Crash Course on Ministry   Mt.10:1-42           The Calling of the 12           6-15-2003
Lesson 35     tape 192  (Tests and Builds pt.13)

We're going to put our study of the book of Ephesians on hold for the summer, and pick up on a series on the miracles and actions of Jesus.

We have done this each summer working our way through the life of Christ.

Review 

After the heavens opened at Jesus’ baptism and then he faced the devil in the wilderness, Jesus performed his first miracle when he turned water to wine at the wedding.

He then cleared the Temple with the whip, and then spend time with his disciples baptizing near where John the Baptist was baptizing.

When things heated up in Judea, and John the Baptist was thrown in prison, he made the trip back to Galilee.  On the way he spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria.

He arrived in Galilee He healed the nobleman son, and escaped an attempt on his life as they tried to throw him off a cliff.

By this time his first few disciples had gone back to fishing, and so after the miraculous catch of fish, he called them once again to follow him.

He then cast out of demon, healed Peter's mother-in-law and many others, healed leper, a paralytic, and then called in Matthew to follow him.

Then came a whole lot of conflict with the Pharisees, especially over the Sabbath.  He healed an invalid on the Sabbath, let his disciples pick grain on the Sabbath, and then healed a man's hand on the Sabbath, right in the synagogue, right in the Pharisees’ faces.

He was purposely pressing their buttons on the Sabbath issue.

He then healed the Centurion’s servant, and raised the dead man at Nain back to life.

By this time John the Baptist, who is still in prison, begins to doubt and sends messengers to ask Jesus if he really is the Christ.

And Jesus responded with a huge flurry of miracles.

Then came the healing of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus, which produced more conflict with the Pharisees.  And finally there was a major confrontation in which they accused him of being from the devil.

And Jesus responded by warning them about the unforgivable sin.

At that point Jesus left the Jews and crossed over to Gentile territory.  On his way across the lake there was a massive storm, which he silenced with a command.

When he got to the other side, he cast 2000 demons out of a man, and they went into a herd of pigs, who all ran off the cliff and died. 

So Jesus came back across the lake to Galilee, and met Jairus, who begged him to come heal his dying daughter.

Jesus agreed, but on the way he got sidetracked with an unclean woman who wanted to be healed.

He took so much time with her after healing her, that Jairus’ daughter died.

But that was fine, because then he just raised her from the dead.

And that brings us to Matthew chapter 10, where Jesus selects the 12 and sends them out on their first mission.

Introduction

The sending out of the 12 for this mission trip is very important – it’s recorded in all three synoptic gospels.

But amazingly, none of the three Gospels detail what took place on the trip. 

There are no records of how many converts they had, if any.  There is no record of how they were received, how long they were gone, where in Galilee they went…

The Gospel writers had no interest at all in telling us any of that.

What they all three do tell us is the instructions Jesus gave for the trip.  That tells us that these instructions for ministry are very important.

What we have in this chapter is nothing less than a crash course on how to do ministry from the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

This is Jesus’ handbook for ministry.

Acts 13:36  "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep

The reason you are alive on this earth is because God has a purpose for you to fulfill in this generation.  The moment that is done, you will die.

So living this life is all about fulfilling your purpose in this generation.  And in Matthew 10 Jesus gives a crash course on how to fill your purpose.

Here he gives us the keys to effective ministry.  

The first, and most important we see right in verse one.

1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 

1. It must be authorized

We tend to think the meaning of a task is determined by how many people it affects, or how long-term an impacted it has, or how much praise it receives…

But none of those things determine the meaning of what you do.  Only one thing can make a deed meaningful, and that is, God calling you to do that deed.

Isa.10:15  Does the ax raise itself above him who swings it, or the saw boast against him who uses it? As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it up, or a club brandish him who is not wood!

The only significance of a tool comes from the one who uses it.

The best ax in the world is worthless unless someone picks it up and uses it.  

