This this weekend we're looking a little bit
at what it is to know ourselves as Americans
and I've got to know how many of you remember
Whenever Apollo 11 went up to the moon. How many
of you remember that? Oh Mike Michael remembers.
So there you go. Okay good He looks good for
his age. There you go. Okay. Awesome. Now I was
I you know, believe it or not was not quite here
on this earth just yet. But I was watching a
video the other day about Buzz Aldrin. And for
those who may not remember, Buzz Aldrin was the
second person to walk on the moon. But what's
astounding is not just people walking on the
moon, but also how many people think it didn't
happen. We live in a world that still gasps when
someone does something that we didn't think was
possible. And let's be honest. What makes the
moon landing such a big deal is not just that
it happened, but that we didn't think it could
happen. It was too big. It was too bold. It was
too far beyond what we thought was achievable.
And even today, because it was so astonishing,
one out of every ten people refuses to believe
that it actually happened. even with six different
Apollo missions arriving there and multiple countries
with evidence to confirm it, and even the fact
that there are actually really reflectors that
are on the moon that were placed there that people
can actually send back data to see how far the
moon actually is, there are still people claiming
that it's all fake. The hours of training simulations
in mock -up moon environments built on sound
stages or outdoor sandlots that were used for
internal training and public education, media
outreach, the staged recreations for the press
to show and visualize what the astronauts would
be doing on the moon and the promotional footage
used for TV specials, classroom usage and museums.
are often mistaken in today's world as an attempt
to trick the public. And even videos of Buzz
Aldrin in his 80s trying to answer questions
for people get twisted because it's easier for
some people to believe a massive deception than
the idea that people went to the moon. And I
think that's part of the point. Sometimes we're
tempted to dismiss what is amazing because we
can't wrap our heads around how it could possibly
happen without us being in control. We think
if we don't have the plan or the strength or
the resources ourselves, then surely it can't
be done. But the poem mission, it didn't begin
with someone saying, let's build slowly and carefully
toward the moon someday. It didn't start with,
let's just spend time orbiting the Earth. It
didn't start with, let's put a space station
up into orbit. It didn't start with, let's send
William Shatner and Katy Perry up there for 11
minutes, and then we'll go to the moon. It has
President Kennedy saying clearly and urgently,
we choose to go to the moon not because it is
easy, but because it is hard. The goal itself
called the people into action. It didn't happen
because humans believed they could easily do
it. It happened because they believed it had
to be done. And in that belief, they rose beyond
the limits. And while politics and funding and
strangely boredom with the moon kept us from
going there for over five decades, The plan is
to land there again in two years, not because
we fully understand everything about space, but
because we're called by the mission to discover
more about it. That idea of being sent into something
bigger than ourselves is exactly where Jesus
meets his disciples in Luke 10. He had been spending
all of this time with them. walking with them,
eating with them, doing the ministry that he's
showing them to do, and then it's time for him
to send out the 72 of them in pairs with a message.
Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. Could
you imagine hearing that? Not just go. That's
already... a lot for them to take in as it is,
but go unprepared. Don't bring a bag that you
can store a bunch of extra stuff in. Don't bring
money so that you don't need to worry about whether
or not people are listening to you or whether
or not you're actually in need. Don't even bring
extra shoes just in case somebody were to steal
yours. Just go. Could you imagine if that were
us today? We'd probably say well, let me make
sure I have all the support ready for the next
several years or decades Let me get my message
polished really really well, and let me make
sure to do some audience checks and see how they
approve of it or Can I just go where the people
are friendly first? I already have a place to
stay. Let me make sure, you know what, I think
there's an area over here in this part of the
city where I don't see another church like ours.
So let me go over there and let me see if I can
find all the Christians or hey, maybe there's
some Lutherans and we'll just start there. Or
let me make sure I have an app for that. Whenever
we see this, We see Jesus cutting all of that
off. We see Jesus sending His disciples out with
nothing. He sends them without anything except
the Gospel. That's it? The Gospel? What is that
going to do? We know how people act when they
hear about Jesus, and yet what happens? they
come back amazed. Why? Lord, even the demons
submit to us in Your name. All of these things
that are happening in the midst of this, we end
up seeing them discussing all of these in our
passage today, and they're going around seeing
what's happening. give an authority to tread
on serpents and scorpions and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." What's
amazing about this is, in so many parts of this,
is that it's just the gospel itself. It's that
they're going into a place where nobody knows
them, and they are getting the gospel. to be
heard by people around them. How do you do that?
