WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.580 Now we're going to read in our Bibles together a section of Matthew's Gospel, chapter 10, verses 5 to 15. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.599 And you'll want to have a Bible open so you can follow along. 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:19.940 We'll also refer back a little bit to Matthew chapter 9, so it'll be really helpful to have a Bible open. 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:23.080 You can find it if you're using a church Bible on page 975. 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:29.799 As we come to the instructions that Jesus gives His disciples as He sends them out on mission, 00:00:30.379 --> 00:00:33.799 we're going to look at verses 5 to 15 together. 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:37.460 So again, let's hear the Word of God together. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.739 These twelve, Jesus sent out with the following instructions. 00:00:41.739 --> 00:00:46.119 Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:48.799 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:51.820 As you go, proclaim this message. 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:54.379 The kingdom of heaven has come near. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:56.039 Heal those who are ill. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:00:57.379 Raise the dead. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:00:59.259 Cleanse those who have leprosy. 00:00:59.699 --> 00:01:00.839 Drive out demons. 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:03.079 Freely you have received. 00:01:03.579 --> 00:01:04.599 Freely give. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.200 Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts. 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:12.640 No bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff. 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:14.840 For the worker is worth his keep. 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:21.320 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:23.840 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:27.140 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it. 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.060 If it is not, let your peace return to you. 00:01:30.600 --> 00:01:37.100 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:46.000 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 00:01:46.839 --> 00:01:47.140 Amen. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:56.400 So I think I shared with some of you that on Wednesday morning I was a late invite to the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland. 00:01:56.519 --> 00:02:03.500 So a gathering of 400 leaders from the world of politics and business and also the church. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.939 And it was a wonderfully encouraging morning of having a wonderful breakfast. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:15.319 But also hearing from various groups, agencies, individuals working in mission in different places. 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:24.539 So we heard, for example, from Transworld Radio broadcasting Bible teaching and prayer into places like Iran and Lebanon. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:32.340 In fact, we had a video from a guy who was broadcasting in Lebanon while bombs were falling about two kilometers from the radio station. 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:43.840 We also heard from the Vine Trust ship that serves the Amazon, those poorer communities up and down the vast Amazon River. 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:52.340 And we heard that over decades now, millions of free health checkups have been done, procedures have been carried out, 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:56.879 and they've been sharing the good news as they've been going up and down the Amazon River, 00:02:57.020 --> 00:03:00.259 somewhat similar to the OM Logos ship that we heard about. 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:11.299 We also had a presentation from Glasgow City Mission, who are now celebrating 200 years of bringing the gospel from the pews to the streets and lanes of Glasgow. 00:03:11.399 --> 00:03:16.939 And of course, that city mission movement has gone from Glasgow across the globe. 00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:27.060 And there were so many powerful, moving stories of work that was being done in Jesus' name by Jesus' people all around the world. 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:29.219 Very different organizations. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:36.360 Very different ways of operating, but with certain shared values that became apparent over the morning. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.139 Teaching the gospel of Jesus, non-negotiable. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.699 Showing social care and compassion. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:50.039 And looking to demonstrate something of Christ's power in changed lives. 00:03:50.579 --> 00:03:53.219 Story after story from mission organizations. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:04:01.180 And it's interesting as we come to Matthew 10, that we see the same balance of priorities in here. 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:12.419 In the very first mission of Jesus, we come across preaching and care for others and a demonstration of Christ's power. 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:18.339 So, as we get into these instructions that Jesus gives for mission, this is our first week. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:19.680 We'll look at it for another couple. 00:04:20.419 --> 00:04:22.899 We're going to discover the recipe for mission. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.500 Thinking about the teaching, all about Jesus the King and working with His authority. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:33.199 And we'll look at that section that speaks about the resources for mission. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:36.939 Reminding us that mission work is complex and it's costly. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:42.959 And it requires a thoughtful response, both from those going on mission and those receiving mission. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:47.439 And we'll be exposed to the responses that we always see to mission. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:54.600 And that's helpful because it prepares us for the realities that we still face today as we look to witness for Jesus. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.839 So, turn with me first of all to verses 5 to 7. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:02.120 Think about the recipe for mission. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.899 So, it's important to see, first of all, this is a unique mission. 