Luke 10:1-20

Empowered for the Mission: Sharing the Word of God

Bible Passage: Luke 10:1-20

Summary: In Luke 10:1-20, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to prepare the way for His ministry in various towns and villages, emphasizing the importance of spreading the word of God and trusting in His provision and power.

Application: This sermon calls Christians to recognize their role in sharing the Gospel in their communities, encouraging them to step out in faith and reliance on God's guidance despite their fears and insecurities—reminding them that every believer is called to partake in this mission.

Teaching: The passage teaches that evangelism is not solely the responsibility of church leaders but of all believers. By stepping out in faith, relying on God’s strength, and proclaiming the Kingdom, Christians can also be vehicles of God's grace and mercy.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is the focal point of this mission; He empowers and sends out His followers to share the message of salvation, reinforcing that the Gospel is centered around His authority and presence, ultimately culminating in His commission in Matthew 28:19-20.

Big Idea: As followers of Christ, we are called and empowered to share the Gospel boldly, trusting in the Lord’s provision and guidance as we take part in the Great Commission.

Introduction:

Over the last couple weeks, I have been set up pretty nicely for this sermon.

Jason really kicked it off by telling us what it meant to have a child like heart. To be humble without concern of social status, and to hunger for more knowledge.

Last week we got to hear from our missionary friends, about sharing the gospel with those that haven’t heard it before.

Now today we get to hear about Jesus commissioning the 72.

A couple of months ago I was talking with a friend of mine.

He isn’t a church goer, he isn’t sure if he believes in Jesus, and he has had some bad experiences with the church.

We were talking and I had mentioned that I was going to be preaching that upcoming Sunday, and all of the sudden we started talking about my sermon, and historical context , and how all of the things that happened in the bible really happened, and not only did they happen but their is historical proof, hard evidence that what is written down in these pages occured, right here.

The more we talked the more he questions he had.

Now I never set out for this conversation as we were playing video games at midnight on a Friday, in fact I never really had intentions to talk about my faith, to share the word, or try to convert him into Christianity.

He was on my bless list, and I prayed for him, but never did I sit down with him and say you need to listen and watch and believe in the power of Jesus Christ.

But he told me that he was open to learning more. It wasn’t necessarily because of the conversations we had but rather through watching myself, and my wife Kelly, that he is able to see an impact that christ was having on our lives, and see the way that we treat people, and the way that we act, that leaves him open to hearing more about Christ.

Honestly hearing this from him was super surprising for me, as I don’t think that even I have really seen the impact that he is talking about, but I mentioned my faith to him not with the intent to change him, but rather I was sharing something that was important to me, with someone that was important to me.

So where does that lead us to with this passage? And how does it fit with the words that we are hearing from god, and what does it mean to us?

Well the big idea of today’s passage is that as followers of Christ, we are called and empowered to share the Gospel boldly, trusting in the Lord’s provision and guidance as we take part in the Great Commission.

1. Sent with a Purpose

Luke 10:1-6

You could explore how Jesus instructs the seventy-two to go in pairs, highlighting the importance of community and mutual support in the mission of spreading the Gospel. Emphasize that Jesus sends them ahead with a specific purpose and mission, fostering a sense of purpose in the congregation as they recognize that they, too, are sent by Christ to prepare the way for Him. Focusing on Christ’s provision for the journey reminds believers that they do not go alone but with His authority and peace.

Well we start out in Luke 10:1 seeing that Jesus appoints 72 others to go ahead of him to every town that he was about to go.

He says that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, and that these followers should pray earnestly to the lord to send out laborers into the harvest.

Well what does that mean? Do we not have enough food?

No, you see Jesus here is talking about the workers, or the believers.

He’s describing the large number of people that are ready to receive Jesus’ Kingdom message (the harvest) and the relatively few people that are available (the laborers) to share the message of the kingdom of god.

So here in verse 3, Jesus is telling them that he is sending them out to the wolves as lambs, and that these 72 disciples, will be the laborers to share the message of the kingdom of god.

As we push forward in our reading Jesus begins to give them some instructions as they get ready to go onto this Journey.

4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.

An interesting thing to note hear in this passage is some similarities that we can see in this commission that Jesus is saying.

First, He is telling these disciples that they shouldn’t take anything along with them. Not because they won’t need anything, but that everything they need, the lord will provide.

You see Jesus has lived this life as a human being, and he knows the needs of his followers, but by sending them out there he tells them to once again, “have faith” and that all will be provided.

Jesus says these things to us for not the first time, but rather if we look back one chapter at Luke 9:3–4 “And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.”

He said these words in his commission first to his 12 disciples.