Just ask yourself, “how meaningful is the work of an ax?”  It depends on what the person who’s using the ax does with it.

The Apostles were great men for one reason – they wee called to a great calling and responded.

They were nothing before they were called.  And then look what Christ made them:

He…gave them power to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

That phrase every disease and sickness is the same phrase used to describe Jesus’ ministry in 4:23.   

Jesus took the very abilities that proved him to be the Christ, and gave those abilities to the Apostles.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles

The selection of the 12 marks the first time the word “apostle” is used in the NT.  

The parallel passage in Mark 3:14-15 says, He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

It was very common in Jesus day for a rabbi to have disciples – followers, or learners.  But for a rabbi to have apostles was a completely new idea.

It was common for religious leaders to have followers, but sending out someone as an apostle was something that King would do, not a rabbi.

An apostle was someone commissioned with a task and vested with great authority because of the one who commissioned him.

The terminology here has a military ring to it.  Jesus is pictured here as a king.

Not only that, but there's great significance in the number 12.  Israel, the true people of God, was comprised of twelve tribes -- the descendants of the twelve patriarchs.

These twelve men represent the new patriarchs.  Their spiritual descendants will now be the true people of God.

And obviously only God can be the one who determines who are going to be the people of God.  And here Jesus is doing that.

So in this text Jesus is acting as rabbi, master, King and God.

By the time the Gospels were written and the church was reading this, everyone would know that the highest authorities in the church by far were the Apostles.

They were 
•	the representatives of Christ, 
•	the leaders of the Church, 
•	the writers of Scripture, 
•	the foundation stones of the Church
•	the bearers of divine revelation.

Sometimes people want to accept Jesus’ words, but not Paul’s.  Or they want to somehow accept Jesus while rejecting the New Testament.

But Jesus didn’t leave us that option.  The very same miracles that verify Jesus’ authenticity also verify the Apostles’ authenticity.

By calling them, “Apostles” Jesus was saying to the world, “Your reaction to them is your reaction to Me.”  If you reject the Apostles you reject Christ.  If you accept the Apostles, you have accepted Christ.

How did they get a position like that?  How did they work their way up to the highest office in the entire world?

Was it because they were extraordinary personalities or experience or skill?

Let's take a look at exactly who Jesus called.

first, Simon (who is called Peter) 

He was first. He wasn’t the first one called.  The word, “first” here means, “chief.”  He was the leader of the Apostles.

The Bible doesn’t say that he was appointed as leader, or that they took a vote. 

Peter was so impulsive, my guess is they probably figured it was just a lot easier to follow him than to make someone else the leader, and try and corral Peter and try to get him to follow someone else.

Every time he opened his mouth one of his feet would fall out.

He was ambivalent, inconsistent, impetuous, questioning, he argued with the Lord – he even rebuked the Lord.

And that’s the leader of this bunch.

first, Simon…and his brother Andrew

These two brothers were very different.  Andrew was in the shadows. 

The first three Jesus called were Andrew, James & John.  Who were the inner three closest to Jesus?  Peter, James and John.  Andrew got pushed out, and that’s typical of him.

Andrew lacked ambition.  He wasn’t really it go-getter.  He wasn’t very assertive.

He’s always called “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother…” because otherwise people would respond, “Andrew?  Who’s Andrew?”

He just never made a name for himself.  He didn’t have much initiative.  He wasn’t a “self-starter.”

James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 

In Mk.3:17 Jesus nicknamed these guys Boanerges (Sons of Thunder).   

James & John were LOUD.  Aggressive.  Extreme personalities 

You can see their great, compassionate heart for the lost in Lk.9, where some people didn’t welcome Jesus, and their first thought is to call down fire from heaven to destroy the whole city.

They were more interested in roasting the lost than in reaching the lost. 

You get tired of preachers who constantly preach hellfire and brimstone; what about preachers who actually use hellfire and brimstone?
  
14 years into the book of Acts and James’ was dead - he made enemies in a hurry.

