Sent Ahead of Him: A Vision for Evangelism

INTRODUCTION

For the past two weeks, we have focused on abiding— abiding in Christ, being shaped by His Word and love, and bearing fruit that lasts.

Today, Jesus turns us outward.

In Luke 10, Jesus does not send experts, professionals, or religious elites. He sends ordinary disciples—people who have simply been walking with Him.

Evangelism, according to Jesus, is not about pressure or performance. It is about being sent ahead of Him.

1. Evangelism Begins with Calling, Not Confidence (vs. 1-3)

Luke tells us:

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.”

Evangelism always begins with Jesus’ initiative, not ours. The disciples do not send themselves. Jesus sends them.

Jesus, as Lord of the harvest, appoints and sends ordinary disciples in His name to take part in God’s mission to the world. He sends them in pairs and calls them to begin with prayer, reminding them that only God can raise up the right workers for a harvest that is both abundant and costly. Evangelism, then, does not begin with confidence or comfort, but with obedience, dependence on God, and trust in the One who sends us ahead of Himself.

That same pattern appears in Isaiah’s call. In Isaiah 6, the prophet encounters God in overwhelming holiness:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isaiah is undone. He does not feel qualified or prepared. He cries out, “Woe is me! I am lost.” But God cleanses him—and then asks a simple question:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Isaiah does not offer credentials or confidence. He simply says:

“Here am I; send me!”

Evangelism begins right there—not with ability, but with availability.

Jesus sends the seventy-two the same way. He sends them in pairs, reminding them they are not alone. And He tells them to begin not by speaking, but by praying:

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest…”

Before we speak, we pray. Before we go, we listen. Before we act, we respond to Jesus’ call.

Vision Application

The vision for our church in 2026 is to be a sent church who does the following:

Pray daily, “Lord, Send Me.”

See everyday spaces as a mission field

Respond with obedience, not confidence.

2. Evangelism Is Relational, Not Forceful (vs. 4-9)

Jesus gives the disciples clear instructions:

“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’”

Evangelism begins with peace, not pressure.

Jesus tells the disciples to begin their mission with the simple greeting, “Peace to this house,” an offer of God’s kingdom peace through Christ, not mere politeness. When that peace is received, God’s presence rests there; when it is rejected, the responsibility returns to the disciple, reminding us that the response belongs to God, not us. Evangelism, Jesus teaches, is about humble presence and faithful relationship, not comfort, status, or control of outcomes.

We see this lived out beautifully in John 4, when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus does not begin with condemnation or correction. He begins with a simple request:

“Give me a drink.”

A conversation unfolds. Jesus listens. He asks questions. He speaks truth—but always within relationship.

He stays long enough for trust to form. He speaks honestly about sin, but also offers grace. And when the woman begins to understand who Jesus is, she runs back to her town—not with arguments, but with an invitation:

“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done.”

That is evangelism the way Jesus teaches it—relational, patient, and rooted in presence.

Jesus tells the seventy-two to do the same:

stay where you are welcomed

eat what is set before you

heal the sick

say, “The kingdom of God has come near to you”

Evangelism is both compassion and proclamation—deeds and words together.

And Jesus is realistic. Some will not receive the message. When that happens, the disciples are told to move on, not force the issue.

Faithfulness matters more than results.

Vision Application

Evangelism in our church for 2026 looks like:

listening before speaking

building relationships

blessing people without conditions

trusting God with outcomes

Our calling is not to pressure people into belief, but to carry Christ’s peace wherever we go.

3. Evangelism Flows from Joy, Not Success (vs. 17-20)

When the seventy-two return, they are excited:

“Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!”

Jesus does not deny their success—but He redirects their joy:

“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Evangelism flows from identity, not achievement.

When the seventy-two return with joy, they recognize that the power at work was not their own but flowed from Jesus’ authority and His name. Jesus affirms the reality of spiritual victory, yet quickly redirects their joy away from success and power to something deeper and eternal—that their names are written in heaven. Evangelism is sustained not by impressive results, but by the settled joy of belonging to God.

We see this same pattern in Acts 3, when Peter and John encounter a man who has been lame from birth. They do not perform a spectacle. They simply say:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

The man is healed—and his response is pure joy. He goes “walking and leaping and praising God.”

The joy of transformation draws attention, and Peter is able to point beyond himself to Jesus.

That is how evangelism works. Joy becomes testimony. Grace becomes witness.

Jesus reminds His disciples that power, success, and visible results are not the foundation of their mission. Their deepest joy is knowing they belong to God.

When that joy is secure:

we are free from pride

we are free from discouragement

we are free to share hope naturally

Vision Application

As we move into 2026, our prayer is not that we become louder, but joyful.

joyful in Christ

joyful in salvation

joyful enough to share hope freely

Because people are not drawn to arguments. They are drawn to lives transformed by grace.

CONCLUSION

Jesus still sends His disciples ahead of Him.

We are sent:

not because we are confident, but because we are called

not with pressure, but with peace

not driven by success, but grounded in joy

Evangelism is not about becoming someone else. It is about walking with Jesus so closely that others encounter Him through us.

As we live into Vision 2026, may we be a church that goes where Jesus is going, carries His peace into our community, and shares the good news with humility, love, and joy.

Because when we walk with Jesus, He sends us ahead of Him—and He always follows.