How special is it that Jesus trusts these 72 other followers to go out and spread the message of God in the same way that he trusts his 12 disciples. The young men that have been following him on his journey he now trusts to all these other people.

I believe there is a parellel here to us today, We might not have walked physically beside Jesus for the start of his ministry but we have heard his teachings, and we have seen his miracles, and now, Jesus has put his trust in us, to go out and share his word.

It is so like Jesus, like God, to send out the unexpected to share his word.

Just look at David, look at Moses, Peter , Ruth, Timothy, Luke, Gideon, Noah, Jonah, Mary.. All of these figures in the Bible that came from these humble beginnings that were given a specific purpose and mission.

Just like us who have been commissioned today, over 2000 years after Jesus died on that cross for our sins and resurrected.

We have that shared purpose together as the church of christ. Not as members of this specific denomination, but rather as followers of christ, we are given the authority in his name to go and share his message.

And he tells us too that its not all on us if people choose not to believe after hearing the word of god as he says to share the peace that we have and if it doesn’t rest on those that we share it with it will come back to us.

2. Serve and Connect

Luke 10:7-12

Perhaps delve into Jesus’ instructions about hospitality and reliance on others, showcasing the call to Christians to be open to community and trust in God’s provision through His people. This sermon point can encourage the audience to build lasting relationships with others, showing Christ's love through genuine engagement and service. By inviting others into their homes and lives, believers participate in Christ's mission to proclaim His peace and presence wherever they go.

As we progress through this passage, we see next, that Jesus is giving us instructions to on how to serve and connect.

Now to verse 7 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. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Lets break that down. Jesus is talking here about hospitality and reliance on others.

He is showing us that as Christians, we need to be open to community, to other peoples needs and cultures, and to trust in God’s provisions.

Jesus is telling them here to find a family to stay with, bless them with god’s peace and bring those blessings to that house.

He says that the blessings and peace that are brought to them will be up to the host, and their willingness to receive gods words.

That those that reject him won’t receive gods blessing, but those that do will be brought to the crossroads with us.

Funny how god mentions food here as a way to connect and we often talk about the BLESS practices, were in the acronym the E stands for Eat. For those that have been following those practices and wondering where that came from here is your context to food.

But its all about relationships, and building upon those relationships, sharing life, sharing stories, helping one another, growing with one another.

In this commission Jesus tells us to stay with those that welcome you and feed them with the message, don’t go out and try to find something better, stay put and share the message from there.

By doing this you are keeping the focus on the mission of sharing gods word and not looking for the next best thing. Its not about the personal desires and needs, as the host will do that

If you are trusting in god, then you know that the lord will provide.

Within these instructions Jesus tells the 72 that they should heal and preach to the people.

Its a simple instruction that you might wonder about but Jesus says to heal the sick

Its not that these people were doctors but rather Jesus has given them the authority in his name, and through that authority those that are going out sharing gods words are performing miracles.

Not just miracles though, irrefutable miracles for people to see and believe.

Jesus says that when they do that they should tell them that “The kingdom of God has come near to you”

What better news can there be then to know that the kingdom of god is right around the corner. Its not something that is far away, rather it is something in the present reality available for all to see God’s power at work.

This passage shows us as believers that by inviting other people into our homes and our lives, that we can build relationships though engagement and service.

Bill Corban is a great example of this. He the college pastor at Lock Haven and you’ll get to meet him over here soon

But He invites I think just about anyone he passes by to come into his home for a meal and to converse.

You see, just like with my friend I mentioned earlier, By acting in a christlike way, and living out lives in such a way, we are helping to draw others towards gods light.

Its the enactment of christ’s love through us, that encourages those around us into his grace.

3. Persist Despite Rejection

Luke 10:13-16

Maybe address the warnings to cities that reject the message, highlighting the reality of spiritual resistance. Encourage Christians to persevere in their calling to share the Word, even in the face of rejection, trusting that Christ's authority covers their efforts. You could remind the audience that they bear Christ’s message and authority, and thus their words are an extension of His grace and truth. This motivates persistence and compassion in outreach efforts.

But what if they reject us?

The sad truth is that you will very likely be rejected.

To reject is natural, as god gave us free will and discernment, not just to us but to everyone including those that reject him.

He says this in verse 10-12 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘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.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Some very strong words that we will get to in a moment, but for this moment, know that he knew that we would be rejected.

And yet, even in rejection he asks us to tell them that the kingdom of god is near.

For even though they may reject him now, they might later find him.