And his brother John was the same way.  Later on he became the Apostle of love, but at first he was a son of Thunder – just like James.  

The only place in the Bible where we see John by himself is in Mk.9, where Jesus had to rebuke him for his anger.

John was likely a teenager when Jesus picked him, but he lived the longest.  And when he was an old man, God was still using him.

3 Philip

Mostly what we see Philip doing in the Bible is failing tests.

In Jn.6, when 5000 people needed to be fed, Jesus specifically singled out Philip and asked how they were going to manage to feed that many people. 

6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

He already had it all calculated. 

Jesus had been healing all day long.  After all the miracles, it never occurs to him to rely on that. 

He couldn't see past the natural. 

He was analytical and pragmatic – a man of common sense and calculation.

He had trouble believing in the supernatural – he was governed by measurements.

In Jn.14:8, it’s the night before Jesus’ death, and Philip is still wondering about whether Jesus is God.  Spiritually he was very slow.  His spiritual sensitivities were zip.  

and Bartholomew

Philip’s partner was Bartholomew (that was his last name - his first name was Nathaniel) 

Nathaniel was strong in faith, although he had a terrible attitude about Galilee.  

He was prejudiced and bigoted against Galileans, and questioned whether anyone or anything good could come out of Galilee.

Thomas and Matthew
Thomas was the pessimist of the group.  He was like Eeyore on Winnie the Pooh.

In Jn.11:16 the disciples are afraid to go with Jesus back to Bethany, because it’s dangerous there, but then Thomas speaks up and says, “Let us also go that we may die with him.” 

He had a lot of courage, but not much optimism.  He just assumes they will die.

Jn.l4 Jesus makes one of the most precious promises in the whole Bible: In My Father’s house there are many rooms.  I am going there to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come and bring you to be with Me, so you may also be where I am!  You know the way to the place I am going:  

For 99.9% of Christians, that is one of the most comforting, wonderful statements imaginable.  Not even the average pessimist could find a problem with that promise.  

But Thomas is not just an average pessimist.

5 We don’t know where you are going - how can we know the way?  We’re never going to be able to find this place, we’ll get lost, it’s not going to work…”

In Jn.20, Jesus had died. Know what Thomas was saying? “I knew it! Jesus died, and He’s gone, and we are alone, and we can’t go to him — everything I was afraid of happened. I knew it. Everything turned out terrible.”

And he is so dejected that when all the Apostles were gathered – and Jesus appears - he just wasn’t there. 

And Thomas partner was Matthew the tax collector

For everyone else Matthew just puts the name.  But when he gets to himself, he mentions his former profession.  He was a tax collector – a Jew collecting taxes from the Jews for the hated Romans.

This would make Matthew one of the most hated individuals in Capernaum.  Tax collectors were the worst kind of traitors.

They are always mentioned with sinners and prostitutes, because that’s the crowd they hung around.  Picture him in the worst kind of bars in the worst part of town.

Tax collectors were banned from the synagogues, so Matthew wouldn’t have known anything about the Bible (not that he would have attended the synagogue anyway).

He had wasted his life, was way behind in his knowledge of Scripture, and had made a mess out of himself.  

Now let’s jump ahead to verse 4 and take a look at Simon the Zealot

The zealots of Jesus’ time were revolutionaries, but they didn't fight against Rome primarily.  

They spent most of their time fighting Jews whom they thought were not sufficiently loyal to Judaism.  

They were ruthless – would publicly torture and murder anyone who had the slightest thought about compromise with Rome.

Jesus chose a Zealot, who was committed to murdering any Jew who compromised with Rome.  

How do you suppose Simon felt about Matthew being in the group?  A Jew who collected taxes from the Jews for the Romans. 

James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus

We know nothing about these men (except that Thaddaeus asked a question in Jn.13).  

Other than that these guys never did or said anything that anyone thought was worth writing down – not even the Gospel writers.  