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:07.579 It's for its moment. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.180 So, here are Jesus' 12 disciples. 00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:13.560 He's been training them now for a certain amount of time. 00:05:13.659 --> 00:05:15.480 And He's ready to send them out. 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:18.600 But we need to recognize where this fits. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:22.360 It comes before the resurrection. 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:27.340 It comes before Jesus' Great Commission going to all the world. 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:30.720 And it comes before Pentecost when the Spirit comes. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:36.980 And so, the apostles are empowered to be witnesses to all nations. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:40.000 So, it's for its moment. 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:43.480 But there are still relevant features for the mission of the church today. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:50.020 And so, look with me first of all at verse 5 where we discover these 12 Jesus sent out. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:53.560 Now, here's one thing we might easily overlook. 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:57.500 Jesus sends people to go as a team, to go as a group. 00:05:57.620 --> 00:06:00.939 In this case, it's not yet the two-by-two ministry. 00:06:01.700 --> 00:06:03.460 He sends all 12 together. 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:06.500 Now, think about why that would matter. 00:06:06.640 --> 00:06:08.920 This is their first time going on mission for Jesus. 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:11.480 Think about the value of brotherhood. 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:15.920 Think about the importance of fellowship along the way. 00:06:16.700 --> 00:06:19.759 Think about the significance of being able to encourage one another. 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.480 How each could help the other to persevere. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:28.540 How in the setting of 12 different people with different gifts at different times, 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.100 they can lean on the gifts of one another. 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:39.260 Think about what a difference it would make if you see 12 people whose lives have been shaped and changed by Jesus serving together. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:45.780 It gives a picture into the transformed relationships and communities that Jesus came to bring. 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:47.580 So, they're told to go as a team. 00:06:48.320 --> 00:06:52.900 They're also told, this is really basic, to go to lost sheep. 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:57.539 So, verse 5, do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 00:06:57.679 --> 00:07:01.639 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 00:07:02.179 --> 00:07:04.679 So, we'll think why he says do not go in a moment. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:06.219 But where do they go? 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:09.060 They go where lost sheep are. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.839 We thought about this last week. 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:14.659 Jesus uses that image of himself as a shepherd. 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:19.839 And he sees people who are lost and harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:24.779 And so, now he sends the disciples to act as his under-shepherds. 00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:28.439 And to look to bring them into his kingdom. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:37.279 But let's ask ourselves the question, why does Jesus say don't go to the Gentiles or any Samaritan towns? 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:42.039 Well, we know it's not because Jesus is against them. 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:47.319 Rather, Jesus knows his place in redemption history. 00:07:47.979 --> 00:07:49.979 He knows the times in which he's operating. 00:07:50.159 --> 00:07:52.319 Jesus was born as a Jew. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:57.579 And he was, to use the language of Galatians, he was born under the law. 00:07:58.419 --> 00:08:00.119 To redeem those under the law. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:06.059 Jesus comes and he lives in obedience to the law of Moses on behalf of his people. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:09.899 And Jesus will die under the law. 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:12.480 He will die under the curse. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.660 Not because he has done anything wrong, but because we have. 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:19.740 But he lives and he dies under the law. 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:25.079 So, he's come for those who also live under the law. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:28.579 He is also their promised Savior. 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:32.700 He is the one spoken of as the servant. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:38.820 So, in verse 7, when Jesus says, as you go proclaim this message, the kingdom of heaven has come near. 00:08:39.180 --> 00:08:45.020 He's speaking to a group of people who have expectations of a coming Messiah Savior. 00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:48.560 And so, he goes first to those who have received the promise. 00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:54.040 Now, we know that Jesus will, at times, go into other territories. 00:08:54.140 --> 00:08:54.580 Absolutely. 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:54.820 Absolutely. 00:08:55.300 --> 00:09:01.560 And we know that he will give the Great Commission and he will send the apostles to all nations. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:06.740 But for now, he wants them to focus first on those who receive the promise. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:14.720 And he sends them to go to extend the saving reign of King Jesus. 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:18.379 Now, we saw this last week, but just to remind ourselves. 00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:19.600 So, they have a message. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.220 The kingdom of heaven has come near. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:27.740 And then verse 8, heal those who are ill, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:38.980 And so, their ministry, their mission is a demonstration in word and in deed that the kingdom of God is here in power. 00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:45.220 And every miracle that they perform becomes a preview of God's future coming kingdom. