Sent With a Purpose

Sent with a Purpose

Matthew 9:35-38

Sermon Slide

Good morning and welcome to worship on this amazing day that the Lord has made! I have truly enjoyed our churchwide series. Over the past 6 weeks we have talked about how Jesus Changes Everything! Not only here in the Sanctuary, but all of First Methodist Church of Brownwood – as Shaefer preached it in Common Ground, and Alex and Lillie preached it in youth. Our entire theme was the fact that when we are in Christ, not only are we individually a new creation, but that everything is made new.

We wrapped up last week with the fact that Jesus changes our purpose. I talked about how we are created on purpose with a purpose. Today, I’ll continue that theme as we talk about the fact that we are sent with a purpose.

Now, don’t get wrapped up in that word sent. Yes, we have a team going to the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf in Mandeville, Jamaica… and yes, I am in the process of putting together a mission trip to help build churches in Costa Rica. But you don’t have to go to some other country to be sent with a purpose.

Jesus’ final words in Matthew were that, with the authority of Jesus, we are to:

Matthew 28:19

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Just like the word “Sent” we often focus on that word “GO.” But when you study the passage you quickly realize that Go is not the action verb, Make is the action verb. In modern English, it might read, “As you go about your normal everyday life, make disciples of Jesus.”

Sermon Slide

In other words, there is a lot of work that you are sent to do right here in Brownwood, or right here in First Methodist Church. So, let me be clear as we begin this sermon together. This sermon is a call to action… it is a call to serve… it is a call to make a difference in the lives of the young people of this church, to reach the lost and lonely of Brownwood, to be agents of God's love and grace in a world that desperately needs it.

You are sent with a purpose. Like we said, you were created on purpose, with a purpose. Today, I hope to help you find your purpose!

Thankfully there are lots of instructions and teachings from Jesus on this very topic… From the Sermon on the Mount to the Great Commission, Jesus has a lot to say about how we are to live once we have been saved. And it’s not just how we are to live but who we are to live for.

We get to live our lives in such a way that others may know the love of Christ. But, as followers of Jesus, it all begins with our purpose!

Turn with me to Matthew 9:35. Jesus has been deep into his healing ministry. In the verses just prior to this passage, Jesus has restored 3 demon-possessed men, healed a paralyzed man, raised a dead girl to life, healed a sick woman and healed a group of blind men.

Then we find this passage:

Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus had compassion on the people He was interacting with. His heart went out to those who were, “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And so, it makes sense that if we are to live like Jesus, to follow Him and learn from Him, that we would be purposed towards those who need to be reconnected with the chief Shepherd.

Sent with a Purpose

As followers of Christ, we are not here on earth merely to exist or go through the motions of life. We talked about the fact that we are called to reveal God’s will, to bring God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. That isn’t an easy task. We have been given a divine assignment by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to be His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His love, grace, and healing. Like we looked at last week, this is central to our faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus was sent with a purpose. Verse 35 tells us that Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. His mission was clear: to bring the light of God's love and truth to a world shrouded in darkness, and to offer hope and healing to those who were lost and broken. Jesus came and revealed the Kingdom of God, he brought heaven to earth.

Jesus' purpose was not only to save humanity from sin and death but also to demonstrate the heart of the Father and to show us what it means to live a life of purpose and significance.

As Jesus carried out His mission, He was moved with compassion for the people who were without a Shepherd. This is a powerful image - Sheep are in constant need of guidance, protection, and care – just like you and me. Jesus recognized that the people He encountered were not only physically sick and in need of healing but also spiritually lost and in desperate need of a Savior.

So, what did Jesus do? He issued a call to His disciples in verse 37, saying, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." This call to action is not only directed at the twelve disciples but also at each one of us who claims to follow Christ.

We are all called to be workers in the harvest field, to be agents of God's love and grace in a world that is starving for truth and hope. Our purpose, like that of Jesus, is to bring the good news of the kingdom to those who are lost and to offer healing and restoration to those who are broken.

Our passage goes on to tell the story of Jesus sending the disciples out with his authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. This authority wasn’t given to the disciples because of their own merit or abilities, but because of their relationship with Jesus and their willingness to follow Him and carry out His mission.

The same is true for us today. As followers of Christ, we have been given authority to bring healing and restoration to a broken world, not because of our own strength or wisdom but because of our connection to Jesus, the source of all power and authority. We have authority in Christ because He has all the authority to give. When we serve, we do so with the sure and certain knowledge that Christ is with us, and it is his power that works in and through us.

You heard from Brittany earlier today… You will soon be hearing from Lori about our Mentoring Program at the schools. The need is great! There are tables full of opportunities to serve. Just as Jesus said some 2000 years ago, the same truth remains. The harvest is plentiful… there is lots of work yet to be done!

The Harvest is Plentiful

This phrase reminds us of the vast opportunities and responsibilities that we, as followers of Christ, have in sharing the Gospel and serving others in His name. This point comes straight from Jesus' words in Matthew 9:37, where He says, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." That message wasn’t just for Peter, James, and John… it wasn’t just for the 12 Disciples… it was and is for all followers of Jesus Christ!

