7th Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon

A Plan Coming Together!

Luke 10:1-16

1  After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

2  He told them, "The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.

3  Go! I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4  Don't carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don't stop to greet anyone on the way.

5  Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, 'May there be peace in this house.'

6  If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that's not the case, your greeting will be rejected.

7  Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.

8  Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you.

9  Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, 'The kingdom of God is near you!'

10  "But whenever you go into a city and people don't welcome you, leave. Announce in its streets,

11  'We are wiping your city's dust from our feet in protest against you! But realize that the kingdom of God is near you!'

12  I can guarantee that judgment day will be easier for Sodom than for that city.

13  "How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in your cities had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted. Long ago they would have worn sackcloth and sat in ashes.

14  Judgment day will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

15  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go to hell!

16 "The person who hears you hears me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

·       Plan/Sent

·       Speaks/Listens

·       Peace/Judgment

·       Work/Pay

·       70 X 2

·       Lamb/Wolves

INTRO

        Today is our Annual Tri-Picnic for Deaf Ministry [m-serve]; Milwaukee, Delavan, Madison join together once a year to celebrate and fellowship. Welcome to all of you! Many plans were (finished) made for this special day; food lists, game lists, plans for who brings, what to bring, MAPS, where to bring, when [time] to bring. Plans were made beginning last year! Imagine! All the plans were set up and made so that you could enjoy this wonderful day.

        We want you to come closer to each other and to the Lord God. And most important of all, our Lord Jesus wants us to celebrate Him… especially our forgiveness in Him! We thank you for coming to enjoy this great Day in the Lord! We also are very thankful to the many people making this day a successful day! A day the Lord, Our Father, has truly made! Yes! The Lord planned this day before He (Lord) began the creation (invent) of this universe (world). God knew each CLOUD He (God) would put in the sky. We “Thank!” Him (God) for His workers…His disciples (learn-ers)…for all of you His new disciples (friends). We “Thank!” Him (God) for this beautiful park! We “Thank!” Him (God) while (during) celebrating our friendship. We “Thank!” Him (God) for His loving kindness in the mercy of Jesus. Remember! This PICNIC is no ordinary (nothing) event! No! This is a wonderful event! God is here with us. God is surrounding us in His love. God long ago planned to send His Son, Jesus, into the world to make another beautiful day. The day was called (named) Easter! Resurrection Sunday! The promise of life forever to people believing in Jesus!  God made a plan! A plan to bring us out of this corrupt (sin) life into a marvelous (wonderful) life! God made a plan and God sent His only much loved Son, Jesus! “God so loved the world that He (God) sent His only Son. No matter the person believing in Jesus will not die but will live forever (John 3:16).”

        Jesus is now sending us into the world. God sent (finish) Jesus to us. Right? Yes! Right! Now Jesus sends us to other people. God spoke (finish) to Jesus before time started. Now Jesus speaks to us in our time. Right? Yes! Right! Now we must speak to other people so the message of salvation (save) continues going to more people. Verse 5 says, “Happens you enter a house, first say, ‘Let peace be in this house.’ This is the peace of God that goes beyond all understanding. This is not peace as the world gives. No! This is peace from God to all people! “Peace on earth and good will (want) to all people” God’s peace is the best! God’s peace continues forever. Earthly peace breaks down and doesn’t last. How many times have they made peace in the Middle East? Earthly peace never lasts! But God’s peace is forever! We bring the peace of God to people because this is God’s plan. God’s plan is always to bring the best. Jesus sends us to bring His peace to the world.

        Mr. & Mrs. Ron Rains, Mr. & Mrs. Brad (Tosha) Drew, and Mr. Gene Weld have heard this peace and have believed!… By believing, by their baptism, by their joining, by their saying “Yes!” to membership in our little church group, they have understood the wonderful promises of Jesus. These new members, together with us, have all consented (agree) to be sent to speak the PEACE of God to other people. Jesus says in verse 16, “Anyone [person] listening to you [people], also listens to ME [Jesus], and anyone [person] refusing to listen to you [members], also they refuse to listen to ME [Jesus], and anyone [person] refusing to listen to ME [Jesus], also refuses to listen to God the Father; HE [Father] sent ME [Jesus].” Our job is to speak the truth in love! If a person listens, they have listen because God has drawn (pull) them. Jesus says in John 12:32-33, “32 And when I am [Jesus] lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He [Jesus] said this to indicate [show] how he was going to die.[1]”

        People refusing to listen (attention) to us are “going wrong way on one way street.” Those stubborn people think they reject only us. No! Those people have rejected God’s welcome! Those unbelieving people have ignored (don’t care) God’s Son. ?Will God be happy with those people when He (God) returns? No! God will break their teeth and throw them into the hottest fire. Wow! Scary! Verse 13 says, “…better for the city of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day, than for those people rejecting us.” Don’t reject those of us (people) bringing the peace of God! God burned Sodom and Gomorrah with sulfur (stinky) and fire. God will not patient the rejection of His children and His Son, Jesus. God is holding out His Loving Hand to all people! Believe and be baptized! Learn and grow in His Word! Pray and help others know the truth! Know and understand God loves you the best…the very best in His Son Jesus! Verse 2 of our readings, Jesus said, “There is much work to do, but only a few workers.  Now pray to the Lord to help send workers out to the world. You are the workers! You and I… all should be praying for one another to “GO!” and tell about the peace of Jesus.

        Interesting that people often complain about paying the pastor, Bible teachers, or church workers. People say, “Oh they get too much money!” Or, “The pastor has life easy…the Sunday school teacher is not important…or church workers are nothing!” Christian members complain and look with mean eyes on the helpers in the church. Shame! Shame on us! We buy tickets to baseball, football, sports, or pay lots of money to doctors and hospitals, or go out to fancy restaurants, fun vacations, trips, and things. These things are temporary (soon) and will not last (continue). A baseball player can make over a million dollars a game, but pay a pastor or church worker $100,000 a year and people would “jump up and down” in anger. Jesus says in verse 7 to pay your church workers, “because the worker earns his pay.” Pay your church worker! Pray for those working for God’s kingdom, help them by doing work! Go and do something yourself for Jesus. Jesus is sending YOU with His peace, love, and forgiveness. Jesus is sending you with His promises. “I am with you always…to the end of time.” Jesus sent the 70 out to show His perfect work in us. The number 7 is a perfect number in God…the day of rest and worship. The number 10 is the number of mankind (people)…10 fingers…10 toes…10 commandments! 7 X 10 = 70, God sending out His Perfect Peace, Jesus (7), by His people (10) made perfect in Him, the Church! Jesus is sending you with His help and love! Jesus is sending you in the same way He (Jesus) was sent! Verse 3, “Go now.  I am‑sending you same‑as a lamb among wolves.”

        We go happily! We go in God’s power! We go because Jesus loved us! We go because we love Jesus! We go with the Rains’, the Drew’s, and Mr. Weld! Hand in Hand…Arm in Arm with Jesus’ peace and love. We are not afraid because our God is with us working beside us and through us! Happy Day! Happy Picnic to all celebrating Jesus’ love! Amen

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[1]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.