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:54.539 And so, they are sent as representatives of the king, bringing both his message and his mercy with them. 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:57.079 And both of those matter. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:06.000 Now, just to think about a few principles as we think about mission, not back then in the first century, 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:11.959 but as we think about mission as it relates to us here, 21st century here as we sit in Edinburgh. 00:10:12.099 --> 00:10:17.199 First of all, I think we can say that churches need to be strategic in mission. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.899 Just as Jesus told his disciples to be strategic. 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:22.659 Jesus understood timing. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:28.779 Not yet a focus on Samaria and the Gentiles. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:31.919 But that would come when the Spirit was sent. 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:35.299 We see something of Jesus' priorities. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.399 Go to the lost sheep of Israel. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:43.439 And so, the twelve are sent with a focus and with a strategy. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:51.400 I imagine many of us are familiar with the saying, if you aim for nothing, you are sure to hit it. 00:10:52.260 --> 00:10:54.180 Now, that's true of any organization. 00:10:54.920 --> 00:10:58.300 But it can also be true of a local church in our mission. 00:10:59.380 --> 00:11:02.920 And so, for us, we need a mission strategy. 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:06.040 And that's what we've been thinking about for the last few months as church leaders. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:10.519 And that's going to include building links within our local community. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:14.819 Looking to engage with families and their children. 00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:20.319 Continuing to serve the international community that calls this place home. 00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:27.699 To think about the tens of thousands of students that make their home in this part of the city year upon year. 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:29.259 We can't do everything. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:35.060 And so, we need to be strategic for the sake of sharing Jesus and His love. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:40.920 And so, one of the things I think we can do together at this stage is to keep praying. 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.720 To pray for our planning. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:46.680 And to pray for our mission. 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:55.360 Because it should be the beating heart of every Christian in every church that we want more people to be worshipping Jesus. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:00.279 That we want to see more people brought into our church family. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:02.340 And to be growing in faith together. 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:07.240 As we love and serve our community. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:11.500 Here's another principle that we need to recognize. 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:17.500 Is that churches, local churches, are God's number one missionary method. 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:22.620 A group of people who are brought together in God's providence. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.620 Who say, Jesus is Lord. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.480 Who seek to serve together in His name. 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:31.399 Who are transformed by the power of His love. 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:33.659 Who shine as lights. 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:35.820 And who act as salt in a community. 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:41.399 That's God's number one method for reaching the world with the good news of Jesus. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.659 And that's really important for us to recognize. 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:51.879 Because it helps us to think about how do we relate to one another for the sake of putting the gospel on display. 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:55.819 Something that I found helpful, hopefully you will too. 00:12:56.419 --> 00:13:02.219 Sam Chan is an Australian evangelist who now spends a lot of his time working in America. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.879 He uses this as an illustration. 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:07.819 He says, suppose you were to say to a friend tomorrow. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:10.680 If they asked you what you were up to at the weekend. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.100 If you said, do you know what? 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:16.840 Last night a UFO came down and landed in my back garden. 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:20.240 And I got to meet with and speak to aliens. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.580 You can imagine the reaction. 00:13:22.760 --> 00:13:24.220 They would think you were crazy. 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:29.379 But then imagine if later that same person then met a small group of people. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.300 And he shared the story. 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:33.280 There was this guy and he said that he met some people. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:35.339 And he said, oh yeah, that happened to us too. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.079 And then you come to this large crowd of people. 00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:41.339 And they say, I know. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.459 The same thing happened to us. 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:46.000 What's happening there? 00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:50.459 A message that seemed utterly unbelievable. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:53.740 Perhaps becomes a little bit more credible. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:56.199 Because you understand it not in isolation. 00:13:56.839 --> 00:14:00.819 But there's a whole other group of people that have the same experience. 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.519 And view of it. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:07.779 To a good number of people in Edinburgh today. