WEEK 3: The Way To Go

DATE: October 18th

MAIN SCRIPTURE: Mark 16:15–18

SUPPORT SCRIPTURE: Mark 6:7–13

COMMAND: Go into all the world.

MAIN IDEA: The way of Jesus leads us toward others.

SERMON IDEAS:

- Disciples become participants in mission early

-- In Mark 6:7–13, Jesus sends the Twelve out two by two.

-- Until this point, they have largely watched Jesus minister.

-- Now Jesus gives them authority and sends them into His work.

They proclaim repentance.

They confront demonic powers.

They minister to the sick.

-- The ministry of Jesus begins moving through the followers of Jesus.

-- The disciples are learning early on that they are meant to GO.

- Mission is delegated, not self-created

-- The disciples do not go in their own authority.

-- Jesus gives them authority.

-- Christian mission is therefore participation in what Christ is already doing.

-- We do not invent the mission. We join the mission of Jesus.

-- Jesus is moving, He is going, He is not static, so we are called to GO with Him.

- The way of Jesus always moves toward people

-- Jesus repeatedly moves toward outsiders, sinners, the sick, the oppressed, and the overlooked.

-- Following His road means moving toward people rather than retreating into religious isolation.

-- The disciples cannot remain with Jesus without eventually being sent by Jesus; disciples will eventually hear the command to GO.

- The global horizon

-- Mark 16:15 captures the global scope: "Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

-- Mission begins where we are but does not end there.

-- The Gospel is for every (ethnos) people, culture, language, and nation.

-- Where or to whom are we called to go?

- Parabolic Interpretation

-- The Parable of the Lamp found in Mark 4:21–25

This parable works very naturally with mission.

Jesus asks. "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?"

No. Light is meant to be seen.

-- This means that mission goes from becoming only "go overseas" to meaning that the mission of the disciple is to make visible what Jesus has revealed.

-- We are lamps that illuminate the way of Jesus.

- Markan Textual Note

-- Mark 16:9-20 has a significant manuscript history and is bracketed or footnoted in many modern translations.

-- While it is not required, the sermon should draw substantial exegetical support from Mark 6:7-13, as some may wonder why the main text is not included in all manuscripts

-- The command "Go into all the world" remains an appropriate emphasis as it is supported by the other Gospel and Acts.

-- It is good to note that the theology of sending is already firmly established earlier in Mark, not simply here at the end.

APPLICATION:

- Identify the people Jesus has already placed around you.

- Pray intentionally for one person who does not know Christ.

- Share your testimony or the Gospel with someone.

- Invite someone into Christian community.

- Participate in mission through prayer, giving, serving, or going.

- Refuse the idea that mission belongs only to pastors or missionaries.

- If Christ is making things clear about His mission, then take that next step to GO.

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