"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 31

Equipped for Sending

Picture the scene: it’s the last game of the World Series. The games are “even-up,” and now the score is tied. It’s the last inning with bases loaded and two outs. How many of you watching such a game would sit back and relax as the batter of your team walked up to the plate, and sighing with contentment say, “Ah, yes, the Rookie. He’ll make good. He’ll win the game for us”?

OR How long before you switch channels watching a World Cup tennis match if one of the players arrives on the court with a hockey stick instead of a tennis racquet?

OR Would you leave your car with a mechanic who sets a sign in front of his/her place that reads “New and inexperienced. Learning on the job”?

Jesus spent three years training the disciples to go into the harvest fields, to preach the Kingdom of God, to tell people of God’s great love for them. Little by little He sent them out – on-the-job training, we might say. Little by little they learned from Him: little children are welcome in the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:13-15); they had power over unclean spirits and disease (Matthew 10:1); the Word of God needs to be sown, and that sowing, some may hear and believe (Mark 4:1-20); people need a shepherd to lead them to the Truth (Mark 6:34); how and when to pray (Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 6:5-8); that they should serve as He served (John 13:1-17); Jesus loved them (John 15:9); He had chosen them, not they Him–and chosen them to bear much fruit (John 15:16); He must suffer many things and be put to death for the sins of the world and would rise again (Mark 8:31); that the Holy Spirit would teach them all they needed to know (John 14:26); and that Jesus was sending them as He had been sent:

After His resurrection He told His disciples: “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).

God sends us, yes, but before being sent, we must be trained and equipped. And the best training one can have is to study thoroughly the Word of God, learning to know God’s heart from Scripture, asking for the Holy Spirit’s indwelling as one delves into the Word. Discover for yourself and with others what God says the purpose of the Church on earth is to serve. Soak up the great love revealed there so when you are sent, God’s lavish love flows from you to others in abundance.

Discuss the following in a Bible study or with a group of like-minded believers:

Matthew 9:36-39: Jesus is moved to compassion and longs for laborers for the harvest.

Luke 4:18-21, 43: Jesus tells of His purpose in being sent.

Luke 10:1-24: Jesus sends out 70 (72).

John 6:35-40: Jesus declares that He is sent by the Father; He is the Bread of Life.

Acts 1:8: Jesus speaks the promise of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and declares that they shall be witnesses for Him.

Acts 2, especially 42-47: Peter’s sermon to the crowds at Pentecost; the start of the early Church.

Acts 3:1–4:31: A lame man is healed and the Gospel preached even in the face of opposition; people praise God and the apostles proclaim with boldness.

Acts 11:1-18: Peter declares the Gospel is for Gentiles.

Acts 11:19-24: Persecution arises and the Church grows; Barnabas encourages.

Acts 15:2-4: Paul and Barnabas, along with others, are sent to Jerusalem to get questions answered and to report all that God was doing through them.

Act 20:18-21: Paul reminds the Church what he has done for them in God’s name.

Romans 10:11-18: If people are to hear the Word of salvation, someone has to tell it to them.

1 Corinthians 4:17: Paul sends Timothy to the Church in Corinth to remind them of what Paul taught them of his ways in Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3-4: God wants all to be saved.

Before and after your study, surround yourself with prayer. Ask the Lord to teach you through His Word; to open your eyes and heart to see the needs, the opportunities, the people who need a Savior; to give you a passion for Him and for the lost. Pray until you say with Peter and John: “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Other resources available:
From Lutheran Hour Ministries (http://www.lhm.org/):

• Equipping to Share evangelism training is a one-day workshop designed to help church members prepare for witnessing opportunities that occur in everyday life. Attendees are prepared for "mission moments"–those times when God uses you to share the Gospel with someone encountered in everyday life.
• Outreach Development Training
  New Neighbor Outreach is a program that will help your congregation welcome new families into the community and your church.

• Friendship Ablaze!: http://www.friendshipablaze.com/fa/index.html
• 50 Days Ablaze! http://www.stlukecabot.org/Church/church_home-frame.htm
• Groups Ablaze! http://www.groupsablaze.com/