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:13.559 Belief in Jesus is the equivalent of the belief in that UFO and those aliens. 00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:16.179 But what if? 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.839 What if? 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:28.139 They could feel and hear and see and experience the reality that Jesus is alive. 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:34.740 And he does change lives because they encounter true Christian community. 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:40.559 From groups of Christian friends and from a worshipping church. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:50.000 Here's one of the reasons why it's important that we practice friendship and hospitality with people who are not yet Christians. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.459 Here's why we want to make efforts to merge our universes. 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:58.759 To have more events that can bring Christians and non-Christians together. 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:05.980 Because we want to make the unbelievable seem more believable and harder to ignore. 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:10.220 Because we're not just on mission by ourselves as lone rangers. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.200 But we're in this together. 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:14.639 By God's providence. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.259 And by His grace. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:19.180 Here's a third principle. 00:15:19.420 --> 00:15:23.460 Church mission runs on Christ's compassion. 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.460 Church mission runs on Christ's compassion. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:33.620 One of the highlights for me of the prayer breakfast was when a fifth year high school student led a time of prayer. 00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:38.100 And one of the phrases that stood out as she prayed was this. 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:45.379 I pray that Scotland's youth would know Christ's jealous love for them. 00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:48.120 And it was a beautiful phrase. 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.960 And it was right from her heart. 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:51.100 And you could tell. 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:54.680 And isn't this what we want most of all? 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:57.580 And isn't this what drives our mission? 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:03.659 We want people to encounter the Jesus we met in chapter 9 verse 36. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.779 Who when He saw the crowds. 00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:08.019 He had compassion on them. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:10.399 Because they were harassed and helpless. 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.620 And it's the compassionate heart of Christ as we saw last week. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:16.420 That's what drives the mission. 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:23.699 That's why He tells His disciples pray and ask that God would send more people out into the harvest field. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:29.360 And that's why He tells them to go and to act with His authority and with His compassion. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.940 Who are we? 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.940 And why are we here? 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.000 And what is our mission? 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.399 And what is our calling? 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:42.060 We are here, first of all, to know God. 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:45.300 To know God's love as we find it in Jesus. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.279 To know the God who is love. 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:51.120 And then to put His love on display. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:54.060 To be His hands and His feet. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.879 To be His mouthpiece. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:58.120 To be His heart. 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:03.799 As God's grace to us in Christ would capture our hearts. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:08.460 So that's something of the recipe for mission. 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:14.119 But let's move on to think about the resources for mission. 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:20.659 This week I found Don Carson's little book, When Jesus Confronts the World, very helpful. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:27.019 Because He identifies in our text two little phrases that could seem initially contradictory. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.939 Let me show you them. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.759 Verse 7. 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:31.299 Rather, verse 8. 00:17:31.419 --> 00:17:32.359 End of verse 8. 00:17:33.719 --> 00:17:35.959 He says to His disciples, 00:17:36.479 --> 00:17:38.279 Freely you have received. 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.179 Freely give. 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:43.360 And then the end of verse 10. 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.120 There is a phrase, 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:48.600 The worker is worth his keep. 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:53.440 So let's just think about what Jesus is teaching the disciples. 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.920 And by extension, teaching us. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.620 To slow down a little bit. 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:02.440 To see the connection with the compassion of Jesus. 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:04.840 And the mission of Jesus. 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:12.519 And how to consider money and resources within the category of mission. 00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:16.439 First of all, to think about it from the perspective of the workers. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:20.099 So the disciples are the first workers on mission. 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.319 And they are told, 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.519 Freely you have received. 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.359 Freely give. 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.500 What does that phrase mean? 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:28.319 Well, it means you have received everything free of charge. 