Not a Spectator Sport

Every time you tell yourself, you're going to be clever enough to remember to unmute yourself. You're not in fact, I'm not that clever. So I apologize in advance.

Now there is a huge huge difference between watching and playing rugby a huge difference. If you know me at all, you know that I am not the most passionate person about sports on Blaze pretty hard to ignore this thing called rugby. When you live in Scotland Pacific even anywhere near Merrifield on a six nations. They know the truth is when I put my mind to I can actually quite enjoy I'm watching rugby though. I still don't really understand what Cameron next to me. Who can you connect explain what's happening? I'm like most people conceivably I could actually become a bit of a fan of watching perhaps But I can tell you for sure that I'm playing it is always a whole nother thing. I have some memories bad memories needless to say some memories from school of rugby. And here's what I remember is rugby must be played when it is freezing cold in the winter. Rugby must be played when it is wet and raining when the ground is Muddy rugby must be plates makes everyone else bigger than you thought had that happen to me. I'm quite small anyway, but it was that you got bigger chewing mother was quite unfair and the one thing the one thing I found it hard to master was throwing yourself. Somebody else's feet while they were running. Who in their right mind would tear that is always seem like a bad idea. So you don't need me to tell you there's a huge difference between watching rugby and actually playing. Was Jesus disciples with them following their story and they have done plenty and plenty of watching up to this point? Now it's time for them to get onto the pages with carrying on our journey through Luke's gospel links telling of Jesus his story and in today's readings things really start to change for Jesus's disciples adjust the old book about things that happened a long time ago and far far away. We're going to look at section today that has important things to say to us here and now so come with me to Luke chapter 19 will read the first 9 vs it going to pick up one of my blue Bibles next to you. I'm Lucas on page 1038 Luke Chapter 9th and the chapters of the big numbers to look for the big 9th page 1038. I'm going to start from verse 1 Anika is going to come and read for us today. Now we pick up a story. I after a series of amazing Miracles where Jesus shows his power over nature. I'm over the supernatural realm over health and then even over life itself was going to come after a set of amazing science like that will pay 2038 big 9 Luke. Let's read. When Jesus was cool the toilet together he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to chew diseases and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal those who were real. He told them take nothing for the journey. No stuff. No bike. No bread. No money. No extra should whatever house you went to stay there until you leave that town if people do not welcome you leave that town and Shake the Dust off your feet as a testimony against them. So they set out. I went from Village to Village proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. Now Heritage Church Rock heard about what was going on and he was perplexed because some was saying that John had been raised from the dead others that Elijah had a. And still others that one of the prophets of long ago come back to life. But Herod said I beheaded John who is that such things about and he tried to see him. Britain thinkstation

Jesus chose these 12 their company called by the 12 apostles. I'm back in chapter 6 I'm but he started Gathering them actually little bit before that even 7 chapter 5 prep to remember if you were with us Pete of the Fisherman's Boat Trip with Jesus. I ends with Peter leaving everything to go and follow Jesus and then later that same chapter Jesus closest Geico to leave. I away from his text that I can after a huge party with Levi's friend T2 leaves everything and goes on the road with Jesus. But here's the thing so far Jesus's disciples, even this innermost circle of the 12 really have basically been spectators. They they're watching Jesus at his work crazy big Miracles by the Dozen right there listening to Jesus's words. Some of my feisty words some of the Revolutionary War summer just head scratching. What is Jesus saying here now to be fair to be fair to these twelve. They had left everything and going on the road with Jesus. You got to give them some credit to save a picture probably overdoing it a little bit. Anyways, they really are still Spectators. And then Jesus turns up and Jesus turns up the heat. It's time for them to switch from just being Spectators to come on into the game after you familiar with the story or at least the general idea of the disciples joining into Jesus is Mission, we can meet the store and think of course course that's what happened. Next. We all know the story. We all know what happened next. But before we get too far into this, we really need to stop the clock and ask the big question. Why? Why does Jesus do this? Why does Jesus involved his disciples in this way? You see what we got here is a fundamental shift in Jesus's strategies and his approach you guys from being the only teacher the only worker of these signs and wonders in to engage in a hotel, people and these same thing. So why Jesus involve everyone in this Mission? I mean, is it simply a question of scalability right with a just impossible for Jesus himself to reach global scale is a single individual down the days before mass media, at least. I mean nowadays, of course, this isn't so much of a problem. I think the platforms like YouTube a single individual could become hugely globally influential even if most of us still have no idea who they actually are you this who's heard of James Charles? Who's James Charles? King James Charles James Charles super well known in some demographics. Apparently, he is famous enough to bring the whole of Birmingham to a standstill to do is show up and seriously Pro 30-second Cosmetics pitch in a bad traffic trying to get to him to shut the city down. Thanks. There's 10 million you chew Farmers changed around here.

