A Dangerous Mission

Website Editor • October 28, 2020

From Pastor Lance Shumake's message on Matthew 10:16-42:

Jesus doesn’t hold back in telling His disciples what it will be like to go out on mission. It will be costly. It will be dangerous. It might get them killed.


The mission Jesus gave His disciples is the same one He gives us. We are to know Him as well as we can, so we can GO OUT and make Him known to the ends of the earth. This mission is why we’re here.


When Jesus talks about how difficult and dangerous the mission is; He’s talking about following Him. He’s talking about the normal Christian life. 


“Coming to Jesus is not a negotiation. Coming to Jesus is not an agreement. Coming to Jesus is not a contract. Coming to Jesus is a death — your death. He died so that you may live. Now He asks you to lose your life so that you may find life in Him.” - Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies (Oct. 19)


When we follow Jesus on the mission He has called us to, we can expect that…


...It might not be safe (v16). He says, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” In our culture, safety and comfort have become supreme values. If we’re not careful, these values could get in the way of us following Jesus.


...It might bring you into conflict (v21). Jesus calls for our undivided allegiance and devotion. This might be divisive and cause conflict among people you are closest to.


...It might cause people to hate you (v22). He says, “and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” When you take a stand for what God says, you bring light into a dark world. You can expect some hate for this.


...It might get you killed (v28). The hatred that the world has for you may spill over and kill you. In parts of the world, this is literally happening. We need to be prepared for this reality.


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These are hard realities and expectations that are necessary to set. But, thankfully(!) Jesus doesn’t leave us there. Throughout His message to the disciples, He gives us plenty of encouragement and reminds us that we don’t have to be afraid.


As Christians, we know that…


...truth overcomes fear! (v19) We belong to Jesus! When we are persecuted, it should be a reminder that Jesus too was persecuted (v24). This should further confirm that we are on the right path, heading toward Him.


...truth wins in the end! (v26) We know the end of the story -- nothing will be covered, nothing will be hidden. When we stand up for the Word of God, it will be clear eventually that we were on the right side of history.


...death can’t harm us! (v28) Death is the worst thing that can happen to us on earth; but it’s really not that bad when you understand the gospel. If we are killed, it’s victory!


Jesus Christ defeated death on the cross! He who lived a perfect, sinless life was killed and -- in death -- took the punishment we should have had to pay. Three days later, He rose from the grave and conquered sin and death so we can live forever with Him! 


As James promises, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.


...God is with us! (v19) God will provide us with whatever we need in the moment; His Spirit is always with us -- helping us, fueling the mission, giving us strength and empowering us. Verse 30 tells us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered -- God is not watching from a distance, He is intimately involved. We have no reason to fear. 


...sometimes it all works out! (v42) One day, people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will join together in worship to the Lord. This is a guarantee that sometimes — even in the most unlikely circumstances — it will all work out. People will receive us, because they are receiving God. 


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Jesus then puts all of this wisdom into the context of one taking up a cross and following Him. He says, “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”


“If your aim is to love people, you will lay down your life to make them eternally glad in God. And if your aim is to glorify Christ, who is God incarnate, you will also lay down your life to make people eternally happy in God.” - John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life


Jesus is the hope of the world. Our mission is to take up our cross, follow Him, and share that hope with others.


We are to bring light to this world.


No matter the costs.

This sermon is available to watch on our Matthew page.

Not Surprised

June 24, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:12-19 We shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter suffering John 15:18–20 [18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted We can rejoice knowing we are sharing in Christ’s suffering Matthew 5:11–12 [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We don’t bring glory to God when we suffer for doing wrong We should choose to glorify God instead of being ashamed We should live in light of the coming judgment of God “Peter shows the meaning of our suffering from two sides. First, our suffering for Christ finds its significance in Christ’s suffering for us. We share now in suffering for him as we shall one day share in glory with him (4:13; 5:1). Secondly, our suffering does not destroy us, but purifies us. The fire of God’s judgment that we endure is not the fire of wrath that will consume the unbelieving.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter We can entrust our souls to our faithful Creator Discipleship Questions: Why is it our tendency to be surprised when we encounter suffering? What are some reasons for rejoicing when you encounter suffering? Why is it so tempting to classify all suffering as persecution, even when we suffer for doing wrong? How can you resist feeling ashamed when you suffer for being a Christian? How do you think God uses suffering to purify His church? How does entrusting your soul to God help you find hope?

Unhindered and Healthy

June 18, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:7-11 Would you know if your prayers were hindered? How would you know? What causes prayers to be more fruitful? What causes prayers to be interrupted? What hinders our prayers? Not living with your spouse in an understanding way A lack of sober mindedness and self-control Hindered prayers hurt our relationships A lack of self-control… letting your flesh rule you will never result in healthy relationships. A lack of sober mindedness… letting your thoughts rule you will never result in healthy relationships. Self-control and sober minded prayer are those inward things that result in outward expressions. They ready us to set our focus and affections on other people. Application: Keep loving one another earnestly Aim to cover a multitude of sins Make your home available to others Make your gifts available to others Speaking Serving Discipleship Questions: Have you ever become aware that your prayers are hindered? How did you know? What are some practical steps that we can take to strengthen our prayer lives? How do hindered prayers hurt our relationships? How do unhindered prayers strengthen our relationships? What are some practical ways that we can aim to cover a multitude of sins? Define at least 2 practical ways in which you will make your home and your gifts available to others this week. How has your life been impacted by others who have made their homes and their gifts available to you?

Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?
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