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.899 Your call to the kingdom of God. 00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:32.939 That comes freely. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:35.340 The gift of forgiveness. 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:36.840 You didn't pay for that. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.920 The reality of eternal life. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.320 Comes free. 00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:45.279 Being adopted into God's family. 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:47.220 You didn't earn that. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.840 It's not merit or money. 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:52.160 It's mercy from a compassionate God. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.620 Freely you have received. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:57.600 Therefore, freely give. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.399 He says to His disciples, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:03.199 Think of your mission as not-for-profit. 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:06.779 As a not-for-profit agency. 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:11.319 You read the New Testament. 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:16.399 And you find discussion on mission and resources. 00:19:16.699 --> 00:19:21.679 And the classic negative example on this is the chap we meet in the book of Acts. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.859 Simon Magus. 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:27.259 You know, He wants to buy what the apostles are doing. 00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:34.179 He wants to buy the privilege of laying His hands on people so that the Holy Spirit would come on them. 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:39.899 And He was rebuked and condemned because you cannot buy and sell the gift of God. 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:42.740 Forgiveness can't be sold. 00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:47.840 There is no price tag to be placed on a prayer or a sermon. 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:54.259 And so, someone who is involved in mission or ministry has this mentality. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.700 Freely you have received. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.540 Freely give. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:02.940 When someone becomes a free church minister, they are asked, in fancier words than this, 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:05.320 but they are asked, in effect, one of the last questions, 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:10.220 Is one of your motives the fact that you are in it for the money? 00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:13.759 And for people in the know, that usually raises a chuckle. 00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:15.840 That seems a ridiculous kind of way to go. 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:19.920 But it's a vital question because Jesus identifies it, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.840 that you never want to operate in mission or ministry to make a profit. 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:27.559 We are to give freely. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:33.579 And even the way that the disciples go reminds those involved in mission 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:36.619 that we go in dependence on God. 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:41.519 They don't bring the gold, the silver, the copper, the bag, the extra shirt, the staff. 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:48.740 They have to rely on God providing it through others and everyday trust in God's grace. 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:53.539 So, for those who are involved in mission, they hear this message. 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:55.039 Freely you've received, freely give. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:01.859 Now, the flip side, though, is to think about the people who are receiving the mission. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:08.420 Verse 11 introduces us to the idea of arriving on mission. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:12.200 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:15.579 and stay at their house until you leave. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:22.259 And an expectation is set in Jesus' mission that those who are benefiting from the mission of Christ 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:26.660 will support those who are involved in that mission. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.759 They will give generously. 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:33.500 That's why the disciples don't need to bring gold or silver or the extra clothing, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.680 because they'll find a person who will care for them. 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:44.339 Someone who recognizes the worker is worth his keep. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:49.959 The compassion of Christ is the motive. 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:55.819 The person who has received God's salvation free of charge, 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:58.759 who has discovered the wonder of God's love, 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:02.879 is then compelled to share that message and that love with others. 00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:07.119 But the compassion of Christ is also operating on the person who is a receiver. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:12.259 However, having received the gift of salvation, having received this good news, 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:18.399 one way to respond is to be generous to those who have labored to bring the good news. 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:22.159 You can look at the little letter of 3 John. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:29.839 3 John is an encouragement to a church to show hospitality and generous care to missionaries 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.179 who come to town and are passing through. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:38.120 And John says to that church, send them in a manner that honors the Lord. 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:45.360 He says to them, we ought to show hospitality so we may work together for the truth. 00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:50.740 There's a partnership connected to how we think about and how we use resources. 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:55.240 Don Carson presents this as an ideal. