1 Luke

10: 1-12, Matthew 10: 1-16

A Step-By-Step Methodology Given By Christ to His Followers For Fulfilling His Own Great Commission To Make Disciples Of All The Nations
Jesus never commanded us to go out and plant churches. Building His church is something He said He would do: I will build my church... The Message has Jesus saying, This is the rock on which I will put together my church... If Jesus did not send his disciples out to plant churches, what did he send them out to do? We have these instructions in what is known as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). There are two passages that reveal the way, the steps, Jesus intended that his disciples carry out the commission he had given them. The waythe methodologyis found in Matthew 10 and Luke 10. In Matthew 10 he sends out the twelve for a trial run. After the twelve gain some experience He sends them out again as the seventy in Luke 10. Both passages are full of direct instructions from Jesus on how He intended his followers to do the work of making disciples of all the nationshow He intended for us to bring about His Kingdom. Why would he commission them to make disciples of the nations without showing them first how to go about doing it? It behooves us to carefully study these two passages if we want to follow in the Masters path and ways of carrying out the Great Commission. Matthew 28 makes it clear that our responsibility is to GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE, AND TEACH. His is to build His church. If we do our part, He will do His. Lets look at the steps involved in Jesus sending out his own disciples and what he expected them to do, step by step, as seen in Luke 10 and Matthew 10... NIV: the Lord appointed (v.1) Matt10Jesus sent... Luke10Later the Master selected... Observation: The Lord is the One who must do the sending, the selecting, the placing it on the hearts of his children. NIV: Ask the Lord...to send out workers (v.2) Luke10On your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands... Observation: Our job is to pray and beseech. His to appoint, call out, send, place upon the hearts of his children.

NIV: Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. (v.3) Matt10Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Luke10On your way! Be careful... Observation: We say come, He commands us to GO. Go where the lost are to be found, even if it is uncomfortable for us. It is much easier to invite the lost to come to our meeting, our conference, our services, a special event, etc. Christ commands his followers to GO where the lost are and there make disciples, baptize, and teach, and watch Him establish His church. NIV: Do not take a purse or bag or sandals... (v.4) Matt10Dont think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You dont need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment...travel light. Luke10Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage. Observation: We think we need a lot of stuff in order to plant churches: seminary trained leaders, mother churches, money, buildings, properties, pulpits, pews, trained leaders, and a host of things in order to do the Lords work. In v.4 Jesus actually commands them to NOT TAKE ANYTHING on the missionary journey lest they mistakenly depend on these extras as essential to the work at hand. He is the one who works through us to accomplish His purposes and kingdom. NIV: do not greet anyone on the road. (v.4) Luke10Dont loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way... Observation: Just get on with it. Take care of the main task at hand and not get side-tracked with all the things that tend to consume our time and energy. NIV: say... Peace to this house (v.5) find that person who opens up their home to you Luke10If your greeting is received, then its a good place to stay. Matt10dont insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there... Observation: This is the crux of everything. The goal is to find that man of peace that God has prepared beforehand. Without a man of peace there will be no new church plant. Prayer has much to do with God opening doors to those homes where he has a man of peace ready to receive us. If we are unable to find that man of peace there will not be a new church plant. NIV: Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you...do not move from house to house. (v.7) Luke10Stay at one home...dont move from house to house Observation: We are to stay put, not hopping around. Concentrate on that one home, the man of peace his family, extended family, neighbors, friends, work associates, his world. NIV: Heal the sick...and tell them, the Kingdom of God is near you. (v.9) Matt10Tell them the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. Luke10heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, Gods kingdom is right on your doorstep! Observation: What do we do when we have our man of peace? Jesus instructs us to do the same two things he did in his own earthly ministry: minister to the sick, and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. In His own ministry as well as ours, we must do both. Heal and Proclaim.

WARNINGS: (Jesus speaking) Stay alert. This is hazardous work Im assigning you. Youre going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so dont call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Dont be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation...Dont be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities...When people realize it is the living God your are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family...It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! (Matt10) SUMMARY: Christs way of planting N.T. Biblical Churches a la Luke 10 and Matthew 10 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers Go! Do not take... Find that man of peace Stay in that house (its the nucleus of the new church plant) Heal the sick (minister to) Proclaim the Good News Know that it will be tough

The result?

Christ says,

I Will Build My Church!