Sermon Matthew 9:35-10:15

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon Matthew 9:35-10:15

Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church

June 15, 2008

This morning we will be joining with Jesus as he looks out over the Eagle Rock community and sees so many people who have no faith and no relationship with God. This causes Jesus to grieve that so many people do not come into his presence to worship the creator. So today we will be reflecting on what Jesus intends to do about this problem.

Will you pray with me? Lord Jesus we grieve with you over the large number of souls in our community who have not found you. We confess that we have been unable to bring them to church and we need your help. So we ask that you bring in the harvest as you have promised and allow us to help in this great work. We pray this in the name of our Lord and savior who sends us into the Eagle Rock Community as bearers of the good news. And we pray all of this in his strong name, amen.

Matthew 9:35-10:15 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

1 Then Jesus a summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as 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 Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near. 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Jesus’ ministry while on Earth was primarily as a preacher, teacher and healer. As a preacher he proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven had come very close to the earth. As a teacher or rabbi he entered the synagogues and taught from the Hebrew Scriptures with authority that astounded his listeners. And as a healer he stopped the twelve year suffering of a woman with hemorrhages, brought a young girl who had recently died back to life, restored sight to two blind men, and cast out the demon that had made a man mute. As Jesus preached, taught and healed large crowds began to follow him like lost sheep searching for a shepherd. Jesus looked out at the crowds and was moved deeply by all of the people who did not know God. As we gather for worship today in the presence of Jesus Christ there is no doubt that Jesus grieves over all the people here in our community, our city, our state, our nation and our world who have yet to develop a personal relationship with their God through him.

Jesus’ solution was to send out his disciples, not as shepherds gathering in the flock, but as common laborers helping the shepherd to gather his sheep. God is the shepherd of the sheep and she had already spoken to the hearts of the people of Jesus’ day just as he had spoken the good news directly to Abraham and Sarah. Our God who created the ear can speak directly to his creatures, the crowd following Jesus, or the people living here in Eagle Rock. Since God has already spoken to hearts of the people in our community with the good news, all God wants us to do is to help him by talking to people about our faith.

Jesus told the disciples that when they meet people they are to tell them about the good news that they had already heard, that the Kingdom of Heaven had come near and justice and righteousness would soon reign on earth. He gave them the authority to heal as he had healed those with pressing needs. Jesus gives us the same message. We have the authority proclaim that God’s kingdom has come near, and we have the ability through prayer to heal and to serve the people in our community. So as we meet people here in Eagle Rock, at the store, or the hairdresser, or Kiwanis, or the Women’s Club, or wherever we happen to be we can with authority and confidence proclaim the good news that we have heard here in church, and pray for needs of the people we meet in our community. Through our words, prayers and actions people in the Eagle Rock Community will find Jesus and through him their creator God.

Just a Jesus gave his disciples some practical advice for bringing in God’s harvest let me give you some ideas for those times when you talk with people in our community about the good news. First, you will find people who want to know more about God at many different places. They can be found in coffee shops, street corners, across the back fence, at work, in the library, at school, in other words wherever people gather there will be those whom God has already given the hunger to come into a relationship with her through Jesus. You have the authority from God to talk with people, just be sure to use humor and a light touch; as my mother said you can attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Remember that when you talk with people you are starting a process which will continue with proper instruction here at the church. So just give people the impression that Christians have something exciting to offer, that just might interest them.

Second, God has given you the authority to have personal conversations with people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to talk with people about your faith. Remember that God has already prepared their hearts. Start talking with people confident that God has prepared them to receive your message. There is no reason to use hype or manipulation. Just develop friendships with others with whom you will able to share your faith. And remember that the church is a place where Christians are equipped to go back out into the world to spread to good news they have heard.

Third, remember that your home is the best place to talk with people about Jesus. This was certainly the case in the early church where Christians met together in small groups in people’s homes. The home is the best place for conversation, prayer and meals. You don’t have to have a Beverly Hills mansion, although that would help. All you need is a kitchen table or a couple of chairs or like Abraham and Sarah a shady tree to get together with some friends and talk about your faith. This is the way most churches have started with a small group of people around a dinner table talking about Jesus. A group is always a good way to spread the faith because within a group you have encouragement and support and one person can make up for another’s deficiency. So look for ways of inviting people into your homes to gossip about Jesus. You will find that your group will grow and you will need a larger room like the ones here at the church.

And finally remember that the act of making Christians is not your responsibility. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who will guide, empower and lead you as you meet people and discuss your faith. The Holy Spirit is already working in the hearts of the people in this community and will be at work as you invite people into your homes to talk about Jesus. The promise is that Holy Spirit will give you exactly what is needed to share your faith in a way that will bring people to Christ. Remember that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near and with it comes the power of God that works though your ministry of bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to your neighbors here in Eagle Rock. The growth of Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church, which is so desired by Jesus Christ, will come about as the Holy Spirit empowers you to proclaim the good news and share your faith with others.

The good news for Eagle Rock is that the Holy Spirit is at work right here. She is already transforming the hearts of people who live here to be receptive to your message. If anyone does not want to hear about the faith you have to share then just move on; don’t worry about it because the next person will be ready to hear the good news. And the good news is that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near and our community will is richly blessed.[1]

Holy Spirit, we ask this day that you empower us to speak the good news by sharing our faith with the community we live us. Help us to overcome our fear of speaking with people we don’t know. Help us to overcome our fear of inviting people into our homes for discussions about faith. Fill our hearts with the compassion of Jesus Christ for the people in our community who wander about like sheep without a shepherd. Lead us, guide us and encourage us as we share our faith with people in our community. We pray this with full confidence in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

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[1] These four points were adapted from Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1970,2003) 23-26.