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:23:03.220 It's an ideal when a church is generous in supplying gospel mission. 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:10.099 And when a missionary or a church worker is not worried about having to pay the bills 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:15.920 and constantly living in fear of poverty, but that worker is not selfish or greedy. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:23.839 So there's generosity, there's dependence on God's grace, and there's to be no greed. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:30.799 And just to say a little bit about how we here in Buclew resource mission, I think sometimes 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:33.699 it's kind of background, and it's good sometimes to foreground it. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:38.819 So we have a mission support fund, which enables us to give locally. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:44.699 So we support Bethany Christian Trust and their work with the homeless community and those struggling 00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:45.299 with addictions. 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:50.079 We also give to support Hope Church Leith, the church plant down in Leith. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.839 We give to gospel work nationally. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:56.740 We're a mother church to Gala Shields Free Church. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:02.699 And we give globally as well to support Manuel and Patty Reanio in their ministry in Colombia, 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.980 but to wider Latin America. 00:24:06.199 --> 00:24:10.519 And there's ways that each one of us who are members here, we can be involved in that. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:16.099 And so let me encourage each of us to think in response to God's Word, how can we be praying 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:22.059 for our mission partners, and are there ways that we can give generously for the sake of mission, 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:28.619 to be partners together to honor those who are laboring for God and His kingdom? 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:33.200 And if you want to know more, you can check one of those notice boards out there, 00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.839 check the website and you can find out. 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:42.779 But also, I guess, we always need the regular sacrificial giving of our church members to 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:45.419 support ongoing mission here in Beklue. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:51.559 It takes money for salary and for heating and for lighting and for resourcing ongoing mission. 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:56.619 As a church, we love the idea of training and sending gospel workers. 00:24:57.299 --> 00:25:01.379 We love the idea of having a greater reach into our local community. 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:06.420 We love the idea of being able to serve families and students, but all of that costs. 00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:14.020 And it requires us to be sacrificial and generous for the sake of the mission of Jesus 00:25:14.020 --> 00:25:16.340 and for the glory of God. 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:24.120 And so like these first disciples, we need for the kindness and compassion of Jesus 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:31.939 to so shape and mold us that we understand that nothing is more important than people discovering 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:37.500 Jesus for themselves and that we would want to be active any way we can to support mission. 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.839 So we've seen the recipe, we've seen the resources. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:44.939 Now let's think thirdly about the responses to mission. 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:48.079 That's there in verse 11 to 15. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:55.259 Just to help us to kind of get a picture in our minds, you may have noticed that Stephen Burroughs 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.279 is back from Australia. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:26:02.740 He had a wedding over in Belfast yesterday and he was talking about the restrictions that 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:09.419 are still in place in Belfast on the streets because of the violence that we've seen on our 00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:12.259 television screens in the last number of days. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:19.900 And it seems to be, doesn't it, a sad reality, an increasingly normal thing in our times that 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:26.720 some major flashpoint happens, some tragedy happens, and all of a sudden people are very 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:29.980 quick to jump to a response and to take to the streets. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:34.799 And so sometimes you have the situation where people from the right and people from the left, 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:41.940 it's the same sort of trigger and they're both marching but with very different responses 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:45.180 to that same one event. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:52.960 That captures, in a sense, something of the reality of Jesus' mission that he's speaking 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.360 about. 00:26:53.840 --> 00:27:03.180 Jesus is saying, as people go and share Jesus, as the church looks to establish churches and 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:09.279 missions, we can expect some people to be positive and some people to be negative. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:15.139 That we just need to look at the pattern of Jesus' life and to recognize that's the pattern 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:17.240 for his followers to see this. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:25.359 A very superficial reading of the Gospels, a quick skim will show us that some people loved 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:34.079 Jesus and he was the answer to all of their longings and others hated him passionately. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:43.159 Some people rejected Jesus as a blasphemer and some accepted him as the Son of God. 00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:52.259 Some would cry out in worship while many others would cry out, crucify him, we have no king but 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.679 Caesar. 00:27:52.680 --> 00:28:00.320 Same person, same message, radically different responses. 