{"id":273,"date":"2013-08-07T17:17:31","date_gmt":"2013-08-07T22:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=273"},"modified":"2013-08-07T17:17:31","modified_gmt":"2013-08-07T22:17:31","slug":"proclaiming-the-gospel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=273","title":{"rendered":"Proclaiming the Gospel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 23<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Proclaiming the Kingdom<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Luke 9:1-17<\/p>\n<p>During all the time I was involved in the FAITH evangelistic strategy I never became comfortable knocking on someone\u2019s door who I did not know and sharing the outline that would hopefully lead them to Christ. If a person wants to sit down with me and discuss Christianity or the Bible I can do that all day long. I do not know if it is the idea of having to use a formula that had to be memorized or just making that cold contact that caused me the most problem but something made me very uncomfortable. I have still not reconciled this issue in my life.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully there are those who have no problem talking to anyone anywhere.\u00a0 My anxiety goes away when I know the other is willing to take the lead and I give input or assistance as needed.\u00a0 This tag team approach is what I need when I have to make those kinds of visits.<\/p>\n<p>I am afraid that my own situation is reflected of many churches as a whole.\u00a0 The people do not take the time to share the gospel. Worse than that is the unwillingness to move beyond the doors of the church even to obey the command of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20.\u00a0 It is much easier for us to stay inside the building where we are comfortable with our safe brand of Christianity and hope that others will want to join us there.<\/p>\n<p>We will find that we will never reach the world by staying indoors.\u00a0 Our health and survival calls for us to move out with courage and conviction to touch the world with the gospel. No one else is going to do it for us.\u00a0 In today\u2019s lesson we have the model that Jesus used with His own disciples.\u00a0 Surely if it worked for Him it should work for us.<\/p>\n<p>Luke 9:1-2<\/p>\n<p>It was time for the men whom Jesus had been training to be sent out to begin ministering in His name. They could have continued to follow Him around and soaking up His teaching and watching Him perform miracles as they had been doing for almost three years. \u00a0Although not mentioned here He knew that His time on earth was growing to a close. It would soon become their responsibility to carry on His work. There was another factor that played into the sending out of His disciples.\u00a0 Even as the Son of God in the flesh He was one man and therefore was limited in the scope of His impact on His nation. To multiply His ministry He needed those men to step up and be sent out on their own. Their assignment was to in the power of Jesus to \u201ccast out demons and heal diseases.\u201d \u00a0Mark wrote in Mark 6:7 that the men were sent out two by two. There were probably two or three reasons why this was done.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Safety in numbers<\/li>\n<li>In that culture the witness of two or three was necessary for something to be believed.<\/li>\n<li>Moral support for each other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Jesus choose to send the men out at that point in His ministry? (His earthly ministry was ending.)<\/li>\n<li>How would they have been hurt in their spirit growth if He had not provided the opportunity at that time? (The longer they depended on Him the harder it would be to go out on their own. Of course even after His death and resurrection they would be guided by the Holy Spirit?)<\/li>\n<li>What lesson can we learn from the question above? (The longer we cloister within the walls of the church soaking up what God word the less likely we are to be a witness for Him in the world.)<\/li>\n<li>What were they called to do?<\/li>\n<li>How does their mission differ from what we are called to do today?<\/li>\n<li>Why did He send them out in pairs?<\/li>\n<li>Which of the reasons is applicable to us today and why?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:3<\/p>\n<p>His next command may have shocked them a little.\u00a0 He told them to take nothing extra with them other than the clothes they were wearing.\u00a0 His mission was too important for them to be concerned with keeping up with all the baggage that might slow them down.\u00a0 They needed to be focused on what they were going to be doing rather than on any material comforts.\u00a0 He did not want them to be dependent on what they had but how God was going to provide.\u00a0 It may have caused them to isolate themselves from the very people Jesus wanted them to reach.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did He not want them to carry personal items like money and clothing with them?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways do things sometimes keep us from serving as we should?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways would the things that Jesus commanded them to leave behind keep them from carrying out His mission? (They could have fellowshipped among themselves.