Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Join the Adventure
Passage:  Luke 9:1-6

Reno Campus
Pastor Dave Pretlove

Carson Campus
Pastor Dusty Braun

Campus Announcements / Service Moments

Reno Campus

Adult Baptism Class
Foundations: Salvation and Baptism Class
Starting Point
Trap Shoot
Galena Creek MTN Bike Ride

Carson Campus
Foundations: Salvation and Baptism Class
Starting Point
Trap Shoot
Galena Creek MTN Bike Ride

Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Join the Adventure
Passage:  Luke 9:1-6  

Jesus invites us to join his adventure… 

1. An adventure of Gathering and Going
   Luke 9:1-2
   Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬
   John 20:21
2. An Adventure of Praying and Proclaiming
   Luke 9:1-2
3. An Adventure of Empowerment and Equipping
   Luke 9:1-4
   ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬
4. An Adventure of Reception and Rejection
   Luke 9:5
   Luke 10:16
   David Platt Obedience to Christ’s commission is not determined by the outcomes we see but by the faithfulness to the call we are given.”
5. An Adventure of obedience not just observation.
   Luke 9:6
   David Platt , *”We are not called to comfort and safety. We are called to go, to give, and to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel.”

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How does gathering together as a church prepare us to live on mission?
2. How does Ephesians 4:11-12 work into this idea of gathering together prepares you?
3. Take a moment and evaluate your day to day life. On a scale of 1-10 how do you rate yourself as living on mission? What would it take for you to move one or two notches to the right on that scale?
4. How does the Gospel empower us to meet the deep needs that we encounter?
5. Why does Jesus delineate this new authority as both ‘power and authority’? 
6. What is the difference between power and authority and why is that important?
7. Read Acts 1:8, and reflect on a time when you felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to do something beyond your natural abilities. What lessons did you learn from that experience?
8. What are the “material things” that restrict your life from becoming more dependent on God?
9. How have you been affected when you have encountered rejection of the Gospel?
10. What does Jesus instruct his followers to do with rejection? Luke 9:5
11. How would Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:8-9 be applied to missional rejection? 
12. When have you assumed the Gospel would be rejected, and that prevented you from sharing it?
13. How does it relieve the pressure you might feel to know that the Holy Spirit gives you the power to proclaim the Gospel?
14. Why is it important to offer the gospel to everyone, knowing that some will accept it and some will reject it?
    
15. How can you be intentional about sharing your faith with at least one person regardless of how you think they might respond?
16. Jesus used both ‘proclamation and demonstration’ to perform ministry. 
17. What does Jesus’ instruction to take nothing for the journey teach us about self-denial and reliance on God?
18. David Platt’s statement in “Radical Together” –  “Obedience to Christ’s commission is not determined by the outcomes we see but by the faithfulness to the call we are given.” How does this perspective influence your faithfulness in evangelism?
19. How can we move from being mere observers of others’ faith adventures to actively participating in our own?
20. How does viewing your spiritual journey as an adventure impact your approach to living out your faith daily?
21. Read Joshua 1:9, how does this scripture give you encouragement to live a spiritual life of adventure?
22. Consider Matthew 16:24, what personal comforts or resources you can sacrifice this week to better depend on God and serve others.

 

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

1. Matthew 16:24
2. Philippians 4:8-9
3. Ephesians 4:11-12
   

 

RESOURCES:

• ARTICLE | TREVIN WAX | RADICAL OBEDIENCE: A CONVERSATION WITH DAVID PLATT 
• ARTICLE | J.D.GREEAR | DISCOVER YOUR ROLE IN THE MISSION OF GOD
• ARTICLE | FOCUS ON THE FAMILY | LIVING THE ADVENTURE 
• BOOK | DAVID PLATT | RADICAL TOGETHER
• PODCAST | KEVIN DEYOUNG & GREG GILBERT | THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

 

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY: SABBATH REST

As summer days come upon us and I think back to my childhood, I can picture Crow Canyon Swim Lake in my hometown. I spent many a day there swimming, lying on the beach, and playing in the water. The fun memories bring joy to my soul even now.