The Lord includes a couple guys in here who is just utterly obscure.   

I’m glad God is not dependent upon celebrities.

and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Interesting group of guys. 

Luke 6:12 tells us that Jesus spent the entire night praying before selecting these 12.  He was very concerned to pick just the right guys, and this is who he picked.

Jesus took this scattered, diverse, inexperienced, rag tag conglomeration of mismatched personalities, who were long on weaknesses and very short on experience, and He made them the most successful team affecting the greatest work ever accomplished.

History has placed these men on stained glass windows, which is unfortunate, because they were very common, ordinary men.  

The one thing they had in common was that none of them were clergy – all laymen.

What was it that made them so great?  

They certainly weren’t SNLs (Strong Natural Leaders).

•	 It wasn’t because they fit into some certain personality type.  
•	 It wasn’t because of their money.  
•	 It wasn’t because of their rhetoric.  
•	 It wasn’t because of their political influence.  
•	 It wasn’t their skills.  
•	It wasn’t even their spiritual maturity.  

If you want to know what made them so great, you don't have to look any farther than verse two.

and gave them authority

How did they manage to obtain this high, lofty office of Apostle?  They were just standing there one day, and Christ just walked up and named them Apostles.

He gave them all that authority just by saying a word.

When God gives a person a responsibility, He also gives the ability and authority.  

One of the great frustrations of ministry is not having authority that is commensurate with responsibility.  God never does that.
  
Do you realize you have authority in ministry?  You have the authority to carry out your ministry.  

I don’t ask anyone’s permission to preach the Gospel – I never have or will.  As a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have the authority to carry out my calling.  

If anyone comes along and challenges the ethics of preaching, etc., I don’t even have to listen.  

I don’t care what people say, I don’t care what the law says, I don’t care what my friends say, I don’t care what my opponents say, I am on a mission from God, and I will preach the Gospel.  

You have that same authority with your calling!

Whatever ministry God has called you to, you have authority and ability to do that ministry in the way you were called to do it. 

Have an attitude of confidence and authority.  You are carrying out official business of the King – so act like it.  

If God has called you to offer something, it is not optional that the people receive it.

On the other hand, don’t ever forget what the basis of your authority is.  You didn’t call yourself into this ministry, it was God who called you.

That’s important to remember, because we sometimes slide into thinking that our authority rests in us.

Always remember that the basis of your authority is God’s call.  Outside of the boundaries of that, you have no authority whatsoever.  

So be authoritative and powerful in your ministry.  I’m not talking about being rebellious or coming out from under other authorities unless it is absolutely necessary.  

The wonderful thing about Christian service, is you can have a sense of great authority and an attitude of submissiveness at the same time.

In fact, it is when you are confident in your authority that you can be humble.

Approach ministry with humility. 

Keep in mind that to be entrusted with much, you must be faithful with little.  That should get you excited about little jobs, right?

2. It must be concentrated.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 

Later they would receive a much broader commission, but here Jesus is very specific.

It was always God’s pattern to begin with the Jews, and only after they rejected the Gospel turned to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46-47
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 

Ro.1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Ro.2:9-11
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 

Jesus didn't give any explanation of why.  He just gave them a very specific commission.

6 Go only to the lost sheep of Israel.
God considered the unbelieving Jews to be a great loss, and he wanted them to be restored.

One of the most often repeated promises about the end times in the OT is the great promise of the ultimate regathering of Israel.  

So this is a clear signal of the onset of the Messianic age.

So it was important to Jesus that they begin with the Jews.

There's no reason to add anything to your calling.  Don’t wander through life this way and that way like the Israelites in the wilderness, trying to do every task you can find that needs doing.  

Fix your sights on your goal.  Know what you are doing and where you are going.  Once you determine your calling, focus on that.  Learn to say no to other things.

Satan knows that the easiest way to derail you from your calling is by tempting you to do a whole lot of wonderful things that are not part of your calling.

