The Mission of the Twelve
Last week we began our series on the 2nd Discourse or Sermon of Jesus concerning Missions as found in Matthew 10.
We discovered 2 vitally important principles of Jesus that must begin any missionary enterprise by his followers.
- Our hearts must burn and break and our guts “churn” for the lost.
- The harvest is an image of end time judgment and this harvest is coming whether we are ready or not or we like it our not.
This morning we continue our study into Jesus missionary discourse by looking at Matthew 10:5-15.
This passage concerns the mission of his twelve apostles and by extension, we who are his followers today.
What missiological principles can we learn from Jesus in Matthew 10:5-15 and what can we discover about the early Christian community of Matthew and its commitment to missions?
This morning, I would like to touch briefly on four (4) aspects of the apostle’s mission as found in Matthew 10:5-15 . . . 1) The Arena 2) The Tasks 3) The Material Support 4) The Impact.
The first aspect of the missionary work of the twelve apostles of Jesus is concerned with its arena.
Matthew 10:5-6 tells us that Jesus sent his apostles to the Jewish people of Israel. This was to be their initial apostolic priority.
We know from the Old Testament prophets that God remained faithful to his covenant with His chosen people, even when they were not faithful to Him.
In his letters, the apostle Paul frequently reminds others that God’s plans began with the Jews. The Jews, as a people who inherited the promises of God, would be the first recipients of both salvation as well as judgment.
So the initial priority of Jesus in sending his apostles to the “lost & harassed” sheep of Israel was entirely in keeping with God’s historic plan.
This, however, did not mean that Jesus had no interest in the Gentiles. In fact, Matthew uniquely records the visit of the gentile Magi to the Christ child in Matthew 2.
In Matthew 8, Jesus healed the gentile Roman centurion’s servant as well as healed the gentile Gaderene demoniacs.
In Matthew 15, Jesus initially rebuffed the gentile Canaanite woman who came to him to heal her daughter. He said that He came to minister to the “lost sheep of Israel,” however this did not deter her. Jesus praised her great faith and healed her gentile daughter.
Finally, the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28, finds Jesus calling his followers to make disciples of all nations.
So, while the initial focus of the mission of Jesus and His apostles were the Jews of Israel, these notable gentiles function as a foretaste of the Christian mission after the resurrection of Jesus.
The second aspect of the missionary work of the twelve apostles of Jesus is concerned with its tasks.
Matthew 10:7-8 tells us that the apostles were to proclaim Jesus’ words and to perform His deeds.
In these verses, we find a model for the vital ministries of preaching and teaching the good news. And the proclaimed message was to go hand-in-hand with caring for the physical and practical needs of the recipients.
In short, there was to be a seamless, spiritual synthesis of their words and their deeds.
There was to be no contradiction or distinction between the faith that they proclaimed and the works that they performed. They were to blend perfectly, just as various instruments form a beautiful symphony.
The third aspect of the missionary work of the twelve apostles of Jesus is concerned with its material support.
Matthew 10:8-10 tells us that the apostles were engaged in a “non profit” business. Jesus reminds them that just as they have received the gospel themselves, “free of charge,” so they are to pass it on, “free of charge.”
Jesus reminded his followers previously in Matthew 6, not to store up earthly treasures or worry about food or clothing, but rather to trust in God.
Now, here in Matthew 10, the apostles have to put Jesus’ words into action. They were not to carry the belts that had slots on the inside to hide away coins nor were they to stuff suitcases full of extra clothes.
They were to trust in God and that He would move the hearts of those who were touched by the Good News, to help provide for their basic needs.
The fourth aspect of the missionary work of the twelve apostles of Jesus is concerned with its impact.
Matthew 10:11-15 tells us that the apostles were to enter worthy places. Those who were worthy would receive this word, while those who did not were not to be coerced.
Jesus reminds his apostles that rejection of the good news anticipates and leads to judgment.
The dramatic gesture of shaking off the dust from one’s feet was done when a Jewish traveler returned home from outside of Israel. This made is all the more significant when the apostles of Jesus shook off the dust because some of their fellow Israelites rejected their rightful savior.
These four (4) aspects of the mission of the twelve have implications for our church today. We also have to consider the arena, tasks, material support and impact of our mission here.
Let me practically share what I believe the mission of Hyde Park Alliance Church is to be in the days ahead.
I believe that our arena of mission is primarily to be focused upon the university community. This does not mean that we are not concerned with others in our city or our community, but rather our call is first to students, faculty and staff of the University of Chicago.
We will continue to minister to others, just as Jesus did on different occasions, but the university community will remain our priority just as it has been for practically the last 20 years.
Our task as recently outlined by the church board is to reach out to people in the university community who are hostile to the gospel and unresponsive to traditional evangelistic techniques.
We want to reach out to Christian & non-Christian post-moderns and demonstrate Christian love and faith in an integrated fashion.
Our material support has and will continue to come in surprising ways from the hand of God.
Through the faithfulness of members and adherents of the church, people who have moved from the community and brand new initiatives from the district office and select district churches, this entirely unique mission will enjoy a new freedom to minister without the same nagging financial concerns.
Finally, our impact is nothing less then to radically influence the structures of the world through winning university people and turning them into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus sent his chosen apostles forth to minister to the lost sheep of Israel, He was setting into motion a missionary endeavor that would continue until His return in glory.
We are clearly reminded in Matthew 10:5-15 that every missionary and every mission has its distinct arena, tasks, material support and impact to consider.
And I hope you are as excited as I am about what God has, is and will do through the mission of Hyde Park Alliance Church and that you will join me fasting and praying in the days ahead that we will be faithful to and complete the unique mission that God has given us here in this time and in this place.
Let’s Pray