Is that why Jesus me symbol of the disciples cuz without mass media. He simply couldn't reach that sort of scale. Well, if you wanted to do all himself just chosen a better time for the Incarnation, right just you know that we could have had a millennial Jesus with his own YouTube channel would have been so much easier for him to reach everyone directly himself or tell you this, you know, since he is gone and all that he could have just done a direct mental broadcast to everyone on Earth Anyway by a simple cast Vision TV. So she wanted to get directly to everyone he he could have done it. The reason about the disciples isn't simply because he couldn't think of another way to get the job done. That's not why he's involving them.

Why is it is it perhaps that there is something fundamentally Christ I think about engaging with mission. Jesus's mission it flows naturally have who he is right his love and his grace driving into his mission and so is his disciples become more and more like Jesus then they should write unavoidably join him in this same Mission. I mean, that's the only possible consequence of developing more and more of his character his love for those who are perishing. Practice involving them here precisely to challenge them to grow towards christlikeness. If he working at the other way around you saying as you pursue that you'll discover that you need to be more like me to actually engage in these things. You need to care more for others than for yourself. You need to have this love and compassion. And being send just as Jesus is sent. Is there a is there a lesson 4 the disciples what I think we should notice just how close to the mission he gives them here mirrors his own mission by when Jesus talks about sending out of his disciples here. I am verse to Isis is sending them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and he'll those who were ill will let this is Luke 4:43 who 442 I put it up on the screen here. He says this is Jesus talking about himself. He says I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns. Also, she knows what Jesus says his mission is that is why I was sent Jesus sent to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God will what's he's doing with the disciples. They are sent. To proclaim the kingdom of God, if you only way that good news has gone its there too in this text or 6 is another description what they're doing to go everywhere for claiming the good news. Jesus drives out demons. What's the empowered is it supposed to do to heal to drive out demons? And we see that he'll get we can presume perhaps they drove out demons to give a specific the empowered to do that. I know there's some passages on the race questions about that little bit later on but the important thing to see here is Jesus's disciples Mission mirrors his iron Mission the way he sends them the mission gives them to do even in some ways the empowering for that mission as a mirror image of what's going on with Jesus himself. Now, obviously there are differences. He's not calling them to be the savior of the world. Buffalo's difference is we can't over estimate the size of these similarities. Jesus shifting is strategy. He's moving these 12 disciples from their seats on to the pitch. He's bringing them into his own mission about first. He gives them something right. He he empowers them to to drive out demons and to heal the 40 commissions and sends them out. But here's the funny thing right as he's doing that empowering. And she's giving the Mets Supernatural power to accomplish that mission you also list the whole set things. They should leave behind things. Which really when you think about it seems like they're going to make it their mission much much harder. Number three, he says take nothing for the journey and if I wasn't playing enough and actually me and the disciples we know that probably wasn't plain enough that we need a little bit more direct communication for him. So he got his own and explain to him only says take no staff. Now is that like being told you're going to have to walk up on my way with that walking poles slightly increasing the risk of a twisted ankle perhaps or or is it more serious? Is it like heading out into Bear Country without any defense rides at 1 news staff means here? He says Bagwell a bag with nothing and it'll be very odd unless it's a fashion statement. Maybe you had to have the right sort of bags to travel in those. They send us a chance to the type of bag. This interview here is a baking bag. So it shouldn't go begging for money, but possibly true but it's not absolutely certain but mean even more restriction for the disciples if that was the case. But anyway this move on no bread. Now this is starting to become a serious problem. Right because with a staff they might end up in trouble on the road. I don't really know how dangerous these roads were but I can tell you this. I'm sure it wasn't certain death to will get over that staff increase the risk, but it wasn't certain death, you know and no bag and I could be a bit inconvenient if you have to carry a selection of goodies.

