Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

What’s the Bottom Line up Front (BLUF)?

: How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Today’s Lectionary Texts carry with them two very central themes: 1) the Kingdom of God is near and 2) Joy.

Central to today’s Lukan passage is this declaration from Jesus to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God.

He says, “Wherever you go, enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

And as our Hebrew Scriptures pronounce, that in doing what Jesus asks, all will experience joy.

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

But the his begs the question, (BLUF) How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Allow me to suggest that we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God (per today’s text) by:

What’s the Bottom Line up Front (BLUF)?

: How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Going in pairs (to harvest and pray)

Going in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Going with the right attitude

then return, rejoicing

Before we delve into this idea of witnessing to the coming of the Kingdom of God, let us go to God in prayer.

PRAYER

Center us, O God on your holy Word and let your Spirit come.

Come Holy Spirit Come! (2X)

...And fall afresh on us.

May the Words your Scripture open our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that we may witness to the coming of your Kingdom.

O'Lord, my preparation be worthy to you.

Speak now either through me or in spite of me.

Either way, reveal your Glory!

And all of this we pray in the Jesus’ name.

Amen.

We go in pairs (to harvest and pray)

- We

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God? - We go in pairs (to harvest and pray)

Our passage opens by saying that Lord Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them out in pairs.

In the same way that God, in God’s self, never operates alone, but as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Jesus sends out his followers in pairs.

When I think about this idea of pairs, I think about God creates life in pair, man and woman.

He ushers on to the ark, the animals Two by Two.

In the Army, every Chaplain is assigned an assistant, every commander has a senior enlisted advisor.

Because two heads are better than one; and because we are safer when we have a battle buddy.

Pray for more labourers

Now note, when Jesus sends these 35 pairs out to the harvest He implies or promises that the harvest is abundant and plentiful and that it calls for a large work force to reap the crops before they spoil.

What should draw our attention as Christians is that Jesus sees abundance where others might see poverty/scarcity (that is, with and among the wolves).

This is decidedly not because he is an optimist but, rather, because of his faith in the 'Lord of the Harvest.'

Its is important that we also realize that Jesus does not commission his disciples to prepare the harvest (God's grace does that... that remains forever God's responsibility).

Rather, Jesus commissions his disciples to go in pairs to 1) gather the harvest in, and 2) pray/ask for more laborers.

In reality, the point should be made that "harvesting" implies coming to full maturity and being gathered into the reign of God.

Reflection Question: What exactly does it mean to be "harvested?" or to “Spiritually harvest?”

Remember, as these pairs are sent out, "their single purpose is to harvest those who ready to encounter Jesus.

(i.e. to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God) This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation.

The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Theirs is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others."

Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

Note that Jesus implies (promises) that the harvest is abundant/plentiful and that it calls for a large work force to reap the crops before they spoil.

What should draw our attention as Christians is that Jesus sees abundance where others might see poverty/scarcity (with and among the wolves).

This is decidedly not because he is an optimist but, rather, because of his faith in the 'Lord of the Harvest.'

Its is important that we also realize that Jesus does not commission his disciples to prepare the harvest (God's grace does that... that remains forever God's responsibility).

Rather, Jesus commissions his disciples to 1) gather the harvest in, and 2) pray/ask for more laborers.

In reality, the point should be made that "harvesting" implies coming to full maturity and being gathered into the reign of God.

- "Their single purpose is to prepare others to encounter Jesus.

This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation.

The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Their is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others."

Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

In , Paul writes reminds us that if

"Their single purpose is to prepare others to encounter Jesus.

This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation.

The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Their is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others."

Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

When applying this thought to our own congregational community, we must remember that God is inevitably responsible for the growth of our community; yet we are called to be open to this growth... to plan, to organize, and to work in a way that anticipates rather than impedes such growth; and to pray for and invite others to join us in gathering the harvest God has prepared.

- Richard Shaffer and David Lose Pg 216/217 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

Therefore, the first way we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God is to go in pairs to harvest and pray for more laborers.

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Going in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

How else do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

We go in Faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Jes

Jesus commissions the pairs to go where He would go and do what He would do.

He calls the pairs to enter into inescapable vulnerability.

Jesus acknowledges that He is sending his disciples into places of potential hostility, and what he expects is "a nonviolent response to any rejection at the hands of others" (to 'turn the other check) - Elaine Health Pg 216, YR C, VOL3 FoTW

Jesus acknowledges that he is sending his disciples into places of potential hostility, and what he expects is "a non-volient response to any rejection at the hands of others" (to 'turn the other check) - Elaine Health Pg 216, YR C, VOL3 FoTW

When disciples are sent out, they not only share in the mission of Jesus, but also in its deprivation, dangers, and risks.

They must go in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves).

But remember the One who sends them is also the Good Shepherd.

Hardship and Danger may exist, yet in faith we must believe that He will not leave us (thy rod and thy staff will protect).

See

If we are to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God, we must remember that Isaiah prophesied about the “peaceable Kingdom of God” in and .

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

and a little child shall lead them.

This statement seems to also allude to the understanding of the "peaceable kingdom" that Isaiah prophesied about

This statement seems to also allude to the understanding of the "peaceable kingdom" that Isaiah prophesied about

Therefore, the second way we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God is to go in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)