TEACHING
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JUNE 18, 2023 - Third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 6
10:30 AM (+ kids!) Get Close with Shel Boese Matthew 9:35-10:08 We continue teaching through the Ordinary Time, Church Year stories from the ancient biographer of Jesus, Matthew. Jesus instructs his disciples to spread the word about his Kingdom. Jesus tells them (and us by extension) to "Get Close" to people. This message is needed for those who are told by culture or religion to build walls. Not only do we learn something about how the Jesus kingdom grows, we learn we are called to be answers to prayer. ON RAMP
JOURNEY THROUGH THE TEXT 35 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.” “We are not simply to pray for more workers, but we are to pray for the right kind of workers. They must be people sent by God, not people who are self-appointed, because the harvest is God’s harvest, and God is its Lord.” - Cleophus J. LaRue Jesus tells them to pray that the Lord would send forth labourers… then He sends them out! “They are the ones they are praying for, reminding us that we may be the answer to our very own prayers” -Luke A. Powery Sending Out the 12 Apostles 10:1 Jesus called his 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness. 2 Now these are the names of the 12 apostles: first, Simon (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 Jesus sent out these 12, instructing them as follows: “Do not go on a road that leads to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. ARRIVAL... |
