Missionary stories and biographies inspire us. We love reading about their successes, as they set out in jungles or villages to find lost tribes, preach the gospel, and convert people. But when it comes to our own experience, many of us shy away from evangelism and outreach.
We know the need is there. In Luke 10, Jesus declares the need when he says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." If we believe this need exists (and we should, by merely looking around us), why do we back off when it comes to reaping the harvest?
There are many reasons. Some think that they don't know how to do outreach, while others worry that they don't know enough to evangelize. For some, these feelings create fear, and they are scared to reach out, while others fear the rejection that might come if they try to evangelize a friend who is not interested.
As a result, many Christians live their entire lives not sharing the gospel with anyone, believing that evangelism is a job best left to the religious "professionals."
Jesus' idea, on the other hand, is that evangelism and outreach is for all! In fact, in Jesus' view, evangelism is nothing more than inviting people to enter into the kingdom of God!
So, when Jesus sends out the 70, he acknowledges the need (the plentiful harvest; v. 2) and sends them out as workers with some simple instructions. He teaches them to pray and go. That's it. "Ask the Lord of the harvest...to send out workers" (2), and then, "Go!" (3)
As we pray about the harvest, God begins to work within us, showing us people and networks that are ready to be receptive to the gospel. And then we go. But notice that we don't go alone--Jesus sent the 70 out in pairs. We enter into ministry as a team, working alongside each other, praying together about the harvest, and going as a team, trusting God (4). As we go, we represent Jesus and we have all authority to go and do the mission he is sending us on (16, 19).
Therefore, let us pray about the harvest and resolve to go. A useful tool for this is Life Transformation Groups (LTG). I've discussed Life Transformation Groups before. In a LTG you gather with another believer (i.e., a ministry team) and read scripture, confess sin, and pray for people in the harvest. As these people begin to be reached, you can incorporate them into your LTG for discipleship and allow it to multiply as necessary.
Developing a network of Life Transformation Groups is one clear way we can begin to go on mission with Jesus.
We know the need is there. In Luke 10, Jesus declares the need when he says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." If we believe this need exists (and we should, by merely looking around us), why do we back off when it comes to reaping the harvest?
There are many reasons. Some think that they don't know how to do outreach, while others worry that they don't know enough to evangelize. For some, these feelings create fear, and they are scared to reach out, while others fear the rejection that might come if they try to evangelize a friend who is not interested.
As a result, many Christians live their entire lives not sharing the gospel with anyone, believing that evangelism is a job best left to the religious "professionals."
Jesus' idea, on the other hand, is that evangelism and outreach is for all! In fact, in Jesus' view, evangelism is nothing more than inviting people to enter into the kingdom of God!
So, when Jesus sends out the 70, he acknowledges the need (the plentiful harvest; v. 2) and sends them out as workers with some simple instructions. He teaches them to pray and go. That's it. "Ask the Lord of the harvest...to send out workers" (2), and then, "Go!" (3)
As we pray about the harvest, God begins to work within us, showing us people and networks that are ready to be receptive to the gospel. And then we go. But notice that we don't go alone--Jesus sent the 70 out in pairs. We enter into ministry as a team, working alongside each other, praying together about the harvest, and going as a team, trusting God (4). As we go, we represent Jesus and we have all authority to go and do the mission he is sending us on (16, 19).
Therefore, let us pray about the harvest and resolve to go. A useful tool for this is Life Transformation Groups (LTG). I've discussed Life Transformation Groups before. In a LTG you gather with another believer (i.e., a ministry team) and read scripture, confess sin, and pray for people in the harvest. As these people begin to be reached, you can incorporate them into your LTG for discipleship and allow it to multiply as necessary.
Developing a network of Life Transformation Groups is one clear way we can begin to go on mission with Jesus.
