Go! / Mark 6:7-13

It was the summer of 2015. I just concluded my freshman year at liberty University and decided to spend my Summer telling people about Jesus in India.

When we first arrived in the country, the difference was tangible. As soon as the sliding doors at the airport opened, I was hit with sounds and smells I had never experienced.

During the next few days, me and other college students would receive training for our mission before we were scattered to different cities in this massive country. As the lead trainer got up to teach, he opened to the passage we are talking about tonight.

As I listened, I listed like a player in a huddle about to go into the game, not like a student about to take a test. I needed this passage for advice on how to live, not how to think. I knew that in just a few hours, the training would be over and I would be challenged to GO!

I want you to be clear about Jesus’ expectations. He gives us the good news so that we will go and give it together. The main purpose of Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. This is more of a huddle, than a classroom. This is more training, than it is teaching. This is not just for the mind, this is to motivate your hands.

If you are a Christian, you are called to go on mission. Here are 5 ways you can go well.

1. Go Together

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Jesus could have reached twice as many towns if he sent them out one by one. But instead, he chose to send them out in pairs. Why?

In the Old Testament the legal system required two witnesses to authenticate a message. Any crazy person can say, Nathaniel stole my cheto’s. But if two people say, Nathaniel stole his cheto’s the message is more credible. Jesus is sending his disciples out with a message. Community makes the communication credible.

And living as a Christian with community has practical benefits too. And living as a Christian with community has practical benefits too. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Imagine that I was holding a wooden s’mores stick, if I wanted to snap it, it would be easy. But if I add two more, it would become much harder to snap the sticks.

As you live for Christ in this world, at your school, on your teams you will fall. The world will try to bend you and possibly break you. If you’re alone, it wont be that hard. If you have Christian friends, you will be able to endure.

Stay close to friends who aren’t ashamed of Jesus. If you don’t have that friend group, you be the leader to form it!

Jesse - big quiet guy from Mississippi - I would get behind him to get on the train - calming presence, security

2. Go Light

Jesse’s duffle bag wasn’t even full - all we had was a bible - get on the train and pray - we didn’t even have a translator - totally dependent on hospitality and provision

One of the reasons we use the same questions and prayer prompts each week, is because we want to teach you that having God is enough. To make a difference in your community for Jesus, you don’t need money, a theological degree, or even a guided bible study. You need God and you need other Christians. That is the lesson Jesus teaches his disciples when...

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts "The word bag means “a beggar’s bag.” They were definitely not to beg for either food or money." Warren W. Wiersbe — 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. A second tunic was used for sleeping. As if to say, don’t bring your bedding on this trip.

Can I just say something, THIS SEEMS CRAZY.

Imagine that during the summer camp parent meeting I say, “We will be taking your students on a week long trip in another city. Here is the packing list: clothes. Here is what not to pack: snacks, money, and bedding.” What parent would send their teen on this trip?

Why does Jesus limit their possessions? The Old Testament gives us a clue. The items he tells them to bring are the same items Israelite is instructed to bring on the Exodus. When they were delivered from their slavery in Egypt.

Think about their situation, they were no longer a part of Egypt, so they needed to leave those belongings behind. Ahead of them was the promised land, where all of their needs would be met. So while they were in transition, it made sense to pack light

You are in transition. You have been delivered from slavery to sin. You do not need the interests and possessions that weighed you down. Ahead of you is heaven, where all of your needs will be met. In the mean time, pack light. Jesus affirmed this principle by teaching, Matthew 6:19-21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Translation: who’s crazy now? You can live your whole life for a handful of possessions that will one day rest in the dump or the shelves of good will. Or you can live for treasure that will never fade.

By sending them out with no food or shelter, they would be forced to build relationships and humbly rely upon others.

Missionary movements of previous centuries were justly criticized as colonization. Beyond telling people about the King of the world, people wanted the world to look like their kingdoms. They would try to influence people to speak like them, dress like them, and build building like theirs. Jesus’ method is drastically different. In teaching us to rely upon the culture and people we minister to, our humility can open their hearts to hear about our good news.

God has called you to be his representative in your circle of influence. If you have Christian community and the Christian message, you have everything you need.

3. Go In

10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.

There is a time to depart. But we depart to advance the message, not to improve our comfort.

We looked for people of peace - in most towns we would find one - committing to the church was the most important decision - small pink house - Raul’s home - but not every place is a place of peace

In your schools, is there a teacher who supports your faith: deepen that friendship.

Is there a non-Christian who is open to the message? Keep sharing.

But be realistic that not all will receive the message...

4. Go Out

The man who seemed friendly - then turned on us - it was at the beginning - imagine the waste if we would have spent all of our time there

11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

"This is a reference to the Jewish practice of shaking the dust off one’s feet upon returning to Israel from a Gentile region. If people would not receive the King’s message, his ambassadors were to symbolically proclaim their coming judgment." Tony Evans

The great flood of 2016 - my mom denied to be rescued by the national guard because of comfort - despite one final warning

Some people will ardently refuse the good news because they are comfortable living in their beautiful flooded home of sin. In those situations, we warn and move on. If you do not move on you will miss out on missional opportunities to those who are willing to hear. We will not force a decision upon anyone to follow Jesus. They must respond willingly.

And as you go out...

5. Go On

12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Without these two verses, all that we just read is pointless. They transitioned from hearing to doing.

In the end we witnessed 8 people profess faith in Christ - several baptisms (some of which had to be done in secret) - and church leaders equipped to multiply disciples - but the time came for us to move on - knowledge of that gave us urgency

The most important lesson I learned was that I could live on mission back home.

When you go to school, you represent Jesus.

On your teams, you represent Jesus.

With your friends, you represent Jesus.

So go together, go light, go in, go out, and go on.