Jesus called twelve disciples. He had come to save the whole world. But he began with twelve, and even within that twelve there were three (Peter, James, and John) who formed an inner circle of disciples.
My point: When it comes to ministry, Jesus often works small. His goal is to bring the gospel to the whole world, but he does it, as often as not, a couple people at a time. There are only a couple of reports of large numbers of people coming to believe in Jesus at a time – and they’re in Acts after Jesus has ascended into heaven.
Jesus knew that by going around preaching he could draw many people to himself, but he also knew that the crowds would often come to him for the wrong reasons – power, glory, miracles, a king do feed them or drive out the Romans. He also knew that, alone, he could only cover so much ground. So he called 12 disciples and he taught them.
Then he sent them out. Now instead of the message being proclaimed in one place, it’s being proclaimed in seven places. (Remember he sent them out in pairs.)
What would happen in our churches is each family looked to bring one family with them? What would happen if each family walked with one family in their neighborhood and they shared the good news with them?
I think that too often we think big and accomplish little. Perhaps we should start thinking little, and we will accomplish a cumulatively big result.
Sharing the gospel can be a bit daunting. Jesus points out that not everyone will accept the good news. Some people will react violently to it. His message will bring division. If we teach that there is only one way to heaven and that the way is Jesus, someone will be offended by that. That’s called the Scandal of the Particular. All are welcomed but there is only one way to come to the Father; only one way to have peace with God; only one way to have forgiveness – and he is Jesus. He also reminds us that he himself was persecuted for sharing the good news of God’s kingdom, and tells us we should expect the same.
While that might be a fearful thought, Jesus tells us “have no fear of them.” Jesus tells us that whoever acknowledges him before other people, he also will acknowledge before our Father in heaven. He points out that there is more than this life, that God has something better than this life in store for us. “Whoever loses his life for [Jesus’] sake will find it.”
Remember, we are working to receive a reward. We cannot ever earn the reward, but in Jesus we will receive it so we work to bring the message that the kingdom of God is at hand. God is with us, and he is active in our world. He is still working salvation and transforming people’s lives. We have been placed where we are, one, two, a family, a congregation at a time to share that message of hope through Jesus’ cross and empty tomb with others.
Father, I thank and praise you because I know you are still at work in our world! I sometimes lose sight of the many things you do to bring life and salvation into my life, but help me to see how much you are doing as I read your Word. Help me to know your salvation in my life so well that I will share your hope with others – one person, one family at a time. Amen.
My point: When it comes to ministry, Jesus often works small. His goal is to bring the gospel to the whole world, but he does it, as often as not, a couple people at a time. There are only a couple of reports of large numbers of people coming to believe in Jesus at a time – and they’re in Acts after Jesus has ascended into heaven.
Jesus knew that by going around preaching he could draw many people to himself, but he also knew that the crowds would often come to him for the wrong reasons – power, glory, miracles, a king do feed them or drive out the Romans. He also knew that, alone, he could only cover so much ground. So he called 12 disciples and he taught them.
Then he sent them out. Now instead of the message being proclaimed in one place, it’s being proclaimed in seven places. (Remember he sent them out in pairs.)
What would happen in our churches is each family looked to bring one family with them? What would happen if each family walked with one family in their neighborhood and they shared the good news with them?
I think that too often we think big and accomplish little. Perhaps we should start thinking little, and we will accomplish a cumulatively big result.
Sharing the gospel can be a bit daunting. Jesus points out that not everyone will accept the good news. Some people will react violently to it. His message will bring division. If we teach that there is only one way to heaven and that the way is Jesus, someone will be offended by that. That’s called the Scandal of the Particular. All are welcomed but there is only one way to come to the Father; only one way to have peace with God; only one way to have forgiveness – and he is Jesus. He also reminds us that he himself was persecuted for sharing the good news of God’s kingdom, and tells us we should expect the same.
While that might be a fearful thought, Jesus tells us “have no fear of them.” Jesus tells us that whoever acknowledges him before other people, he also will acknowledge before our Father in heaven. He points out that there is more than this life, that God has something better than this life in store for us. “Whoever loses his life for [Jesus’] sake will find it.”
Remember, we are working to receive a reward. We cannot ever earn the reward, but in Jesus we will receive it so we work to bring the message that the kingdom of God is at hand. God is with us, and he is active in our world. He is still working salvation and transforming people’s lives. We have been placed where we are, one, two, a family, a congregation at a time to share that message of hope through Jesus’ cross and empty tomb with others.
Father, I thank and praise you because I know you are still at work in our world! I sometimes lose sight of the many things you do to bring life and salvation into my life, but help me to see how much you are doing as I read your Word. Help me to know your salvation in my life so well that I will share your hope with others – one person, one family at a time. Amen.
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