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:4-5<\/p>\n<p>Jesus wanted them to depend on the hospitality of the people.\u00a0 By that interaction they would know who was willing to hear the message they had for them.\u00a0 There was always the possibility as it is today there those who simply will not listen to the Word of God.\u00a0 Jesus did not say if you come across them you are to shake out the dust from having been present in their homes but when you encounter them.\u00a0 As He had experienced during the three years of dealing with His fellow countrymen He knew that many would not receive the disciples.\u00a0 The practice of shaking out the dust would have been understood by one and all.\u00a0 A Jew who had walked through the territory of a Gentile would shake out the dust of that place so He would not be contaminated by them.\u00a0 He was saying to disciples you are to treat your fellow Jews just like they are Gentiles.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was the real reason that Jesus wanted them to travel lightly?<\/li>\n<li>What did it mean for both the disciples and a host home when they treated the disciples kindly?<\/li>\n<li>What did it mean for the disciples to shake off the dust of a home where they had not been received?<\/li>\n<li>What is your feeling when someone rejects the message of the gospel that you are trying to share?<\/li>\n<li>Why would it be especially hard for a Jew to receive the message of the kingdom of God as taught by Jesus and the disciples?<\/li>\n<li>Who are the most difficult people for you to reach? Why?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:6<\/p>\n<p>The disciples did just as Jesus had commanded them.\u00a0 They preached the gospel and healed in many of the towns and villages of Galilee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What did it show that the disciples were willing to do as Christ commanded? (They believed that He was going to usher in the Kingdom of God.)<\/li>\n<li>How did they carry out His command?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways do we carry out His command to us?<\/li>\n<li>What must we believe in order to carry out His mission?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:7-9<\/p>\n<p>The people throughout the land were not the only ones who heard the message that was being proclaimed by the disciples.\u00a0 Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee also became aware of what was taking place. The message that reached him was that John the Baptist had come back from the dead.\u00a0 Others were saying that maybe it was Elijah or one of the other prophets who were to return before the Great Day of the Lord which would be the culmination of history and the restoration of the Jews to their rightful place.\u00a0 Herod\u2019s response showed the guilt he felt for having put John to death. He had to wonder if John\u2019s spirit had not come to back to haunt him.<\/p>\n<p>He therefore wanted to know who Jesus was. Probably to convince himself that it was not John after all.\u00a0 He made every effort to try and see Him but to no avail.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was the news that Herod heard from the people concerning Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he ignore the other possibilities of Elijah or even the Prophet mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:19? (He was obsessed by the guilt of what he had done to John.)<\/li>\n<li>What would the appearance of Elijah or the Prophet mean for the Jewish people? (The End of the age and the coming of the Great Day of the Lord.)<\/li>\n<li>Why did Herod want to see Jesus? (To convince himself that Jesus was not John and he had nothing to worry about.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:10<\/p>\n<p>Upon returning to Jesus the disciples filled Him in on all of the details of their journey.\u00a0 What a celebration that would have been for all of them.\u00a0 They had an opportunity to share the good news with more people than Jesus could have done in the short time He would spend on the earth. Knowing that they needed a time of rest, reflection and debriefing, He took them away to a city called Bethsaida, a city on the northeast tip of the Sea of Galilee.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What would have been the news that the disciples brought to Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>Why would this been a time of celebration?<\/li>\n<li>Why did Jesus believe it was necessary to take His disciples away on a short retreat?<\/li>\n<li>Why would He choose the city of Bethsaida?<\/li>\n<li>When are times that you like to be alone with Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>What happens during those times?<\/li>\n<li>If you have never had that desire what may be missing in your life?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:11<\/p>\n<p>As He had experienced at other times when He had tried to get away for awhile, the crowds followed Him.\u00a0 His reaction was to welcome them.\u00a0 He once again spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. Those among the people who needed healing received it?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the people not leave Him alone?<\/li>\n<li>When have you had the experience of being around people who were so hungry to hear about the Kingdom of God?<\/li>\n<li>Why did Jesus welcome them and not send them away?