No bread on everyone's got to eat. But if you're planning a long-distance walk than no bread is really not very clever option is it? Jesus telling his disciples not to even bring the absolute Bare Essentials for the mission. Right? No money. So you have no bread. You can't buy any. No, extra shirt will presumably personal hygiene is just not the same thing as Jesus disciple is going to detract from there and their missionary Effectiveness is a whole list of stuff here not to take instructions. Meaning Jesus disciples are putting themselves in a dependent position of vulnerable position as they take on their mission and Why does Jesus do that? I keep asking questions. That's not the sort of person. I am I like to ask questions about things but sometimes we ask questions it helps us to dig a bit deeper to explore and try and understand what's going on. So why why staff less Bagless bread less money less shirtless power to heal and delivered from demons know on the other hand totally dependent. I could imagine process is to leave the disciples dependent on God for their practical provision, you know, even like that super naturally empowered for the mission. They need to depend on God's Supernatural provision. That doesn't seem quite right at least not directly right because the disciples aren't planning on, you know, praying and having bread fold in at a heaven for them. That's not the plan. Jesus gives them they're going to find provision people who receive that message. Rasportal to the entering a house and staying there this some section is paralleled in Matthew and more to the other gospels in Matthew. We can see us a house that belongs to a worthy person that takes them into look for a worthy person. That is somebody who receives their message. That's how that one kind of plays a noun. Is it making them dependent on God that's not quite what it seems to be aim to do. So perhaps it is making them know they're depending on people receiving their message. If no be received my message. No bad no bread, right. So maybe it's going to make them a little bit more like if no one can listen to me. I'm not going to eat. I'm going to freeze. So I need to find someone who listen to me that's going to give them that sense of urgency, press that true. But the other thing as I thought about this I've been noticing is this a real immediacy to the sending out. There's no excuses to be made by preparing for this Mission. You know, Jesus all I'll head on the right away. Just as soon as I got me to have to staff to ward off the bears bears are there in a Big Bear's perilous roads to get some bread i, d like crusty bread and don't you know, I don't have enough money for the only money. I probably don't need to find some supporters first One Financial supporters. I promise to launch a prayer letter for my supporters. So what so I'm just going to start building a support base Jesus before I I kind of engage in this Mission. Okay, especially rapidly, my best right? I'm like that. I'm fat. I just need one more thing. I'll be ready in a minute. I'll be ready just after this game. I'll be ready just after the end of this TV show. I'll be ready to just after this week. Operating just after the summer. I'll trust you enough. I'll be ready once I retired.

Jesus is moving his 12 disciples from their seats onto the pitch. And is he commissioned them he empowers them. But at the same time he sends them out immediately dependent on their Urgent Message being received a new fact about preparing that's clear from this right. Don't need a long time to assemble their supplies off. Nothing the government ready. They can just go so it's fine one final thing to see here and that is from the start. Jesus tells at least expect to be received by some people. Least expect to be rejected by others receive buy some cuz he don't need to take Provisions. That's how they going to find their provision telling them that you don't need bread because people can receive you and your message and then probably for you, but at the same time I sent you some people are not going to receive this in Jesus direction is simple verse 6 number 6 verse 5 ROM verse number in damn people doing welcome you leave. Let's instruction leave. There's going to be rejection for the disciples the empowered by Jesus himself for this mission.

But it's going to be rejection as well as rejoicing and that's really just another way the disciples Mission reflects. Jesus is Mission because Jesus to his face this rejection. You've been with us for a while. You remember Jesus with his homeboys in Nazareth. He spills the beans about what he's about and there's so I'm thrilled they chased me out of town and want to throw me off a cliff house after rejection.

It's amazing that people been given the gift of healing could be rejected by a town where the healing is surely going to be needed by someone is not amazing seems so illogical but people will just say no sometimes even to the one thing that could really help them.

Heartbeat on the pitch. Jesus tells the disciples is facing rejection. That's like part of playing rugby rather than just watching is getting whacked says part of it, but should you slow?

Well, I kind of said I like to ask questions a few minutes before I don't know. I like to ask this question in particular so won't.

Jesus sent out these 12 special Apostles on some special Mission with some special empowering and some special instructions long ago far away. That's all very interesting. But what does it have to do with you and me? What does it have to say to a here and now I think the single biggest thing this passage shows us is the following Jesus. It's not a spectator sport. Following Jesus is not a spectator sport sure. In this case. It is just those 12K disciples. If you are sent out in this way those the ones that Jesus calls up right here, but you know, he's going to do one chapter ahead call of 72. Jim was going to do when we get towards the end of This Book of Luke all the Book of Luke faces with cheese the dressing all of his disciples who left everyone who hasn't deserted him as a mission seem to go pear-shaped. Amici's ended up dead give this is all the disciples are left and he tells them you were all going to be my Witnesses. You're all going to call people to turn away from wrong and embrace the forgiveness and restoration with gone that Jesus is offering. You're all going to be carriers of this message. It says going to begin at Jerusalem. The ultimate is going to reach the very ends of the Earth in that first generation of disciples did not make it to the ends of the Earth. how to say made disciples they passed on this Commission along with the message

because disciples fundamentally are not spectators. Jesus message naturally calls us into his mission. You see Jesus is not just about sorting out things between us and God so we can minor in business and get them all around and stuff and go to heaven when we die. That is not Jesus's big plan. Jesus is about restoring our relationship with God but through doing that. He begins to transform us and take over our lives. He makes us more and more like him. Because it's more and more into his mission.

Jesus making disciples not just Converse here.

So, what about you?

