Matthew 10:5-8 5 These twelve (disciples) Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.
Jesus sends out the disciples with two goals: 1) preach that the kingdom (his community) is at hand and 2) transform those you meet. Jesus could have sent the disciples out to teach a list of rules, a systematic theology, or a required list of good deeds. But Jesus sent them with an invitation (in my words): "the community of God is forming - come be part of it." Then he gave the disciples power to demonstrate God's love and compassion for those they would encounter.
What is our message to the world today? Does it resemble Jesus' message or has our message become "here are the right rules to follow," "here are the right good deeds to do and causes to support", "here are the right politics to get behind," or "here is the right theology to ascribe to." Or is our message about forming the community of God and transforming lives?
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