In particular, I remember the first time as a child, I attempted to swim out to the dock where the dock. This dock was about 60 yards from the beach, it floated out by itself, had a diving board, and lots of area to goof off,  it was the epitome of coolness in my mind.

As I began my journey swimming out, I had fixated on the dock and all the fun I would have once I reached the goal of reaching it. About 35-40 yards off the beach, I began to experience exhaustion in my arms and legs, my breathing became faster and I started to inhale some water. I was not going to make it, however, I was closer to the dock than the beach. Luckily a friend came along with the tube they were floating on. I reached up and grabbed hold of the tube. I was able to recover while using the tube, it provided the rest I needed for the journey to the dock.

Our lives today are marked with exhaustion like that swim. We have our eyes fixed on a goal or multiple goals and we journey toward them trying to push through the exhaustion, but our strength seems to run short. We need a friend with a tube to help provide rest to continue the journey.

Sabbath is just that tube of rest. Sabbath allows us to declare that we need to be replenished. It really is a declaration in humility that says God I can not do this all on my own and I need to be replenished. God, so wants this rhythm in our lives that He commands it. He places it right next to the commands against lying, murdering, and unfaithfulness. Self-sufficiency, or the idea that you do not need rest flies in the face of God’s word. The Sabbath is a gift that God models and gives to his children. Matthew 7 reminds us that the gifts God gives are good. Sabbath rest is good and needed.

 

Here are four principles to incorporate into your sabbath plan or approach.

1. Stop: Identify a day when you can intentionally stop.

2. Rest: IDentify things you need to rest from.

3. Delight: We live in a delight-deficient time. Identify areas of your life that you can delight in and give thanks for.

4. Ponder: Discipline your thoughts to think deeply on the love God has for you.

 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

We all have our own personal mission set out for us. Each of us has our own path we are intended to take, with our own unique personalities, gifts, pasts, and responsibilities. God is not surprised by your 60 hour a week job when he called you to serve on Sundays, He didn’t forget that you’re a stay-at-home mom of three when he called you to minister to women coming out of the sex industry, he knows you are introvert yet has called you to lead a small group, and he knows your heart for helping others when he has called you to a temporary season of rest.

At first glance, verses 1-5 of Luke 9 can seem very scary, ‘you will do the miracles I’ve been doing under my authority, don’t take anything, and leave if you’re rejected’. It feels very much like the disciples are being sent blindly into enemy territory, completely ill-equipped for the journey. But if you dive into the text a little deeper, you will see that the instructions were very clear, with step-by-step instructions.

The Bible tells us in verse 1 “he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases”. Jesus did not send the disciples out empty-handed; He gave them everything they needed to complete the mission. In verse 2, it says “He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick”. Their mission was clear. In verse 3-4, Jesus says, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town” . He told them very specifically how to prepare, and what to do while they were there. Finally in verse 5, He says “If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” He told them what to do if things didn’t go well, or if they experienced rejection.

What the disciples needed was great faith. Even though they received direction, did they really trust that they’d been given all the power and authority to do what Jesus did? What if they are rejected? Would it really be as easy as shaking the dust from their feet and leaving? In a completely different approach, we see God  give Abraham instructions in Genesis 12, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” He goes on to tell Abraham of all the blessings he will receive as a result of his obedience. So in one story, Jesus gives the disciples clear instructions, then sends them, but with Abraham, God tells Him to get moving and he will show him the way, and then everything he wants and needs will follow.

What kind of obedience is God calling you to? Do you have all the instructions and details but no faith? Or do you have faith like Abraham but no details? Either way, God calls each of us to something, and because of Christ in us, we have all we need. Take some time this week to seek what God may be calling you to and what may be hindering your obedience.

Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation and Connection Pastor