Have you heard Jesus's message? Have you had a chance to consider it closely? If not, we're so glad you're here today. I would love you to stick with us. We're going to keep on exploring the story of Jesus told through Luke. It's a great place to find out what Jesus is about and what he wants. The office forgiveness and restoration for all the people who turned away from God. I don't want to hear show us how that possible through given up his own life. Too gone to death in our place.

We had a chance to consider it stick around but if you've heard this message and perhaps you've heard this message many many times. Have you rejected it? Jesus tells his disciples hear that he and his message will be rejected. He says when they reject the message, he needs their the discipleship respond with a warning. Suppressor people here today who have chosen to reject Jesus's message and it's my job. To leave you with a warning. You see Jesus walk the earth 2000 years ago. He brought mercy and Grace to us from God he offers pardon and Cleansing Formula Ramsey offers a path back to God a transformation for a line through his own death and that door forgiveness stands open just now stays open. But it won't always be that way because God has sad day when Jesus will return to judge the Earth. And this time anyone who hasn't taken shelter and what Jesus has done. They're going to face the Whitehall trap of a God who does not compromise who has been sprained. And tomorrow could be that day. We don't know the Bible tells us know if he knows when that's going to happen tomorrow morning portney. I guess could be your last day anyway. So, please don't ignore that warning.

The prep's that you've heard Jesus's message and you responded to it and you've embraced this free offer of New Life. The pressure still really a spectator when it comes down to it. When it comes down to Jesus mission pressure still really just watching from the sidelines no practice because this is all brand new to you. And you just don't feel like you are ready to engage with this idea yet. What Jesus does seem to have given his disciples some time with him to experience who he is and to hear his message before he sends them out. Others jump into this Mission with two big feet and you feel like that's fine for them, but it's not right for me because people are different the different personalities different guess they're different things that they can naturally do perhaps press the truth is you are in a really difficult place right now. And it feels like a time when really you can just hang on by your fingernails your new position to reach out to others. Pepsi just don't know what it could really mean for somebody like you to join into Jesus's mission. Do you have to have to be a missionary in Africa next quit your job and become a Street Preacher Caesar have as Witnesses standing with their stands in front of Engagement would have to go with him. Maybe you just can't imagine this being realistic compatible with real life for someone like you. Precious stones at any opportunity to engage with Jesus's mission you and your friends but no interest if you try to not interested your colleagues that just calling says no connection there at all. It's just a business relationship. But she tried this before nothing happened. You and your message has been rejected and he just feel like that's how it is. Always always going to be.

As a church if you've been with us for a while, hopefully you'll know Jesus is Mission is a big thing for us. I something we put right at the heart of what we do. We try and think hard about how old of us could actually be engaged in that will recognize and we're different people. in different situations

We want to be at church for each of us everyday everywhere. We find ourselves with every person we connect with. We're trying to take small steps forward in pursuit of Jesus's mission because we think the Bible shows us. This is fundamental to being a disciple of Jesus. This is what he's doing. Is he taking people from the stands onto the pitch? I struggle with this idea of Engagement Jesus's mission. I think the truth is a lot of us know I didn't say I would like to but but how well why don't you are even gather into shell? Even just for a few weeks is a party Sunday evening. I will try and get really practical we try and think through realistic meaningful steps that each of us could be a part of Jesus's mission Small Things doable things about things that really can make a difference to the people around us who are still living in darkness.

This passage tells us we should be encouraging emission because just like Jesus empowered those first disciples. He's empowered us with his holy spirit. That's the point of that thing for Pentecost if you know the Bible story, He knows and I we know too that we going to need his power to carry this one through that's what he told his disciples after recent wait in Jerusalem for the power from on high. We should be encouraged because that power that every Christian now has we should be urgent about emission not delay and not think you are just need a bit more preparation just need a bit more training to see a bit more stuff just a bit more just a bit more just a bit more of that sort of thing can cover your whole life urgent about this River. We need in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We persevere in this Mission because when is sometimes yeah, we're going to be rejected. But sometimes sometimes we're going to be received. And Jesus playlist multiplies disciples. So we hope those who receive his message will come also and join his mission to

Following Jesus is not a spectator sport. So I challenge you to get into the game. Let's take a moment to pray.

Got to go. Thank you for the way that you don't just make a Spectators. But you and files onto the pitch. I bet I would have been easier without us. But as we become more like you you call us into your mission. cost to you live out the love that you have and you give us Brothers.

That's hard nice and that we can see whether we pray as a church you would help us to engage with this morning. Are you encouraged us that you even been empowered by your Holy Spirit and the son will respond. And other Europeans the urgency that they sort ask deserves.

Peace, I know just hear your message, but join your mission a man.

will

What are things we like to do? It is Sin Cara's things not just to be me speaking to you but KU involved until we going to start doing that right now by asking you a couple questions, and I can be brave enough to turn to the person next to you and