There are countless people in the world who are in desperate need of the hope, love, and salvation that can only be found in Jesus Christ. The "harvest" refers to the multitude of individuals who are spiritually lost and in need of a relationship with God. As believers, we are called to be the "workers" who go out into the world, sharing the Good News of Jesus and inviting others to experience the life-transforming power of His love and grace. And, you don’t have to go across the world to find those who are lost and lonely… Look across the street… I mean, literally, we have the High School across the street… but think about your neighbors… what about the 8 homes that are adjacent to your home?

There are countless ways in which we can serve God and others, both within our local communities and around the world. Whether it's through evangelism, discipleship, acts of service, or simply living out our faith in our daily lives, there is no shortage of opportunities for us to participate in God's work and make a difference in the lives of others.

Never forget this church; You… we are not alone in this mission. Jesus has promised to be with us every step of the way, empowering us through the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purposes and overcome any obstacles that we may face. God has given us the tools, the gifts that we need to accomplish great things. Greater things than you can imagine! Why, because all things a possible with Jesus.

All Things are Possible with Jesus

When we surrender our lives to Christ and allow Him to work through us, there is no limit to what He can accomplish in and through our lives.

The disciples were ordinary people, just like you and me, yet Jesus chose them to be His representatives on earth. He empowered them to do extraordinary things in His name. I’ve heard it said that “God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” No matter our background, our past mistakes, or our perceived inadequacies, Jesus can use us for His glory if we are willing to submit to His will and trust in His power. I once sat before another preacher with my long list of sins that, in my mind, should have kept me from being a preacher… you know what that preacher asked me? “Don’t you think God can forgive you for that?”

The answer, yes, he already has.

The things the disciples did wasn’t because of how great they were…. It was because they knew that their purpose wasn’t so much about them and who they were, as it was about Jesus and who He is!

We must rely on Jesus and His power, not our own.

We may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the challenges and obstacles we face. We may doubt our ability to make a difference or question whether God can truly use us to accomplish His purposes.

Let me share a story about a Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball. Ed was stuck with the teen-age boys on Sunday morning… or maybe he chose them, we aren’t sure, but what we know is that he prayed for the rambunctious hyper boys and he wanted to make sure that they knew Jesus and that Jesus changed their life. He prayed for them daily and worked with them each week.

One of his students really didn’t seem to be getting it, so one day, Kimball went to the shoe store where the youngster was stocking shelves and started talking to him about his faith… on that day, Dwight L. Moody gave his life to Jesus as he and Mr. Kimball prayed together.

Some of you know who D.L. Moody was… that he preached on 2 continents and thousands of people were introduced to Jesus through his ministry. But the story doesn’t end there.

A young man by the name of J. Wilbur Chapmangave his life to Christ as a result of Moody’s ministry. Chapman later became an evangelist, preaching the Gospel to thousands.

One day, on his day off, a professional baseball player attended one of Chapman’s evangelism meetings and at that service, Billy Sunday gave his life to Christ. Sunday quit baseball and became part of Chapmans ministry team until Chapman took a position as a pastor at a larger church.

Then, Billy Sunday started his own evangelistic crusade.

During one of Sunday’s crusades, a dignified and scholarly gentleman named Mordecai Ham gave his life to Christ, studied and started his own crusades reaching the lost.

Ham’s crusades came to Charlotte where a lanky teen-ager named Billy Frank said he would never go hear the evangelist… But, then Ham announced that he knew for a fact that a house of ill repute was located across the street from the local high school and that male students were skipping lunch to visit the house across the street. When students decided to go to interrupt the meetings of Mordecai Ham, Billy Frank decided to go see what would happen. The message intrigued Billy Frank, so he went back another night where he responded to the invitation and gave his life to Christ. His friends knew him as Billy Frank… but the rest of the world will never be the same because of the man we have known as Billy Graham.

Anything is possible with God. A Sunday School teacher took the time to check on a young man in a shoe store… and today the world is a different place. Oh, Kimball never saw the full revelation of his answering of God’s call… He was sent with a purpose, but never fully understood that purpose on this side of life.

We must not limit ourselves to what we think we can do on our own. We must trust in the limitless power of Jesus to work through us.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Jesus told us

John 14:12

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

Jesus has called each and every one of us to be workers in His harvest field. We are all sent with a purpose, and we have been given the authority and power to do incredible things in Jesus name. Don’t limit yourselves to what you think you can do on your own, because Jesus is doing so much more than you’re limited mind can fathom at this time.

Sermon Slide

As followers of Jesus Christ, you have been given a specific mission to carry out in our world today. The heart of our purpose remains the same: to bring the good news of the kingdom to those who are lost and to offer healing and restoration to those who are broken.

Maybe God’s calling you to lead a mission trip.

Maybe God’s calling you to serve in our children’s ministry.

Maybe God’s calling you to work at Good Samaritan.

Maybe God’s calling you to make sure our message of hope goes beyond the walls of our church through our technology ministries.

Maybe God’s calling you to be a pastor… to preach the good news, to lead a congregation…

Regardless of the specific ways in which we are called to serve, our purpose remains the same:

Our Purpose

to be agents of God's love and grace in a world that desperately needs it.

An always remember, as we seek to live out our purpose as followers of Christ, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will empower and equip us for the work that lies ahead.