A Dangerous Mission

Website Editor • Oct 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.


--


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. 


--


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.

Jesus is Much More Better

15 May, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:12-21 Adam ruined it for everyone —sin came into the world through Adam —death came into the world through sin —death spread to all men because all sinned “God has always dealt with mankind through a head and representative. The whole story of the human race can be summed up in terms of what has happened because of Adam, and what has happened and will yet happen because of Christ.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus is the true and better Adam “Cranfield explains, ‘That one single misdeed should be answered by judgment, this is perfectly understandable: that the accumulated sins and guilt of all the ages should be answered by God’s free gift, this is the miracle of miracles, utterly beyond human comprehension.’ The final word from God could have been “Condemned, on the basis of many trespasses.” Instead, it is “Justified, through the gift of Jesus’ righteousness.” That is why Paul declares that the gift is “much more” or “much better” than the result of Adam’s trespass.” —Daniel M. Doriani, Romans Through Jesus grace abounds and grace reigns Discipleship Questions: What are some reasons we might not like the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? What can help us embrace the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? How does that idea set us up for the good news about Jesus and what He accomplished? How does the truth from this passage build our assurance of our salvation? In what ways is what Jesus did much more powerful and better than what Adam brought us? How have you experienced the reign of grace in your life despite the reign of sin and death in the world? How can we experience the reign of grace through Jesus in everyday life?

No Fear of Judgment

08 May, 2024
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Joy of Justification

29 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
Show More
Share by: