SERIES SUMMARY 

As Jesus steps onto the scene of history, Matthew paints a picture of him that invites our participation in what Jesus is doing. The portrait is that Jesus is the True King who is bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. This good news is not reserved for especially religious people in a distant future; it’s good news, right now, for ordinary people who come to Jesus in faith. 

And while Jesus inaugurated the kingdom among us through teaching and serving in dozens of ways, he ultimately brought heaven to earth by embracing the cross as his throne and wearing thorns as his crown. In doing this, he broke the powers of the kingdom(s) of this world and opened up God’s new world through his resurrection. Now, because of these things, discipleship to Jesus is about praying and living “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” It is about whole-life transformation and embodying kingdom realities. It is about becoming people who naturally live out what Jesus taught. Today, because of Matthew’s witness and Jesus’ ministry, the kingdom is coming in our own lives, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

PASSAGE GUIDE

Jesus sends His twelve disciples to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, extending His compassion to the lost sheep of Israel. Their mission flows from what they have already received from Him. Everything they carry into this mission has been given to them by Jesus, not earned or accomplished on their own. He instructs them to give freely and depend on God's provision through the hospitality of others. Although some will welcome their message, others will reject it. Faithfulness does not guarantee a favorable response, and the disciples are responsible for representing Jesus faithfully, not controlling how others respond.

Jesus also prepares His disciples for the opposition they will encounter. He sends them as sheep among wolves, warning them that following Him may bring persecution and even betrayal by those closest to them. Yet opposition does not mean that God's mission has failed. Jesus calls His disciples to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, exercising discernment without compromising their integrity or compassion. Even persecution can become an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus. Rather than allowing opposition to make them defensive or hostile, His followers are called to continue seeking the good of others.

At the center of Jesus' instructions is the promise that His disciples will not face opposition alone. When they are brought before authorities, the Spirit will give them the words they need. Their confidence rests not in their ability to defend themselves but in the presence and provision of God. Jesus calls them to endure in faith, trusting that even those who threaten their lives cannot take away the salvation He promises. This dependence on the Spirit is rooted in the security of belonging to the Father. The approval or rejection of others cannot determine their identity or undo their relationship with God.

The ultimate foundation for this security is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus does more than prepare His disciples to suffer rejection; He Himself experiences betrayal and rejection before giving His life on the cross and rising from the dead to bring sinners home to the Father. Through His death, He bears the judgment sin deserves and secures the acceptance that no human approval can provide. Because believers have already been welcomed by the Father through Jesus, they are free to love others without needing their approval to establish their worth. By depending on the Spirit of their Father and resting in what Jesus has accomplished, believers can remain faithful to Christ and genuinely care for others, even when their message is rejected. This security frees them to speak the truth with compassion and continue seeking the good of others regardless of their response.

HIGHLIGHTS

• How do we keep moving toward people with the compassion of Jesus when identifying with Him may cost us their approval?
• Jesus prepares His disciples for His mission by teaching them to depend on His provision, expect opposition, and rely on the Spirit of their Father to remain faithful.
• Jesus does more than prepare His disciples to endure opposition. Through His death and resurrection, He secures our welcome with the Father. The Shepherd gives His life to bring us home. 
• The goal isn’t to become people who don’t care what others think. The goal is to become people who are so secure in what Jesus thinks of us that we are free to genuinely care about others.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS    

These are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. Remember: the text is the focus; the sermon is a commentary. Discuss and apply in the group.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (Read Matthew 10:5-23)

1. What stood out to you or was impactful from the text? 
2. When has someone responded negatively to your Christian faith or beliefs and how did you respond?
3. What do Jesus' instructions reveal about the nature of the disciples' mission and the message they are carrying?
4. How does receiving God's grace shape the way we approach people who don't know Jesus?
5. Why do you think the approval or rejection of others can have such a powerful influence on our willingness to identify with Jesus?
6. How can we distinguish between opposition that comes from faithfulness to Jesus and opposition that comes from our own pride, harshness, or lack of wisdom?
7.  What are some ways our desire for people to respond positively to the gospel can become tangled up with our desire to be liked, respected, or understood?
8. How does Jesus' death and resurrection free us from needing the approval of others?
9.  Who is someone in your life whose response makes it difficult to identify with Jesus, and what might one faithful step toward that person look like this week?

LIFE ON MISSION THIS WEEK 

• Pray: Ask God to give you the courage to step into the opportunities He places before you, trusting Him to provide what you need along the way.
• Serve: Our church has committed to providing Christmas gifts for the men at Miracle Hill’s Greenville Rescue Mission, and we need your help! We’re looking for individuals and groups to purchase items by December 8 so every man can receive a full gift bag this Christmas.