You've got nothing to get you settled. You've
got nobody there ready to make sure that they're
prepping everything for you. And instead, all
you have is the opportunity to walk in and to
live out God's grace and forgiveness and to tell
others that it is for them. They didn't go out
with power. but power came through them. They
didn't go carrying healing in a bag like hot
sauce. They became vessels of healing themselves.
They didn't carry resources, but they carried
the kingdom. They didn't wait for the world to
make it easy before they went out and lived it
and showed it and spoke it. They stepped forward
and found out that God was with them. Without
a plan, without certainty, without sponsors,
they went wherever they could and shared that
Jesus had brought the kingdom to earth. But they
didn't just proclaim it with words, they embodied
it with their presence. They lived it. They brought
peace into homes. They cast out evil. They were
stored and comforted and healed. The Gospel was
so real to them, it changed the very atmosphere
wherever they went. And they were willing to
be vulnerable. To hope that there would be others
who would respond to the Gospel and welcome them
into their homes without ever having known them
before. People of peace who would then introduce
the disciples to their friends as well. And Jesus'
response? to their excitement. Was He as excited
for them to be doing such amazing things? Wow!
Oh my goodness, I can't believe He did that.
Wow, it's so surprising. Do not rejoice that
the Spirit submit to you, but rejoice that your
names are written in heaven. In other words,
don't root your identity in what you can do.
Root it. in what God has already done. You belong
to Him. That's where your joy is. And frankly,
that's where the power truly is. Jesus Himself
could do the miracles. And there was nothing
impressive about the disciples. We've been watching
the chosen. We know how ridiculous they could
truly be. But being his people meant that they
were called into the powerful purposes of being
sent into the world Trusting that God would use
them without their strength and frankly without
their fear Do we know what that's like Are we
willing to do the same Are we willing to put
ourselves out there to insert ourselves into
this world that we see? Are we willing to do
more than just be good people? Are we willing
to be odd people? Are we willing to do more than
just hope that we win the day? Are we instead
looking for the times when we know we'll lose
because we're by ourselves in places that need
us? Are we willing to put aside our hobbies,
our passions, the things that keep us distracted,
the things that end up taking our energy, our
money, our time, because we know that there is
somebody in need? Because there are so many things
that are miraculous that we see around us, that
we cannot see whenever we're not willing to be
out there. with nothing but the gospel itself.
Whenever we are around a dozen young people that
we're not sure are paying any attention to anything,
but there's that one who ends up hearing at just
the right time, just the right message, and then
comes up and asks, I'd really like to know more
about this. Could you help me with reading the
gospel? or at the times whenever you're just
randomly going off to some party with people,
and because you hear that somebody is hurting,
instead of saying, oh, well, good luck, I hope
it goes well, or, yeah, sorry to hear that, instead
you stop and say, tell me more, how can I help?
Because you know that they need someone right
then and there, and that without you, they may
never know that Christ actually cares about them.
and then you find out years later just how close
they were to something that they'd never be able
to undo. We are called by God not to go into
the places where we think we have it all figured
out, but to be there weak and vulnerable so that
the gospel is what stands there and does its
work. but that also takes us into Galatians 6
as well. See, Paul is writing to a church that
knows the gospel, but they should know that it's
not about their own power. But this church is
still tempted to take control, to force the results,
to make things work because of their own strength.
If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by
the Spirit should restore that person gently.
But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you
will fulfill the law of Christ. Bear gently with
one another. The temptation... after success,
whether in ministry or spiritual growth, is to
become someone who corrects rather than carries.
Don't we know what that's like? Is that as soon
as things start going our way, we now think that
it's our job to make sure that everybody else
is doing exactly what we think is called for
in their life. And Paul says that if someone
in the church falls into sin, the response shouldn't
be judgment or gossip, but gentle restoration
by those who are spiritually mature. How much
do we spend our time wanting to shame people,
either to force them to become what we want them
to be, or to get them rejected in some futile
attempt to feel better about ourselves and our
own struggles? It's okay if we don't feel good
about ourselves as long as somebody feels worse.
If you belong to the kingdom and your name is
written in heaven, then prove it by how you walk
with others. Don't just call people out. Pick
them up. We should help each other grow and heal.