Jesus knew that targeting the Jews would not be an especially successful strategy in the sense of the number of converts.  

But that’s not the standard.  The goal isn’t great success in human terms.  The goal is to simply carry out your task.
 
In their case, the task was to preach.

3. It must be divinely authored.

To be effective, you have to have both the right method and the right message.

7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 

The method was preaching, and the message was that the long-awaited rule of God was about to break into human history.

The role of the healing and all the miracles was simply to verify the authenticity of their message.

Everyone knew that the greatest indication of the arrival of the kingdom of God was the widespread deliverance from sickness, death and the devil.

And so He sent them to announce that the Messiah has arrived, the Age to Come is breaking in to this present age, and to prove it, He gave them the ability to heal, cast out demons and raise the dead.

The goal of their ministry was not health.  The goal of their ministry was the proclamation of the gospel.

I’m sure for most if not all of them, this must have been extremely intimidating.  It’s unlikely that any of these men had any experience with public speaking.

And I doubt they were very good.  Good public speaking takes practice.  Fishermen, tax collectors, and just average guys walking down the street don’t generally know the principles of persuasive speech intuitively.

Just because you have a spiritual gift in some area, and you are called to that and empowered for that, doesn’t mean it will necessarily be easy.

Spiritual gifts are not abilities.  Spiritual gifts are capacities for abilities.  

They don’t enact themselves.  They need to be fanned into flame and require training.

And that’s what Jesus is doing here.  

But He doesn’t wait until they are experts before sending them out, because the power is not in the presentation.  The power is in the message.

And Jesus didn't call them to preach about social issues.  He didn't tell them to be relevant or to address felt needs.  Their only task was to proclaim the message of the kingdom.

In our day the primary focus of most preaching is felt needs based preaching.  

You find an issue that people are concerned about, and you make that the main point of your message.

This approach is so popular because it attracts huge crowds.

This has always been a temptation for ministers.  It was the approach of Norman Vincent Peale, who taught it to Robert Shuler, who passed on to Bill Hybels, who started the Willow Creek association.  

And more recently it was picked up by Rick Warren, who used it to draw tens of thousands of people into his church at Saddleback.

And it remains extremely popular in the vast majority of evangelical churches today, I’m sorry to say.

Don't ever measure success in ministry by the world standards.  Your success is measured by one thing: how faithful are you being to your calling?

And is what you are offering in your ministry God’s Word, or some adulterated, watered-down, trivialized, processed contaminated version of God’s Word?

That’s the standard no matter what your ministry is.  Whether your calling is to preach to huge crowds, or to encourage a brother in Christ over the phone who is struggling – what you offer in your ministry should be God’s Word.

If you encourage, encourage with God’s Word, not your own wisdom.

4. It must be generous.

Freely you have received, freely give
Received what?  The ability to do your ministry.  Remember, you are a complex of abilities.  

So what do you freely give?  Yourself!  

This is what makes serving God different than serving an employer.  In your job, you are giving a specific thing in return for some money.

In exchange for a paycheck, you give 40 hours of production.  

In the church, you give yourself.  All of you.  Everything that God made you.  

An accountant might “In exchange for a salary, I will give you balanced books.”  

An architect might say, “In exchange for a salary, I will give you some blueprints.”

But in the church it's different.

The agreement I have with Creekside isn't, “in exchange for a salary, I’ll give you 2 messages a week.”  

No, I come and say, “I give you Darrell Ferguson.  I am yours.  Everything I have been given, I offer to you.  My time, my abilities, my heart, my passions, my prayers…”

Jesus didn't say freely give your services, or freely give your time.  The point is, freely give what you been freely given, which is everything.

What do you have the ability to do?  
•	Can you show compassion?
•	Can you comfort people?
•	Can you write?
•	Can you read?
•	Are you good talking?
•	Are you good at listening?

How many abilities do you have?  And how much did you pay God to get them?  

Are you going to be stingy with them?

