October 27

Luke 10:1-12

1. I like rephrasing common terms. For example, I prefer saying "community of believers" instead of "church" and "a life that bears witness to the Gospel" rather than "evangelism." This perspective comes from my experiences with Korean churches in Toronto, where being "church-centered" often meant being "building-centered," and evangelism was reduced to simply bringing people into the church. Those four years were truly difficult for me.

2. I’m not trying to boast about our church, Yorkton Alliance Church, but we have two retired pastors, one resting pastor, and seven elders. One Sunday in this summer, two of our pastors, two elders, and a church member spent a week in Yorkton, partnering with another church to preach and share testimonies at a Bible camp and in rural churches. I thought to myself, “This is a day for Yorkton Alliance Church!” No one from those events ended up attending our church, but that’s not the point. For me, evangelism is about bearing witness to the Gospel, wherever and however it happens. It’s about making the church a living, breathing community of faith. In this sense, I deeply love our church for practicing this kind of life-giving evangelism.

3. Christian churches around the world recognize that evangelism is central to their mission on Earth. However, evangelism isn’t just about bringing someone to church; it’s much more than that. Today, we can discuss the meaning of evangelism and how it impacts the lives of believers. Let me read Luke 10:1-12.

4. To address today’s passage, it’s helpful to first summarize Luke 6 to 9. When Jesus sent out His disciples, He wanted them to demonstrate what they had seen and experienced in His ministry. In Luke 6-9, Jesus showed them how to interpret the Law of Moses, heal the sick, and cast out demons. All of this was part of spreading the Gospel, because sharing the Gospel is about freeing people from the oppression of sin and their old lives. It’s a proclamation of the Year of Jubilee, a call to join in the work of Jesus on earth.

5. In Luke 6, Jesus delivers several key teachings that form the cornerstone of Christian ethics. He begins with the Beatitudes (6:20-23), offering blessings to those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted, affirming that the kingdom of God belongs to them: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” He then introduces the radical command to love one’s enemies (6:27-28), urging His followers to love, bless, and pray for those who wrong them: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” In His teaching on judgment (6:37-38), Jesus emphasizes mercy, warning that judgment and condemnation will bring the same upon oneself, while forgiveness leads to being forgiven: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged… Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Finally, through the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (6:46-49), Jesus underscores the importance of putting His words into action, comparing those who hear but fail to act to a man building a house without a foundation, which ultimately collapses.

6. In Luke 7, several key events highlight Jesus’ compassion and authority. The chapter begins with the story of the centurion’s faith, where Jesus marvels at the man’s trust, stating, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (7:9). Next, Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead, moved by her grief. “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” He then commands the young man, “Get up!” and the dead son rises to life (7:13-15). Finally, when John the Baptist’s disciples come to ask about His mission, Jesus instructs them to report what they have witnessed: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (7:22-23). Each of these moments reveals Jesus’ power and deep compassion.

7. In Luke 8, Jesus performs several miracles and offers profound teachings. He begins by explaining the Parable of the Sower, where “the seed is the word of God” and the different types of soil represent how people receive it. Some, like the seed on the path, hear the word but lose it when “the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts” (8:11-15). Later, Jesus calms a violent storm while on a boat with His disciples, rebuking the wind and water, which immediately become calm. He asks them, “Where is your faith?” (8:24-25), demonstrating His authority over nature. Jesus then heals a man possessed by a legion of demons. When the man is freed, he is found “sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind” (8:30, 35). Finally, in two powerful moments of healing, Jesus heals a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for years, saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace,” and raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead by taking her hand and commanding, “My child, get up!” (8:48, 54-55). These events highlight both Jesus’ compassion and His divine power.