But also, stay humble. Because none of us is
immune to falling into sin ourselves. We're called
to bear each other's weight. Whether it's emotional,
spiritual, or physical hardship, the law of Christ,
so to speak, is love. Helping someone in their
struggle is living out Jesus' command. Because
Christianity isn't just about me and Jesus. It's
about all of us together in Christ. and how we
can bring each other closer to Christ. Not because
of shame, but by gently showing them what the
Gospel truly is and that it's for them. If we
attempt to change people by our own power, by
our own force, then we risk undermining what
the Gospel can do much more effectively on its
own with grace and mercy and forgiveness. It's
not about what you can boast in. It's about what
you sow in the garden of the Gospel. See, as
we live this Christian life, there's a false
confidence that can creep in, especially after
success. And Paul warns, don't deceive yourselves.
You're not sowing for applause. You're sowing
for a harvest in the Spirit. You're not building
your platform. You're not building your victories.
You're planting for God's Kingdom. which hasn't
even been fulfilled completely yet. If anyone
thinks they are something when they are not,
they deceive themselves. There is nothing for
us to be arrogant about. We aren't above others
or above needing help. If we don't have the same
weakness as someone else, that isn't because
we're better. It's that the Spirit of God has
been working in our lives. It's been calling
us to help others to the same place in humility.
Because without that the community breaks down
When it's all about our pride and the sense of
we're the righteous ones and you're not Each
one should test their own actions Then they can
take pride in themselves alone without comparing
themselves to someone else for each one Should
carry their own load This isn't about actually
taking pride in ourselves per se what he's trying
to get it is not focusing on someone else's spiritual
life as if it's dependent on us to change them.
When we go past carrying each other's burdens
and instead start looking at their sins as something
we must use our power to conquer, then we stop
thinking about personal responsibility for our
own actions. And we start thinking that it's
our job saving them by what we're going to do
and how we're going to conquer. Nevertheless,
the one who receives instruction in the Word
should share all good things with their instructor.
And frankly, I appreciate you. Because there
are many times whenever As the missionary into
this community, it's a lonely road. And for those
of you who have taken the time to bring encouragement,
I have to tell you, it has made a difference.
Even at the times, maybe you don't see it, but
it means it to me. And I hope that we will all
continue to do that for one another as well.
It says, do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please
their flesh will reap destruction. Whoever sows
to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Your life will bear the fruit of what you invest
in. So if you're investing in that part inside
of you, in that part in the flesh, the thing
we keep struggling with, if you invest in the
part that keeps wanting to find victories and
conquering and the things that you can take pride
in, it leads to spiritual ruin. But if we focus
on not only hearing the gospel, but sharing it
and it alone with others, then it leads to life.
Let us not become weary in doing good. For at
the proper time we will reap a harvest if we
do not give up Therefore as we have opportunity
Let us do good to all people Especially to those
who belong to the family of believers The point
is not to pursue the victories We are called
to be faithful it's not about trying to tally
up what we have succeeded in doing for the kingdom
It's about being faithful to the Gospel alone.
Even when it's slow. Even when it's quiet. Even
when no one notices. Even when people drown it
out. Even when people sleep through it. No matter
what it may be, is that we are called to be faithful.
Not because it's glamorous, but because it takes
time for the Gospel to bear fruit. Power may
bring something, but it's never the fruit that
you want to eat. And just like the disciples,
we are called to a mission without a safety net,
without our own plans or our own power or our
own considerations or our own expectations. Whenever
we mentor children at an elementary school and
then feel like they've taken us for granted,
Whenever we've wondered whether or not somebody
is there just to eat the chips and the cookies,
or whether they actually care for what the message
is. Whenever we speak to a person, and then they
still think that somehow the gospel is like every
other religion. But faithfulness is long obedience
in the same direction. And that's the only way
for the gospel to be the thing that truly takes
root. We may want to fix people. We may want
to make things clear, but Paul affirms what Jesus
showed his disciples to go forth with the Word
of God doing the work where real spiritual strength
is to be found. Could I only imagine what it
must have been like for so many years for people
at NASA and all these different space programs?
Wondering who gets to go to the moon? Who gets
to go to Mars? Who gets to go beyond? But doing
the work that was needed and continuing time
and time again, even when people would look at
them and say, you know, I don't think you really
did that. To the point where now we have hope
of going even further. But that's the same thing
for us. Paul says, do not grow weary in doing
good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up It must always be about
speaking and serving and living and trusting
the gospel and nothing more The mission isn't
easy But it's worth it and you don't go alone
You go with the message you go with the spirit
and you go knowing that your name is already
written in heaven no matter what may happen,
even as we hope the same for others as well.
Thanks be to God.