healthy and problem free delivery for her new baby girl.
Father, use this week to give me inspiration and ideas about Your vision and activity. Give me the faith to believe in Your visions and to see them from the perspective of faith instead of doubt. Give me the strength and courage to believe that we can reach all of Memphis. Give us the leadership needed, the relationships needed, the connections needed and the resources need to bring our version of Big Stuf to the urban students in Memphis.
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