Sharing the Good News

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Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Ed McManus said that one day he was late leaving home for work. There was a knock at his front door. It was wet and cold outside. He opened the door and there were two Jehovah’s Witnesses, damp and shivering in the cold. They asked if they could come inside.

Well, he couldn't leave them standing there so he said okay. He brought them into his living room, gave them towels to dry off and offered them each a chair. Then he brought in mugs of hot coffee to warm them.

They were all quiet for a long time so Ed broke the silence and asked, “What happens now?”

The older one said, “We don’t know. We never got this far before.”

Brenda Goodline tells the story of a friend who was trying to explain Jesus to her four-year-old son, Benji. She carefully told him about who Jesus is and what he did for us.

Then she asked her son, “Benji, would you like to have Jesus in your heart?”

Benji rolled his blue eyes and answered seriously, “No. I don’t think I want that much responsibility.”

Sharing the Good News—it just doesn’t always come easy.

In today’s Gospel reading we have the story of Jesus sending folks out to share the Good News. It starts out with the interesting detail that this is not the 12 apostles he is sending, but “70 others” whom he has appointed. So apparently from the very beginning, the task of spreading the Good News was never intended to just be done by professionals, which is rather unfortunate for those of us who, like Benji, “don’t want that much responsibility.” We don’t get to just leave it to others whom we see as more experienced or qualified.

Jesus deep selects and his instructions are quite clear, “Carry no money bag, no belt, no shoes…Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them ‘the Kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’”

He is telling them to travel light and to rely on God’s providing for them, to not just tell people about faith, but to let them see that faith. Their lives are to show what it means to trust God even for simple things like food and clothes.

And stay with them, eat with them. You see, the gospel is shared within a relationship situation where people come to know us up close and personal. They can take our measure, see what we are made of and truly believe.

“I know’d this kid from the day he was born. He played with my kids, helped me with the chores. I don’t know if he has sense enough to make it in medical school, but I know he will be the kind of man I’d like to have come here to care of me and my folks.”

So, the disciples are encouraged to not only talk about the love of Jesus, but also to be the love of Jesus in the community they were visiting. He is saying, “Get to know people and through your friendship with them, let people see how your faith really makes a difference in your life. Let them witness for themselves the gospel in action through everything you say and do. Your actions speak louder than words.”

There was a survey done not too long ago that asked, “what words or phrases do you most appreciate hearing?”

Top three: I love you, I forgive you, Come and eat. Those are the words we hear every time we gather as a community of faith. "I love you. I forgive you. Come and eat." Those are words we all need to hear again and again. For it is in acceptance, in sharing our common lives, and breaking bread together that something quite extraordinary happens.

The 70 followers came back rejoicing for the wonders they had been able to perform. When Jesus sends us out, he intends to use us for something big. Even in our ordinary, everyday lives, Jesus is working out some larger matters, matters bigger than we know. We look at ourselves, our church, and we see mundane meetings, ordinary folk, unspectacular routine, people with all kinds of flaws.

Yet Jesus looks at us and sees so much more. He sees heaven and earth being transformed through us. He uses our faith and the witness we give in our daily lives. He uses the joy and peace we have because despite our mistakes, we are forgiven. He uses the words we sometimes speak at just the right time, even without knowing it. Hw uses all this and more to bring his kingdom into the lives of others.

It may be just as well that we do good without even knowing the difference we make. So often, results only happen over time or several instances removed from where we are. But do not doubt that what we are asked by Jesus to do, will be and is being blessed in abundance.

Every Sunday, Jesus gathers us together to nourish and encourage us and then we are sent out to do the same for others. It just doesn't get any better than this, folks.

Please let me know if you enjoyed Karen's words, especially if you are a member of United Lutheran. I hope to sprinkle more of her sermons into SCRIBBLES in the future and get better at it so you can experience her wit and insights!

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