The demands of kingdom service are too great. The reality of kingdom presence is too unbelievable. The comfort of worldly security is too strong. Yes, the city stands at the crossroads of decision: accept God’s message of the kingdom or lose your life

The highlight of this passage is the severity that is listed for those that reject the kingdom of god.

The act of wiping the dust from their feet is to show that the disciples won’t carry them with them, it is an act against them as it shows in Luke 9:5 “And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.””

Jesus doesn’t stop there though, he says those harsh words, “it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”

Sodem is known as a deplorable place that we often look back at and say that they got what they deserved.

They ignored god and lived in such sin it would make Los Vegas blush, so god destroyed it.

Genesis 19:24–25 “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

Jesus says here that for those that reject him now it would have been more bearable in Sodom.

He doesn’t stop their but rather he doubles down.

Luke 10:13–16 ““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.””

Now there is some heaviness to this passage all of the sudden.

It begs the question though, why is it so heavy, and why did Jesus call out these cities and towns?

Well the historical context of this passage shows that it was to better drive in the message.

So lets go in order and see if we can find the pattern.

Chorazin, Bethsaida

Originally these were towns that Jesus began his ministry in just north of Capernaum.

These towns had seen a lot of the miracles performed by Jesus.

Tyre and Sidon

Were known as great port cities that fell to ruin from its commercial prosperity.

These towns were called out against by the prophet Isaiah, that it would fall to ruin and dry up (which it did)

Lastly Jesus calls out Capernaum

The town that was home base of Jesus’ Public ministry

Jesus calls out places that have seen all of these great works of ministry and says, the more that these places have seen the miracles and yet they still reject me, all the more their judgement would be worse.

So for the people that have seen the messiah and yet still reject him, they would have it worse than those that had not been shown the truth of the kingdom of god.

So their is a severity in both accepting and rejecting gods word. By accepting his word you will live forever with him in heaven, and to reject him is to face judgement from god.

But that judegement isn’t from us, nor is it on us to delivered that judgement or to know what truly lies in that persons heart.

This is meant to encourage us as Christians to persevere in the calling to share the Word, even in the face of rejection, we can trust that Christ's authority will cover our efforts

We must be vigilant in knowing that we bear Christ’s message and authority, and thus our words are an extension of His grace and truth.

4. Power With a Purpose

Luke 10:17-20

Explore the joy of the disciples as they return, amazed by the power and authority Christ has given them. You can suggest that the true cause for rejoicing is not in the power itself but in the relationship and salvation secured by Christ. By focusing on this heavenly assurance, Christians are reminded of their eternal hope, empowering them to engage in their mission with zeal and gratitude.

As we push towards the end of today’s message, the passage acts here as if you are starting the next season of a tv show, and a time skip just happened.

We pick up after the 72 have returned from their paired up Journeys, and not only do they return, they return with joy!

Luke 10:17 “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!””

This is my second favorite line of this passage, as it shows that when the disciples went out, they were able to speak with the authority granted to them in Jesus name and it worked!

In a discussion I had with my dad a while ago about leading worship, we talked about prayer, and one thing that really stuck with me that he told me was to end a prayer in Jesus name. Because there is power in the name of Jesus. as even the demons fled at the sound of it.

What a powerful message that Jesus replies to and then quickly flips on its head

Luke 10:18–19 “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.”

Beautiful words from god, and so reassuring to hear, that Jesus is seeing the transformation taking place directly in front of him, “I saw satan fall like lightning”, because of the act of these disciples sharing the message of god.

Through his name, we are given authority to do the things we never thought possible

For us as humans today, we are attacked from all angles, and yet all of these things fall at the sound of his name.

Satan falls and is defeated, darkness runs for cover, venom that spews your way becomes naught

All this and yet Jesus says Luke 10:20 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Did you catch that? Jesus says here not that spirits are subject to you HERE, but rather, rejoice that your names are written in the book of heaven.

Rejoice Not in the physical present tense that you have this, because forever you will be able to live with me in heaven.

Now that is my favorite line in this passage.

It has nothing to do with earthly events but everything to do with eternity.

You didn’t write your name in the registry of heaven, but god did.

Jesus has seen your works, and knows that you believe in him, and that through his sacrifice on the cross, your sins have been forgiven and your name has been registered in heaven.

Conclusion

As I wrap up here I want to leave you with some words of encouragement.

By sharing your testimony of the miracles that god has done in your life, you are showing the world the splendors of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus name is power and we have been given the authority to use his name for good, and we should be wise with how we use it.

We have been commissioned to share the word of god and Jesus will guide us on our journey as long as we put our trust in god, and believe in him that the lord will provide.

Remember, it is the enactment of Christ’s love through us, that encourages those around us into his grace