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:06.720 At the prayer breakfast, we heard a prayer from the head of the Christian Police Association, 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.080 which was really insightful. 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:13.620 A reminder that our police often find themselves on the front lines. 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:23.859 And they're on the front lines trying to stem the tide of hate and violence, and they're trying to bring 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:29.639 peace, to push back the darkness to make room for the light. 00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:35.819 In a sense, the same is true for the church in spiritual terms. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:44.960 That we are engaged in spiritual battle, and there are forces of darkness that are opposed to us, 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:48.500 even as we seek to bring the peace of God. 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:54.240 And of course, as we thought about the realities of the persecuted church, for so many, 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:58.659 they experienced the physical hatred and violence also. 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:01.980 And we always need to remember them in our prayers. 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:07.900 But just recognize, look with me at verse 11, recognize that the different responses to mission, 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:10.259 we can see them from day one. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:15.799 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:17.539 So there has to be a search. 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:20.400 And that says to us, not everybody is interested. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:24.620 Not everybody wants to know when the message of Jesus comes to town. 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:27.420 So they have to search for some worthy person. 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:31.779 And when we hear worthy, we might think, well, here's somebody who's made it. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:34.039 This might be about social status, but it's not. 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:36.420 And it's not about intelligence either. 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.559 And it's not about charisma. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:41.839 The worthy person is simply someone who is interested. 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:47.079 Someone who is willing to listen to the message that the apostles bring, 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:51.740 that Jesus has come as God promised to be their King and Savior. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:56.720 And for those who are worthy, who are willing to listen and to receive, 00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.940 they get a welcome. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:03.700 They get the promise of peace. 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:05.980 Verse 12 into 13, 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:08.160 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:14.140 If the home is deserving, let your peace, let your shalom rest on it. 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:16.620 So that was a very traditional Jewish greeting. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:21.360 As you arrived at someone's house, you extended the greeting of peace, of shalom. 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:26.720 Well, this is much more profound as these disciples are going on the mission of Jesus. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:31.720 Because what they are inviting people into is peace from Jesus. 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.940 We thought about it this morning. 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:34.440 Peace with God. 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:36.779 Peace in our hearts. 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:42.700 This is the invitation to find a welcome from Jesus himself. 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:48.839 To find peace with God through coming to know Jesus as King and Savior. 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:52.920 And so Jesus tells them, listen, some people, they will welcome this. 00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:55.859 Some people will receive you. 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:59.059 And some people will enjoy this peace and this blessing. 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:02.119 And this is part of the mission of the church. 00:31:02.179 --> 00:31:03.700 And this is the joyful part, isn't it? 00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:08.419 We're inviting people into life with God through faith in Jesus. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:15.740 We're inviting people who are looking to find peace, to recognize peace is found from God and in Jesus. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:18.599 And some people do respond. 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.819 And if we're Christians, we have responded. 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:23.519 But there's another response too, isn't there? 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:30.920 Verse 14, if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:37.019 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:40.200 There is also the reality of rejection. 00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:44.240 A people who say of Jesus, not my king. 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.359 Amen. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:48.960 We've heard about the traditional greeting, shalom. 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:51.799 There's another traditional gesture here. 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:54.220 This shaking off the dust. 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:59.359 And the shaking off the dust, off your sandals, off your clothing was a way of saying, 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:04.519 I do not associate with this place or with this person. 00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:09.779 And part of the shock of Jesus' mission given to the disciples 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:18.240 is that the king comes to bring people into life with God, to experience the love of God. 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:24.460 But if they say no, it's as if they'll be shaken off by God. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:29.940 And we're warned of a solemn and severe judgment. 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:35.059 Truly I tell you, it would be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:39.460 Sodom and Gomorrah, a proverb for wicked, godless, evil places. 