Pentecost 8 (2)

Mark 6:7–13 NIV

7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Mark 6:6–13 NIV

6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

This past week was the annual area Bible camp we call Camp Wyalusing because it is held at Wyalusing State Park just south of Prairie du Chien, WI. This camp has been held there every summer for over the past four decades. Campers are children grades 2 through 8. It is supported by counselors who are juniors in high school and older (many college age) and an adult staff. This year we had 56 people at camp. Camp was held from Sunday afternoon through Friday morning.

Imagine that you or your child are packing for camp. What do you need to take with you? Food, water, a place to sleep, sports equipment, are all provided. Well, you would need a sleeping bag or bedding, a pillow, changes of clothes, toiletries, and since it is a Bible camp — a Bible and note paper and pencil. Swim suit and towels are all that is necessary. Most of the campers can get by for a week with just these basic necessities because they depend on all the rest of the things to be provided.

Not all camping is like that. In many cases, those who go camping practically bring duplicates of everything they own with them on their camping trip. Some campers are larger than the homes that many people in the world live in full time. Those campers are jammed full of food, clothing, electronics, recreational equipment, etc. They are self-sufficient and must bring it with them.

When we go camping, take a trip, or go somewhere on an extended visit or vacation, we have choices to make about how much stuff we are going to take along. Those choices depend on how long we will be gone, what we will be doing, and how much we can depend on others while we are away. If we are going somewhere where almost everything is provided (say on a cruise), we can get by with a minimal amount of gear. But if we are going where we have to take everything we need with us, we have to decide just how much is necessary and how much is luxury. Those who attempt to hike the entire Appalachian Trail soon find out just how much or little is too much or too little.

Today, we have an event in the lives of the disciples in which they are going a trip. No, they weren’t packing for Camp Wyalusing and they weren’t going on vacation or to visit relatives. They were going out from village to village to spread the kingdom of heaven. They would be telling others about Jesus and they would be able do miracles to confirm the message.

Even today people will go out on “mission trips”. They will go somewhere to help spread the good news about Jesus Christ. Our bus driver for this past week has a daughter who was involved at the same time at a camp in South Carolina. One afternoon those campers went out in 105 degree heat and went door to door to advertise the local WELS church in that town. Our youth rallies will often have such a mission event as well. I think we are all aware of how young Mormon men will dedicate two years of their lives going on a mission trip.

The trip in our text will not last two years. It seems to be a training mission during a short period of time. They were practicing what they would be doing the rest of their lives after Jesus’ ascension.

This trip shows us several timeless truths relevant for us today.

We are to call people to repent.

We have the authority of God himself.

We are to depend on him as we go out.

We are not to stop just because some do not listen.

In the preceding examples, people go out to camp, vacation, travel for various reasons. When Jesus sent out his disciples it was for the same reason he would later give them the Great Commission in . They were to go to make disciples. This is done by baptizing and teaching. The purpose of the church is that we are also to be going out. Although people will come to us (and we are glad that they do), we are also to reach out with the word of God. The message that the disciples preached is summarized as “repent”. (see parallels). We all need to confess out sins to God and look to Jesus for forgiveness and to help each other do that trusting in the promises of God.

We have the authority of God himself.

Jesus showed they had authority by giving them power to do miracles. Those are no longer necessary but God does have our back and promises to support us. (Paul “The Lord stood at my side).

We are to depend on him as we go out.

When Jesus sent out his disciples he provided them with a packing list. It was a short list. In part because they would not be gone that long. But also because while they were gone, they were to depend on God provided for their needs through other people. Those people would supply places to sleep, shelter, food, and water. Perhaps even medical attention but because they had the power to do miracles that would not have been necessary.

These instructions teach more than what to take along on a trip. It is in keeping with Jesus’ teaching to depend on God for what we really need in life. You may recall his general instructions in the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 6:19–34 NIV

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We do well to take inventory of the material possessions we have and ask ourselves if we are just storing up for ourselves things on earth or if we are willing to share from our abundance to support others in general and those who share with us the word of God.

(NIV)

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Galatians 6:6–10 NIV

6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We are not to stop just because some people do not listen.

Last week we heard how Jesus was rejected by his own hometown. But he did not stop. From there he went from village to village and here he commissions his disciples to go out as well. In the parable of the sower and the seed, he taught what kind of responses there would be. Here he acknowledges that there would be those who would reject the call to repentance and the messengers. (Cite) History shows how those who go out to share the Gospel are not always accepted nor is Jesus Christ.

Many people get frustrated when they are rejected. Jesus encourages us to keep up the good fight and to persevere even if it isn’t always going to be to the same people or in the same place. The goal is to keep moving forward.