Luke 9:1-10 "How To Train Your Apostle"
We’re starting Luke chapter nine this morning. It’s a major turning point in the story. Up until now, we’ve met Jesus and followed Him around Galilee listening to His teaching, watching Him cast out demons, heal people, and other amazing things. Miraculous things. He’s been going town to town picking up a crowd of followers everywhere He went. He’s appointed twelve men in particular to be His closest disciples.
They had seen some things for sure. They watched Jesus the Storm God calm the wind and waves. They watched Jesus the Demon King boss devils around. They had a front-row seat, they must have felt pretty special—probably having the time of their life. “This is fun!” As if it was all for them.
Then we come to chapter nine and Jesus changes the game. Verse 1:
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” Luke 9:1-5
How To Train Your Apostle Suppose you all showed up here today and I said, “Okay, so here’s what we’re going to do today. Instead of me standing up here and entertaining you with some clever teaching about the life and times of Jesus—I want you to split up into groups of two and go walking to all the surrounding suburbs and shopping areas. Don’t take anything with you: don’t take your wallet or your purse, no credit cards. Don’t take any food or money—just rely on God to provide through the kindness of strangers. Don’t go home at night either. As you’re going from house to house, place to place, find someone to stay with. Eat whatever they offer, and don’t look for the best house in the neighborhood. Just stay with the first person who offers. If no one offers, go to the next area. Just tell everyone you meet Jesus has brought the kingdom of God. If anyone acts like they’re possessed by the devil—they yell at you or attack you or whatever, you know how they are—rebuke the demons in Jesus' name and keep going. If anyone is sick, pray with them that God will heal them. I know, you’ve never really done anything like this before. Kinda scary, huh? It’ll be great! Don’t worry, I’ll give you the power and authority that God has given me. All right. Let’s do it. Pick your buddy. Let’s meet back here in—Oh, let’s say three weeks.”
Can you even imagine? Most of you would be like, “Um. Nope.” We’re like the disciples, we come to church because we like it. For us. Get our spiritual fix and go back home.
If I came in here and laid that on you—you’d think I was nuts. Absolutely none of you would do it. It would be like “how to completely destroy your church in one easy step.”
But this is exactly what Jesus did with The Twelve. Called a little meeting, split them up into groups of two, and sent them out for a few weeks with no supplies to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal people.
Why empty-handed? Those were just the standard things people would take on a journey—why didn’t He want them to have what they needed?
It seems Jesus wanted them to learn how to trust God. I mean, completely trust in Him. No safety net.
Also, this way they weren’t going to be able to just keep to themselves—because you know that’s what they would have done if they could—they were going to have to find some local person to take them in or they wouldn’t eat. They were going to have to actually interact with people.
So, they were to go to random little towns where they didn’t know anyone, walk up to strangers and tell them how they had been following this guy named Jesus for the last year or so—that He brought the kingdom of God to earth! It probably would have sounded kinda crazy to most people. If anyone showed signs of demonic activity, they were supposed to rebuke the demons in Jesus’ name—cast them out. If anyone was sick, they were supposed to pray that God would heal them. In each town, they were to look for a “person of peace,” someone who was open to what they were talking about. Maybe it would be someone they prayed for, or maybe it would be someone who just appreciated what they were doing. In each town, the first person to offer a place to stay and a warm meal—that’s where they were to stay the whole time they were there. No hopping from house to house looking for a nicer place with a hot tub and pool.
If they ended up not being welcome somewhere. Like some gated community with no soliciting signs on the doors—some curmudgeon calls the cops and the local constable tells them to keep moving. Jesus said that’s exactly what they should do—Shake the dust of that town off their feet and go to the next one.
Matthew tells us Jesus put a little more “stink” on it than that. He said God’s going to have a personal problem with any town that doesn’t welcome His people and take care of them.
“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matthew 10:15
So shaking the dust off their feet was a symbolic act of judgment. “They didn’t show you any hospitality, so don’t even take their dirt with you when you leave. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Just keep going.”
We might be a little too eager to apply this idea to people. If there’s any principle to learn from this, when we’re dealing with people, it might just be to not shove our faith down people’s throats. Look, we should always tell people what Jesus means to us—find some way to say something like, “If it wasn’t for Jesus, I don’t even know what I’d do—my life is a mess without Him.” But that’s pretty much it unless they ask for more. Unless they ask you to tell them more about why you have hope in Jesus. You can lead people to water but you shouldn’t shove them in the well hoping God will baptize them before they find a way to climb out. If they want to know more about what it means to follow Jesus, invite them to join us at church—it’s a great place to start.
