Sent Like the Seventy

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

The Ven. John Motis

I am convicted and motivated by the verses from Luke that we just heard. These verses are the mission call for Fresh Expressions of Church. Nearly 10 years ago, Bishop Brewer sent me the Fresh Expressions book with a note inside, saying, “let me know what you think”. The book is about reaching people in our world who don’t and probably won’t be sitting in our pews on any given Sunday. A calling to mission. I read again, verse one of the 10th chapter of Luke.  “The Lord Appointed seventy others and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where He himself intended to go.”  “The Harvest is Plentiful!”

Last week Jesus sent his twelve apostles to preach and to heal. Now, he sends out a larger group of 70 (or seventy-two) in some Bibles. Is there something significant about the number 70? We know that every word and sentence in scripture is there for a purpose. The earlier mission of the twelve represents the gospel going to Israel. This mission points to the Gentiles! The number 70 is not random. It’s rich with meaning. It speaks of God’s heart for all nations, for shared ministry, and for a mission that every believer is called to carry. Genesis 10 gives us a list of 70 nations-the “Table of Nations.” This symbolized the known world. By choosing 70, Jesus was declaring: the gospel is for everyone, not just the people of Israel.

Jesus was launching a global mission. We are part of that mission today. Every Christian is called into the Mission Field.

Growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s I have many memories of Billy Graham Crusades. George Beverly Shea leads the music; hymns like: “Just as I Am”, “How Great Thou Art.” I recall the huge crowds, and the people streaming forward to the altar calls. I did wonder how he gathered such a huge crowd. Over the course of his ministry, Billy Graham and his organization held over 400 crusades, beginning in the 1940’s through the 2000’s. Millions worldwide attended his crusades. His final crusade: June 24-26 in 2005 was at Flushing Meadows Park and had 242,000 in attendance, 9,400 people came forward to accept the Gospel with 35,000 intercessors praying. 

It wasn’t by accident!

Luke 10:1-10 describes how Jesus appointed and sent seventy (or seventy-two) disciples ahead of Him. This model of mission-being sent, sharing peace, preparing the way for Jesus-finds a powerful reflection in the life and ministry of Billy Graham This is the model that Billy Graham followed. Graham, one of the most influential evangelists in history. Billy lived out the principles of Luke 10 in a modern context, reaching millions with the gospel.

In very much the same way as Jesus appointed the seventy, Billy Graham responded to a divine calling to preach the gospel. He often stated that his message was not his own but from the Lord. Like the seventy, he prepared the way for Christ, calling people to repentance and faith.

Also, in the same way, the huge crowds were also a result of the same sending model. You see, months before a crusade, teams are working. Local churches were mobilized to pray daily for revival and for the lost. Special prayer gatherings were held citywide before the crusade. Local churches were involved from day one. Church leaders formed committees to coordinate outreach, counseling, and follow-up. The crusade never replaced the local church-it strengthened it. Thousands of churches united across denominations for the purpose of evangelism, demonstrating the unity of Christ. Let me say that again, “Thousands of churches united across denominations for the purpose of evangelism, demonstrating the unity of Christ.” Isn’t this what we do at Care Center? All the churches & denominations working together, serving Christ in our community.  

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I think the illustration of harvest is an especially good one. Many of you know that I grew up in Nebraska. I have vivid memories of harvest time. Corn fields, milo, wheat, the color was vividly different. How about cotton fields in Alabama? Have you ever traveled and noticed the white cotton balls clearly visible? Clearly, it is harvest time! Where are the harvesters?

Farming has changed over the decades. No longer are there small farms where each farmer harvests his own fields. Large corporate farmers are now doing the planting, tending and harvesting, with very large equipment. They can cover a very large number of acres in a short period of time with only a few people working. The number of laborers involved is greatly reduced. It makes me sad when I see how this has changed the landscape where I grew up. Nearly all of the generational family homesites are gone. They have been pushed up and destroyed to make way for progress?  A way of life is gone. What about relationships? Is something lost in this “work from home model”?

I think there is some meaning in this for us.

Are we relying on someone professional to do our work? Fr. Tim, me, ordained people? No! YOU are all called, sent into His harvest. YOU are living in the world, YOU know the people and YOU have the relationships!

