"LUKE 10:1-11 REFLECTION" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 48: A life of a minister can be tricky. Jesus' instructions to the 72 disciples offers us great wisdom in discerning how we serve our people.
I hope you have found some treasure in the passage we are focusing on this week. It’s tough to know what to do with these passages at times because they are SO demanding and, seemingly, irrelevant to our own day and practice.
But…
Some context.
For much of Luke’s middle portion, Jesus is establishing the parameters for what it is to be a disciple. Jesus has begun the famous Lukan journey to Jerusalem—after the Transfiguration, he sets his sight on Jerusalem and the reminder to the reader that he is ultimately headed there is repeated again and again. Jesus has a task. Jesus is set on completing that task.
Along the way he reveals part of the ultimate plan of creating a new Israel, by calling 12 disciples to match the 12 tribes of Israel.
He then gives them a new set of instructions on the Sermon on the Plain.
Then Jesus encounters religious leader after religious leader. Maybe Pharisees, maybe Bible experts (legal experts/scribes), and even Sadducees. He is always juxtaposing how the life of a disciple is different than the religious leaders they are used to looking up to.
As Jesus sends the 72 out, he gives them instructions that are all about NOT benefiting from the work.
They can receive a place to stay and food to eat, for a worker deserves their pay, BUT…they are not to be picky.
Whoever receives them in a town, they are to stay there and eat the food they prepare. If a more affluent person with better lodging and food offers them a place to stay on day 2, they are NOT to take it.
Jesus doesn’t want them to be confused with the religious leaders of the day who often expected pay for their presence and work.
The work is about offering peace and healing to those who will receive it.
If they won’t receive it, then move on.
How often do we all get caught up in the benefits of our work?
Yes, most of the time we shoulder great burdens in ministry, but there are always people who want to offer us benefits beyond the expected.
Yes, some people will not receive your peace and healing…because you may not bring what they expected.
Yes, we can sometimes be tempted to play games and reap bigger rewards and blessings for what we do.
Ministry is tricky.
It’s wonderful…but it’s tricky.
Any time we work with people, things have the potential to get more complicated than they have to.
Some days you may feel like a lamb among wolves…
Others you may feel like a well-attended to disciple of Jesus Christ…
No matter what you are feeling and experiencing today in your ministry, trust that you are working for the Kingdom of God which comes to us and through us to those whom we serve.
What happens from there is hardly in our control…except how we choose to respond.
If you are facing trial today, brush off your feet the unnecessary burdens you may feel drawn to carry due the issues others are trying to place upon you.
If you are struggling to discern what issues are yours vs. theirs, seek out help from colleagues and mentors.
If you are witnessing blessing today, revel in the joy of serving Christ…and know that this too shall pass.
Be blessed my friends.
Trust in Jesus and serve the Kingdom no matter what…because the harvest is bigger than we can imagine… and the workers are few.
Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford).
Music by The Muse Maker
https://sundayschool.store/collections/free-downloads
https://10bibleverses.com/bible-verse-of-the-day/
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By Rev. Joseph Sanford"LUKE 10:1-11 REFLECTION" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 48: A life of a minister can be tricky. Jesus' instructions to the 72 disciples offers us great wisdom in discerning how we serve our people.
I hope you have found some treasure in the passage we are focusing on this week. It’s tough to know what to do with these passages at times because they are SO demanding and, seemingly, irrelevant to our own day and practice.
But…
Some context.
For much of Luke’s middle portion, Jesus is establishing the parameters for what it is to be a disciple. Jesus has begun the famous Lukan journey to Jerusalem—after the Transfiguration, he sets his sight on Jerusalem and the reminder to the reader that he is ultimately headed there is repeated again and again. Jesus has a task. Jesus is set on completing that task.
Along the way he reveals part of the ultimate plan of creating a new Israel, by calling 12 disciples to match the 12 tribes of Israel.
He then gives them a new set of instructions on the Sermon on the Plain.
Then Jesus encounters religious leader after religious leader. Maybe Pharisees, maybe Bible experts (legal experts/scribes), and even Sadducees. He is always juxtaposing how the life of a disciple is different than the religious leaders they are used to looking up to.
As Jesus sends the 72 out, he gives them instructions that are all about NOT benefiting from the work.
They can receive a place to stay and food to eat, for a worker deserves their pay, BUT…they are not to be picky.
Whoever receives them in a town, they are to stay there and eat the food they prepare. If a more affluent person with better lodging and food offers them a place to stay on day 2, they are NOT to take it.
Jesus doesn’t want them to be confused with the religious leaders of the day who often expected pay for their presence and work.
The work is about offering peace and healing to those who will receive it.
If they won’t receive it, then move on.
How often do we all get caught up in the benefits of our work?
Yes, most of the time we shoulder great burdens in ministry, but there are always people who want to offer us benefits beyond the expected.
Yes, some people will not receive your peace and healing…because you may not bring what they expected.
Yes, we can sometimes be tempted to play games and reap bigger rewards and blessings for what we do.
Ministry is tricky.
It’s wonderful…but it’s tricky.
Any time we work with people, things have the potential to get more complicated than they have to.
Some days you may feel like a lamb among wolves…
Others you may feel like a well-attended to disciple of Jesus Christ…
No matter what you are feeling and experiencing today in your ministry, trust that you are working for the Kingdom of God which comes to us and through us to those whom we serve.
What happens from there is hardly in our control…except how we choose to respond.
If you are facing trial today, brush off your feet the unnecessary burdens you may feel drawn to carry due the issues others are trying to place upon you.
If you are struggling to discern what issues are yours vs. theirs, seek out help from colleagues and mentors.
If you are witnessing blessing today, revel in the joy of serving Christ…and know that this too shall pass.
Be blessed my friends.
Trust in Jesus and serve the Kingdom no matter what…because the harvest is bigger than we can imagine… and the workers are few.
Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford).
Music by The Muse Maker
https://sundayschool.store/collections/free-downloads
https://10bibleverses.com/bible-verse-of-the-day/