This is when the Twelve are first called Apostles—they go from “disciple” which means a follower, to “apostle” which means to be sent. Wherever they went, they preached the same message as Jesus—the kingdom of God has come to the earth. Wherever they went, they represented Jesus and were His presence in that place.
A visual image might be like the burning lamp set on a stand, or sowing the seeds from Jesus’ parables in chapter 8. He’s sending them to scatter seeds of the kingdom among the people in all the surrounding villages. “Go there, throw seeds everywhere, if they kick you out of town for littering—go to the next village. Carry the burning lamp with you and see if someone will let you set it up the light in their house. If all the doors are slammed in your face—leave them in the dark and shake the dust off your feet as you go.”
It’s important to understand Jesus didn’t send them to teach. Not yet. They weren’t to go to the local synagogue and do a Bible study. They wouldn’t do that until after the resurrection. For now they were just planting Gospel seeds. Staying in people’s houses. Talking about Jesus and the kingdom of God, and praying for people.
So that’s what they did, verse 6:
And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:6
Their first little preaching tour. Mission trip. It was as much for their growth as it was for the people they spoke to. Absolute dependence on God for everything. Food, shelter, power.
“Hello, I’m Peter and this is my brother Andrew. We’re here to tell you about Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God. Do you have any demon-possessed people you’d like us to cure? How about any sick people?”
Andrew’s like, “I sure hope those demons back down when we rebuke them! Those people better get better when we pray for them to be healed.” It was going to be pretty embarrassing otherwise. I mean, they were definitely on the spot.
Of course, it was different for them at that particular time than it is for us. Jesus promised them that anyone they prayed for would be healed instantly. But it still had to be quite the test of faith to actually do it.
These days, we’re not promised that every time we pray for someone they’ll be healed immediately. But we’re still supposed to pray. God still heals. Sometimes now, sometimes later, but He always heals. I think we can be afraid to put Him on the spot—or maybe afraid of putting ourselves on the spot—don’t want to make a big deal out of prayer and then stand there looking stupid if nothing happens. Do it anyway. Trust that God will do what He knows is best. Trust that He knew what He was talking about when He told us to pray for each other.
They covered a lot more ground by going out two by two. A bunch of people found out about Jesus and His kingdom. Verse 7:
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. Luke 9:7-9
Everything Jesus did in Galilee, and then the disciples on their little mission trip—word was getting around. Even King Herod is paying attention. They were talking about Jesus in the local government meetings. Pretty impressive for a poor man from Nazareth.
Herod couldn’t make sense of the reports he was getting. Miracles, demons, raising people from the dead—thousands and thousands of people following Him. Herod wasn’t thinking about having Jesus killed yet but he was getting concerned about His popularity.
He was also very superstitious. They were trying to figure out who Jesus really was. Some thought He was John the Baptist back from the dead, some thought He was an older prophet from the Old Testament like Elijah or Moses or someone.
This is what they were seriously discussing in Herod’s court.
Herod’s like, “Well, it can’t be John. I had his head cut off. Saw it myself.”
In Mark we learn that after all the discussion, Herod figured it was probably John back from the dead after all. In any case, he wanted to meet Him and see for himself. But that won’t happen until chapter 23.
Verse 10:
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. Luke 9:10
We don’t know how long they were gone—at least a few weeks. Jesus must have given them a specific time to return. They come back full of stories of the road and healings and demons and people they met. They headed off toward Bethsaida and found an isolated place to debrief.
It’s interesting. This is by far the best way to teach someone how to do something.
You talk about how to do it. Teach it. Explain it.
Then you show them how to do it. They watch you.
You teach and explain more as you go.
But then you have to let them try. You have to hand it over and trust them to do it.
You might watch them at first, but then you have to walk away.
After a little while, you come back and talk about how it’s going. Debrief.
Then you can teach and explain some more but this time it’s on a whole new level. This time they’re paying closer attention and understanding in a much deeper way—because they have experience.
We’re doing a lot of renovations on our house this summer. One of the things is replacing our fence—I mean, it finally fell over, it was time.
I asked Angel if he wanted to do it as a summer job. He doesn’t know how to build a fence.
I do but I’m kinda busy pastoring a church.
My dad does but he’s 85 and probably doesn’t need to be building fences by himself.
But Angel said, “Sure. If someone shows me how.”
So, every step of the way it’s been that same pattern we’re talking about.