8. In Luke 9, Jesus empowers His disciples and reveals His divine nature. He begins by sending out the Twelve, giving them “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” and instructing them to “proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick” (9:1-2). Later, Peter makes a pivotal confession, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah when asked, “Who do you say I am?” to which Peter responds, “God’s Messiah” (9:20). During the Transfiguration, as Jesus prays, “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” A voice from a cloud declares, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (9:29, 35), affirming Jesus’ divine sonship. Finally, Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, teaching that “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” He further emphasizes commitment, stating, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (9:23, 62). These moments underscore the power, identity, and demands of following Jesus.

9. From Luke 6 to 9, Jesus’ disciples witnessed His power, compassion, and authoritative teaching throughout His ministry. He then sent them out to continue these same ministries, demonstrating that evangelism is not merely sharing our understanding of Jesus and the Gospel, but actively doing the work of Jesus. This shift becomes even clearer in Acts 3, where, filled with the Spirit, the disciples began performing the same works they had seen Jesus do. Before receiving the Spirit, they relied on their own understanding, leading to moments of denial, betrayal, and abandonment of Jesus. However, once filled with the Spirit, they no longer acted out of their own strength but began to truly carry out the mission of Jesus.

10. Although I didn’t perform any miraculous works, I still vividly remember my first mission trip with Campus Crusade for Christ in 1995. It was a summer mission trip to various provinces in Korea, mostly in rural areas. Our goal was to share the gospel using the Four Spiritual Laws, the same small booklet that later led me to God. In one small city, we spent time around the train station trying to share the gospel, but for three hours, we struggled to find anyone willing to listen. Then, I noticed a man who didn’t seem very approachable--he looked rough, almost like a gangster. Because of his appearance, we hesitated to approach him.

11. For about two hours, my heart kept pounding, urging me to approach him. I prayed for God’s help, especially for the Spirit’s power, because I was afraid. Finally, I gathered the courage to approach him and asked if I could share the booklet. To my surprise, he welcomed me warmly and began telling his story even before I could start. Due to his appearance, he hadn’t been able to form friendships since around the age of eight. This made him shy and afraid to interact with others. But on that day, as we wandered around the area, he had wanted to hear our message, though no one had approached him--until I did. He began to cry and thanked me. I shared the booklet with him, and he expressed a desire to learn more, but I was just a high school student. Thankfully, the leader of our mission team joined us and invited him to a nearby church for a Wednesday prayer meeting. There, he met the pastor. Although the pastor had served that church for several years and knew who he was, he had never approached him before. They had a conversation, and the man decided to start attending the church we had brought him to. Whenever I recall this story, I’m reminded of these Bible verses.

Luke 10:17–20 (NIrV)

The 72 returned with joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven.”

12. Even though I didn’t witness any miraculous events, I saw how God worked through me. I experienced the work of the Spirit when I obeyed God. I believe the 72 disciples experienced the same. They saw Jesus’ work through them, witnessing the power of God, the compassion of Jesus, and the freedom God brings to people. Through their obedience, the church wasn’t established, nor did they create a large following. Nothing changed dramatically after their mission journey. Instead, Jesus began to speak of His death and the final stage of His mission. However, through this experience, the disciples were able to confirm their faith, discover their new identity in Jesus, and understand the direction they would need to follow in the future.

13. Although evangelism is Jesus’ Great Commission to His disciples, including us, it is not meant to be a burden. Rather, it’s an opportunity to share Jesus’ power, compassion, and to proclaim the freedom found in Him to those who don’t yet know Him or understand His great love for them. Jesus didn’t come to teach us new doctrines or regulations, but to reveal God’s compassion and love. While doctrine can guide us and strengthen our faith, it is not sufficient on its own. Learning is only one part; the next step is applying it in our lives. This is what we call application. Faith grows through both hearing and practicing--it’s about listening and obeying together.

14. Therefore, let us share the love of God with those who have not yet experienced it. Let us extend His compassion to them, and declare the Year of Jubilee--the complete freedom found in God. When we obey, God will help us witness His great work, and as we follow in His footsteps, He will accomplish His purpose through us.