One of the keys to faithful ministry is to be generous not just with what you have but with what you are.  Be generous in the giving of yourself.

So Jesus tells them to go in do this ministry without charging a fee.

And I think that's a good model for us.  I don't charge a fee for anything I do - weddings, counseling, a speaking engagement...  How my going to put a price tag on the gospel?

9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; 

This is quite an extensive list of things they are not take.  He mentions three different denominations of coins -- gold being the most valuable, and copper being the least.

Don't take big denominations of money or even small change.  Don't take any money.

The word "tunic" refers to the undergarment warned against the skin.  So he saying, "don't even take an extra pair of underwear."

The same goes for sandals or a staff.

Than in verse 10 Jesus gives the reason:
for the worker is worth his keep.

God is pictured as the employer, who will take care the needs of his employees.

This is not a general promise for everyone.  This is one specific promise to one specific group in one specific context at one specific time. 

All Christians are called to full-time ministry, and certain Christians are called to vocational ministry.

Pastors and missionaries are to be supported by the church, so they can give their full-time to those particular ministries.

But whether you're called to regular ministry or vocational ministry, your duty generous with your ministry.  Give yourself completely.

So give freely in ministry, but don't give to just anyone.

5. It must be targeted.

In verse 11, Jesus restricts the ministry to those who are worthy.

11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there

The word, "search" is a strong term.  Don't be haphazard about where you stay .  You are to really research and make careful inquiry, and find out who's worthy.

and stay at his house until you leave. 

The point there is that they were to stay at bat house until they left that town.  Don't keep moving from house the house in a single town.

The idea of that seems to be, "Don't worry about imposing or overstaying your welcome."

It seems like Jesus is pressing the point that, "Look, what I'm sending you to do is not some minor, insignificant little thing.  This is of grand importance.  So don't shrink back from accepting support.  Don't hinder the ministry because you're too shy to accept hospitality."

This also gives us insight into the method of ministry.  

There were other methods that were employed at that time.  For example Greek philosophers would often preach in the streets.  But here Jesus seems to prefer the method of gathering people in a house.

12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 

Literally, give it your peace.  They greeted each other by saying things like, "peace to you."

When you first get to the house assumes that your assessment is correct, and these people are worthy.  And go ahead and wish them peace.

13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 

What does it mean to let your peace return to you?  Does that mean of things go sour you're supposed to say, "I take it back"?

Technically the imperative is not directed at the disciples, but at the words themselves.  The force of the third person imperative is that the greeting will come true if they are worthy, but it will not otherwise.

So they have to be worthy.  But what constitutes worthiness?

Are we only to approach people who are really good people?  Are we to only share the gospel with people who are already saved?  Of course not.

The person’s worthiness to receive ministry is not determined by how good he is.  Worthiness to receive ministry is determined by how receptive he is.

14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 

Shaking the dust off your feet was symbolic of severing even the smallest of ties with those people.

The Jews used to shake the dust off their feet when they were about to enter Israel again after having been in Gentile territory.  So the picture would be dramatic.  

When the Apostles should the dust off their feet when leading a Jewish village, the message would be clear: "you're not included in the people of God."

You reject the Apostles’ message and you are rejected by God.

15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 

One of the principles of successful ministry is to pour out yourself to those who are receptive to your ministry.  Don’t waste your efforts.

So much time is spent beating our heads against the wall trying to get people interested.  Raising the dead is God’s job.  Leave that to Him.  There are enough people who are already interested – focus on them.

This is one of the problems with the whole so-called, "seeker-friendly" movement - that Willow Creek/Saddleback approach of trying to make the gospel appealing to disinterested people.

That's not what we are called to do.

This is really a problem in youth ministry.  Youth pastors sit back and say, "When I just preach the Word, the vast majority of students aren't interested.  I need to develop a ministry that most students will be attracted to."

That is the exact opposite of what Jesus is calling us to do here.

Just preach the Word.  And the Holy Spirit will use it to draw the people He wants to draw.