Jesus sees something we too often miss; the world is spiritually ripe. Even if it doesn’t look like it, there are hearts ready for truth, love and hope. In Jesus’ time, this was a radical claim. He saw readiness where others saw rejection. Today, people are searching for meaning, connection, identity and peace. The problem isn’t a shortage of seekers-it’s a shortage of sent ones.

The issue is not the harvest-it’s the lack of harvesters. Jesus isn’t making a statement; He’s issuing a recruitment call. A laborer is anyone willing to step out in faith, build relationships, server others, and share Christ. We, the Church, must shift from maintenance to mission.

Luke 10 is one of the most powerful models for Christian mission. Originally directed to followers in first-century Palestine, its principles remain deeply relevant today. Jesus is still sending laborers into the harvest. The world still needs peace, healing, and the message of God’s kingdom.

People are spiritually hungry. Our world is filled with confusion, anxiety, and suffering, but the gospel remains good news. The Church is called to raise up more workers-faithful believers willing to go where Jesus sends them. A mission without taking an airplane. We are living in one of the largest mission fields.

Jesus sends us not just as spectators, but as laborers, called to engage with people where they are. A few days ago, I was talking with Richard McWhorter about the struggle many of our elderly face. They have assets but no money. Richard spends many hours over a period of months, helping families by freeing up those assets, allowing mom and dad to stay in their homes. Many of these people are all alone with no one to help them. It is more than a job for Richard; it is a calling to serve.

We are sent with simplicity and trust. He said, “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals.” For us, it isn’t about wealth, credentials, or polished performance. Jesus calls us to go humbly, dependent on Him, focused on the message, not the method. Many times, we are tempted to think we need more training, or a perfect plan-but Jesus says, just go. Trust that God will provide and lead us.

We are sent with a message of peace and healing. “Say, ‘Peace to this house.’ Heal the sick. The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Our world is anxious, polarized, and hurting. We are sent to speak peace; to pray for healing, we are to be the messengers of God’s nearness. In many cases it means simply being present, it may look like listening to someone in pain. We share the gospel with love and patience. Being present in someone’s crisis. Most of us are rich in the eyes of the world, we have all the material things that we think will provide happiness and fulfillment. Perfect family, lots of Facebook friends, perfect life.  Living in the illusion that we don’t need Jesus, that is until the things of life happen. Financial, family problems, loss of a job, infidelity, suicide, illness and many more. Things that most certainly will happen. These are the times that we are the person called into the moment, will we respond?  People don’t need Jesus until it’s all they have. These are the times that Jesus will break through. All we have to do is show them the way to Him.

The message Jesus calls us to share has not changed. The world doesn’t need new philosophies-it needs the timeless truth; God reigns, Jesus saves, and His Kingdom is near. Our every act of compassion becomes a sign that God’s kingdom is near.

What if they reject me? Who is the person in your life that you haven’t reached out to? You know the feeling: If I tried to reach out, I may be rejected, even humiliated. I have family members that I have been hesitant to challenge because their reaction is typically very strong. Take heart, we are in good company. Jesus said that rejections is to be expected; not everyone will receive us. Jesus told his disciples “But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you.” Who is the person living in your immediate neighborhood that you are hesitant to approach directly for fear of rejection. Jesus said, we can and will face rejection, apathy, even hostility when we speak about Christ today. Jesus prepared us for this-not everyone will accept the message.

Still, our calling is not to control the outcome but to remain faithful, knowing that the kingdom will still advance. We are called to share, not to control the response. Faithfulness is our job; the results belong to God.

Most of us will never fill stadiums like Billy Graham. Ministry success doesn’t define us. We should find our joy and identity knowing that we belong to Christ. Whether we see great fruit or little response, keep in mind our hope is secure. Our names are written in Heaven! Jesus said so. “Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.”

There are people out there waiting-some don’t even know that they are waiting. Those that are lonely, living alone, or those who feel alone even though they are in a crowd, those that have lost their hope. We know who they are! We live around them. The truth is maybe no one knows better. Come, let us go out into the fields, every town and place. Jesus is going there. We very well may be the one sent specifically to bring the message of the Gospel to one who may be in danger of being lost. We have been sent by the Lord of the harvest. Sent out into His Harvest.

Hear the truth! When we apply it, it changes everything!

Let us go forth in the name of Christ! Alleluia, Alleluia!

Amen