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:46.200 And so we are reminded that the greater opportunity that we have brings the greater responsibility 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:49.160 and rejection brings the greater judgment. 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:55.580 And so Jesus reminds the disciples and reminds us to share Jesus with others, 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:59.279 to share Jesus within our community is not the guarantee of being well received. 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:07.300 Jesus promises some will welcome, but some will reject to their own eternal loss. 00:33:08.300 --> 00:33:12.779 Now I wonder, we've spent a couple of weeks largely thinking about the compassion and the love of Jesus. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:19.879 I wonder if we're surprised that here's another example where the love of God and the judgment of God are running side by side. 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:25.920 I hope we can see how important these are for our mission. 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:34.160 Because people need to know that God is holy and He has a holy hatred of our sin. 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:42.039 That His wrath and His judgment is real and it is a holy response to human rebellion and sin. 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:48.339 We also need to understand that Jesus has come to meet our needs. 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:52.460 And those needs are determined not by ourselves, but first of all by our God. 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:59.500 And the mission of Jesus and the cross of Jesus, well that shows us what people's great need is. 00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:05.920 Our great need is a sacrifice that will turn God's wrath away from us, 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:10.099 that will reconcile us and forgive us. 00:34:13.180 --> 00:34:18.400 And the message of the gospel tells us that we cannot do it by ourselves and so we need a Savior. 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:29.460 Another thing we see as we look at the cross of Jesus is the outcome of turning our back on God's salvation. 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:35.740 So as Jesus becomes the sin bearer of the world, what does Jesus cry out? 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:41.579 That's a solemn message that people need to hear, that we need to hear. 00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:49.619 But the cross also, as well as showing us the justice of God, it shows us the love of God, the compassion of God. 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.000 How? 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:57.079 Because the one who goes to the cross is none other than the Son of God and Jesus came to bear our sin. 00:34:57.079 --> 00:35:03.539 Jesus willingly and in love to fulfill God's plan went under God's wrath. 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:09.159 Jesus was the one shaken out for us to forgive our sin. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:15.980 Jesus suffers the deepest pain to bring us the deepest peace. 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:29.400 And so our mission, like the disciples, it has a message that speaks both the horror of God's holy anger against sin 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:35.980 and the wonder of God's love that provides mercy at the cost of His own Son. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:43.440 And so we need both of these in our mission and in our message so we never get complacent about God's grace. 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:47.300 And so we always keep the cross at the heart of our mission. 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:52.240 That we understand why we go on with the Great Commission. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:58.539 Because people need to know the compassionate heart of the Lord Jesus. 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:05.760 Those first disciples, they needed to be on Jesus' mission and He sent them and they went. 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:13.019 Here as God's people in Beclough, we must also be about God's mission so that people can hear about Jesus. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:18.019 So they can see in us the difference that He makes to lives and communities. 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:27.800 We must be thinking, how can we give generously and sacrificially either as those who are going to go and proclaim and to serve 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:30.780 or those who are going to resource and pray. 00:36:30.780 --> 00:36:33.820 Because that's what God has done for us. 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:35.420 He's been generous and sacrificial. 00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:40.420 And because we want people to discover the beauty and the truth of Jesus for themselves. 00:36:42.100 --> 00:36:45.600 And so we are called to go dependent on God's power and grace. 00:36:45.680 --> 00:36:51.240 Understanding that while some will say no, others will welcome our message. 00:36:51.680 --> 00:36:55.960 And they will receive a welcome from Christ Jesus the King. 00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.039 Amen. 00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:58.099 Let's pray together. 00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:05.079 Lord our God, we thank You for the teaching that Jesus provides for us. 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:10.400 It was relevant to the disciples then but is still so relevant to us today. 00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:14.920 Give us that sense of Your compassionate heart. 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:22.340 Your desire to see Your church engaged in mission locally and to the ends of the earth. 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:29.140 Lord, we pray that You would make us wise in how we participate in that mission. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.980 That we would respond to Jesus with faith and repentance. 00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:39.400 And that we would then go about the rest of our days looking to make Jesus known. 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:44.360 Looking to encourage and resource those who are laboring for Jesus. 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:49.720 And that You would help us to persevere despite setbacks and discouragements. 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:53.879 For the glory and honour of serving our great God and King. 00:37:54.299 --> 00:37:55.639 And we pray in Jesus' name. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.299 Amen.