Don't waste time and resources trying to pursue people who aren't interested.

This is not to say you should quit the moment things get difficult.  Don’t bail out of a ministry just because you run into a little opposition. 

1 Co.16:8-9  But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

As long as you are doing the Lord’s work, there will be opposition.  Don't quit just because of that.  

Don’t let those who are benefiting from your ministry suffer just because of the complainers.  If there are some who are open, then do whatever it takes to minister to them.

That's one thing that's kept me going during times of opposition or disinterest in my ministry.  

If I offer a Bible study and some people show up, and others don't, I don't worry about that, because I'm targeting the ones who are interested.

If I preach a sermon in some people awaken other people are asleep, I don't worry about that, because I'm targeting the interested.

But if you are absolutely sure the you're doing what you're called to do, and everyone is rejecting you, shake the dust off your feet and move on.  

6. It must be steadfast. 

16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 

like sheep among wolves (sheep are helpless – all they can do is run, and it is obvious they are not built for speed.  Big fat bodies and 4 toothpicks for legs.)  There will be problems.

On this particular mission the Apostles were well taken care of.  But in this part of the chapter Matthew combines some things Jesus said about their later mission, when they would face opposition.

17 "Be on your guard against men…26 Do not be afraid of them.

Hang in there – persevere. 

II Th 3:13  And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

Gal 6:9  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Co.15:58  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

BENEDICTION:   Heb.13:20,21  May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, [21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Welcome visitors 

PLEASE FILL OUT THE SLIP IN YOUR BULLITEN and drop it in the offering box

    coffee and doughnuts for 10 minutes downstairs

•	Pick up a The Four Essentials of a Healthy Church album & fill out a survey or card with your name and address and drop it in the offering box or offering plate

•	Sunday School 

•	 Sign up to bring something to the fellowship meal next Sunday (We have been having a lot of visitors – sometimes 30 or more, so bring lots of food.)
•	 Occasionally announce Tapes, CDs, MSS
•	Our web site address is now www.CreeksideColorado.com  
•	    Sign up for a small group.
•	You are all invited to the Welcome Home! Open house for Danelle on Wednesday.  She is home on furlough after having been in China as a missionary for a year.  The open house is at Don and Rosemary’s house at 1280 Ithaca in Boulder.

•	Leadership meeting is cancelled this month.   (all leaders and leadership candidates)  Pick up lunch as quickly as possible and bring it back to the church
•	Pick up your Newsletter 
•	E-mail Bible study class
•	 There will be no prayer meeting tonight, but next Sunday morning we are having an all-church prayer meeting from 8:30-9:10. 

•	Interested in learning how to teach from Scripture?  Join the Expositors’ teaching group Wednesday mornings from 6:00-7:30 at the Stantons
•	Book club
•	 Dinner groups
•	 Fellowship Meal today right after SS.  This is not a potluck – all the food is provided and there is plenty for everyone here.  So please stay.
•	Fill in flow charts!
•	 Suggest tape cases
•	Applebees
•	 Open house at Darrell and Tracy’s today.  This open house is only for two groups of people – those who are new, and those who are not new and want to welcome the new people.  This will give you an opportunity to hear the Creekside story from 2:30-3:00, ask Darrell any questions you have, and find out how you can get plugged in at Creekside.
   You may have noticed the bulletin insert.  These are short little articles that are related to biblical counseling.  There was such a positive response to that class, we felt like you would enjoy getting these to help refresh your memory on various issues that come up often.
•	    If you need someone to pray with you (perhaps something in the sermon touched your heart, or you came this morning with something heavy on your heart) come up to the front pew after the service, and someone will come pray with you.

Luke 9:1-6
9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 

3 He told them: "Take nothing for the journey-no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."  

6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. 

Mark 6:6-13
7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. 

8 These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."  

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 

Matt 10:1-26
10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. 11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 

17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 

24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 

26 "So do not be afraid of them