We explain how to do it. Angel listens to what we say but it only goes so far until we actually show him how to do the things and then walk away so he can try on his own: Like how to use a reciprocating saw without cutting off his fingers, how to load up the truck with the old fence and take it to the dump without spilling the load on the way or stabbing himself with rusty nails and screws, operate a post hole digger, turn off the water main when he and his helper bust the pipe going into the house on their first hole. To be fair, it wasn’t his fault, we thought all the utility lines had been marked. Nope.
This story of Jesus training the apostles, sending them out without Him for the first time—This is how Jesus got them ready to change the world after His death and resurrection.
But it’s also for us. It’s how every generation is going to keep on changing the world—let people know Jesus has brought the kingdom of God. Preaching the Gospel—repentance and belief. Looking for people of peace—people who are into what we’re talking about. Praying for people. Taking the message of grace and truth and hope and forgiveness and peace to people who are being crushed under the depressing darkness of the world that has rejected God—turned its back on the Creator.
So we show up here on Sunday for teaching and explanation.
But it’s not just for you. It’s so you can carry it with you when you go and share it with someone who’s not here yet. So you can go out there, wherever you go, and invite people to come back here with you.
I’m not going to send you out two by two going neighborhood to neighborhood talking about Jesus. Most of you wouldn’t do it if I did.
But we are followers of Jesus. We’re not acting like He’s our Lord if we don’t do what He says. He says to make disciples, share our faith, talk about the hope He gives us.
So here’s what we’re going to do: We have some events we’re working on. We call them “Going Fishing Events.” Jesus told the disciples He would make them “fishers of men.” He spent the first eight chapters of Luke teaching them and showing them how to do it. This little mission trip was the first time He sent them out fishing by themselves.
We’re going to go fishing for people that Jesus wants to join us here.
Here’s some of our ideas:
Block Parties where we invite everyone who lives in a certain neighborhood to the house of one of our NewChurch members. Have food, drinks, games, music—Some of us from the church would also show up and get to know the neighbors. Throw at least three parties in each neighborhood. Let me know if you’d like to do one of these in your neighborhood. The goal is to get to know some people, talk about what Jesus has done in your life, and invite them to church.
MovieNights with me and Kemper where we Invite the community to the Alamo Drafthouse to watch a movie and then stay after to talk about it while having a drink in the Alamo bar. The conversation will be about what the characters in the movie wanted and the filmmaker's worldview. Same goal as the block parties: get to know some people, talk about what Jesus has done in our lives, and invite them to church.
Have a Health Fair after worship on Sunday with screenings for vision and various health concerns by a registered medical professional. We’d also pray for people and give some encouragement. You know…Get to know some people, talk about what Jesus has done in our lives, and invite them back to church.
Midweek events at other places like Financial Peace University, Bingo or Trivia Nights
Invite the community to come out, make sure each table has someone from NewChurch to make connections with whoever shows up, Get to know some people, talk about Jesus, invite them to church.
These are some of the ideas we are excited about—there’s a few more: Trunk or Treat, maybe a Fun Run. I not expecting everyone to be part of every event but I am hoping most of us will be part of some of them.
Maybe you have an idea for something you would like to do? I'd love to hear it! Tell me your ideas. This is all I ask, if you’re going to suggest an event…
Make sure it’s something you actually want to do. I’m not looking for ideas for me to do. Ha. Come up with something you want to do.
And it has to be an event where we have the opportunity to make connections with people from the community.
Where casual conversations can happen.
Where it is easy to say things like:
"If it wasn't for what Jesus has done in my life, I don't know where I'd be."
And, "Why don't you join me at NewChurch on Sunday and find out what He’s all about."
We’ll close with the blessing from the end of the book of Hebrews because I think it’s perfect for encouraging us as we are sent from this place today:
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Hebrews 13:20-21
The God of peace who gives you peace in this world of chaos. Peace as you go from day to day, and place to place, searching for a “person of peace” that you can share your peace with. The God who brought Jesus back from the dead—so you could have the hope and promise of also rising from the dead one day. Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep—the Lord who is your shepherd, so you shall not want for anything, He takes care of you in this life as you go from place to place doing His work, and then you will dwell with Him forever in the next. He makes this promise to you and seals it with the blood of the eternal covenant—the New Testament of His Blood. His promise that He will equip you with everything good. Everything good. Everything you need to do what He’s called you to do on earth as it is in heaven. He will give you not only your daily bread but everything you need to do every good work He prepared in advance for you to do. He is completely pleased with you. Not based on you and how faithful you are, but based on Jesus and how faithful He is. To our Lord Jesus Christ be all glory forever and ever.
Amen.