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Sermon Series: We are currently going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we’re talking about a passage where Jesus sends out the 12 disciples.
Persecution Will Come
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[f] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[g] those of his household.
Have No Fear
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[h] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[i] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Today, we read about how Jesus sends out His 12 disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. By taking a look at what He tells them, we too can learn how to go out and talk to people about our faith.
How to talk to people about your faith when it becomes difficult:
We need to realize that:
- Antagonism towards God’s Kingdom exists… so we need Biblical dicernment and to ask for God’s wisdom
Matt. 10:16-18, 1 Pet. 5:8, Eph. 4:27, 6:11-12, James 4:7
2. Our tendency is to become anxious… so we need to rely on God to give us what we need
Matt. 10:19-22, 6:25-33, 1 Pet. 5:7, John 14:27, 2 Tim. 1:7, Heb. 13:6
3. Even Jesus was maligned… so it’s ok if we are too
Matt. 10:23-25, 5:11, 1 Pet. 2:1-19, 3:16, James 4:11, Titus 2:7-8, 3:2
4. Our Father cares for us… so we don’t have to be fearful
Matt. 10:26-31, 28:19-20, 6:30, 1 Pet. 5:7, Deut. 31:8, Ps. 8:4
5. If we deny Jesus, He’ll deny us… so don’t deny Him!
Matt. 10:32-33, Rom. 1:16, 10:11, 2 Tim. 2:15
6. Jesus message is divisive…. and that’s ok
Matt. 10:34-39, Acts 13:51, 2 Pet. 2:6, 1 John 4:1-21
7. Sharing our faith will become difficult… but God calls us to do it, so we can stick with it until the end
Matt. 10:40-42, Col. 3:23-24, James 1:12, 1 Cor. 2:9
Reflecting on God’s Word
Getting Started
- Take some time to read over Matthew 10:16-42 and pray.
- Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
- What surprised you as we talked about it?
- How did you first come to faith? How did you think your life would change when you first started to follow Jesus?
- Have you ever had an encounter with someone who was antagonistic towards God? If so, in what context did you encounter them, and what happened? Would you handle that situation differently if you had an encounter with them today? How would you handle that sort of situation differently than you have handled it in the past?
Diving In
Read Matthew 10:26 again. A common tendency is to become fearful and/or anxious when it comes to sharing our faith. What is your tendency when it comes to sharing your faith? Why do you think that that is your tendency?
- How does Jesus’ message here in Matthew chapter 10 help you to be less fearful and/or anxious?
- After realizing your tendency, what do you need to work on in order to overcome your tendency, and share your faith more often?
Read Matthew 10:28-30 again. Spend some time in prayer asking God to help you better understand the depth of His care for you. Jot down anything that the Lord brings to your mind.
- How does internalizing that God cares for you help you to share your faith?
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
- What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
- Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?