Thursday, April 24 — Psalm 53, Leviticus 16:26-18:5; Mark 6:7-13
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S (Scripture): Mark 6:8
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
O (Observation): Jesus sends out the disciples with authority to cask out impure spirits.
A (Application): It amazes me at the amount of church growth/evangelism training materials out there. Yet Jesus sends out disciples equipped with his Authority and that authority only. I think Jesus meant it when he said...take nothing with you. It feels different. I want to have something to carry, something to pass out, something to gift people so that they will remember their encounter with the Gospel. Yet Jesus is clear....take nothing with you! You don't need a funny gospel tract (or worse a terrifying one). You don't need a clever hand out. The only thing you need is the authority placed on you by Jesus. It seems simple but if you have tried this in a postmodern era, you know how difficult it really is.
When I would 'go evangelize' I always felt naked, regardless of what I had to carry with me. I felt this way because I misunderstood my purpose. I would strategize on where to be, what to take, how many I should pass out this time...etc. I concerned myself with the preparation of lesser things than on preparing myself in the authority given to me by Christ. In the end all of my strategic planning on stuff led me to feel like I was simply taking that stuff, handing it out and essentially saying to the people I met..."here, you throw this away." It was futile.
P (Prayer): Lord, equip us with your authority to bless others with the kingdom message you place upon our lives. Remind us that you have called us to this purpose and empower us to share the good news that has transformed our lives.
CLICK HERE FOR THE READINGS
S (Scripture): Mark 6:8
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
O (Observation): Jesus sends out the disciples with authority to cask out impure spirits.
A (Application): It amazes me at the amount of church growth/evangelism training materials out there. Yet Jesus sends out disciples equipped with his Authority and that authority only. I think Jesus meant it when he said...take nothing with you. It feels different. I want to have something to carry, something to pass out, something to gift people so that they will remember their encounter with the Gospel. Yet Jesus is clear....take nothing with you! You don't need a funny gospel tract (or worse a terrifying one). You don't need a clever hand out. The only thing you need is the authority placed on you by Jesus. It seems simple but if you have tried this in a postmodern era, you know how difficult it really is.
When I would 'go evangelize' I always felt naked, regardless of what I had to carry with me. I felt this way because I misunderstood my purpose. I would strategize on where to be, what to take, how many I should pass out this time...etc. I concerned myself with the preparation of lesser things than on preparing myself in the authority given to me by Christ. In the end all of my strategic planning on stuff led me to feel like I was simply taking that stuff, handing it out and essentially saying to the people I met..."here, you throw this away." It was futile.
P (Prayer): Lord, equip us with your authority to bless others with the kingdom message you place upon our lives. Remind us that you have called us to this purpose and empower us to share the good news that has transformed our lives.
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