<\/li>\n<li>What possibility would have been your reaction to the crowds?<\/li>\n<li>How do you think the disciples felt?<\/li>\n<li>How was this good training for them?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 9:12<\/p>\n<p>When the day was almost over the disciples came and suggested that Jesus send the people away so they could find a place to stay and food to eat.\u00a0 Jesus did not seem to be concerned about the physical needs of the crowd because He already had a plan in mind.\u00a0 Although not explicitly written, Jesus was going to use the event as a learning experience for the disciples.\u00a0 They may have been somewhat upset because the crowd had encroached in on their private time with Him.\u00a0 By having them participate in the miracle, He was going to show them the greatest thing they could ever do was to serve people with compassion.\u00a0 He simply turned to the disciples and told them to feed the people. They must have looked at each other not believing what they had just heard.\u00a0 As John wrote, the best that they had been able to do was find 2 fish (like dried sardines) and five small barley loaves of bread that a little boy had bought.\u00a0 They mentioned going to buy food in Mark 6:37. The Bible indicated that it would have cost about two hundred days worth of wages to feed the five thousand men plus women and children.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Without further explanation He had all of the people to sit down in groups of fifty, blessed the five loaves and the two fish and began to give them to the disciples to distribute to the people.\u00a0 The men who had earlier proclaimed the gospel and healed people now became waiters serving food to the five thousand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After the people had eaten their fill, they collected the leftovers and with them filled twelve baskets.\u00a0 This is the only miracle that is mentioned in all four gospels. In John 6 it has special significance. Following the feeding the people desired to make Jesus their king.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why was Jesus not concerned about the lateness of the hour?<\/li>\n<li>How may the disciples have felt about the people encroaching on their time alone with Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the disciples react the way they did?<\/li>\n<li>When they came to Jesus how much was their concern for Him and how much was it out of envy because of the actions of the people? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>If Jesus knew what He was going to do why did He suggest that the disciples give the people food? (To help them understand that nothing is impossible in God\u2019s hands.)<\/li>\n<li>What was Jesus trying to teach the disciples?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the disciples in Mark mention two hundred denarii? (To show that in their mind the impossibility of what Jesus had requested)<\/li>\n<li>Why did Jesus have the people sit down in groups of fifty? (To bring order to the situation and provide a means to serve everyone there better.)<\/li>\n<li>Why is this miracle especially meaningful in light of what we read in John 6?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Think about ways you can overcome the mindset that everything that you do spiritually has to be done within the four walls of the church.<\/li>\n<li>Prepare yourself through the study of God\u2019s word and training to begin sharing the gospel with non church people everywhere.<\/li>\n<li>Do not look at Jesus as your own personal property.<\/li>\n<li>Be willing to serve in areas that may be outside your giftedness just because a ministry needs to be done.<\/li>\n<li>Stop limiting God. He who created the world can do the impossible for the church.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It has been probably ten years since there has been any intentional effort to have an organized way to do outreach to our community.\u00a0 Since FAITH there have been weak attempts to get people involved in touching the lives of those outside the church.\u00a0 We have tried to use big events like the egg drop, harvest festivals and trunk or treat to bring people into the church.\u00a0 Jesus gave us the example of the proper way to reach people.\u00a0 He sent his disciples two by two out into the community to share the gospel.\u00a0 Having said the above, I am not sure how to do this exactly because our culture has changed so dramatically in the ten years since we did FAITH.\u00a0 We do need to learn the way to do the two by two if it means having them attend events in the neighborhood together to begin impact the lives of the people.\u00a0 It may mean that we begin doing projects that touch others. Let us work together to discover the way that broadens the base of the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 23 Proclaiming the Kingdom Luke 9:1-17 During all the time I was involved in the FAITH evangelistic strategy I never became comfortable knocking on someone\u2019s door who I did not know and sharing the outline that would hopefully lead them to Christ. If a person wants to sit down with me and discuss Christianity [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=273"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":274,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273\/revisions\/274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}