Like Sheep...

Preached at Hallam and Martell United Methodist Churches July 8, 2007.

In today’s gospel passage, Jesus sends out 72 of his followers. These weren’t the apostles, the superheros, they were just 72 people who were followers of Christ. He sent them out to share the good news, and in the process, he gave them a rather cryptic send off, “Go, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.”

What could that mean? I have been told by many people who raise sheep that a sheep is an animal who is just wandering around looking for a place to die. Was Jesus sending them to die? I don’t think so.

What I believe he meant was that there would be many who would look at them suspiciously and mock them, many who would persecute them, and many who would have little to do with them. But despite all this abuse, they were to be gentle—that by their very demeanor there was something different about them.

I read a joke some time ago... a man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the ‘Follow me to Church’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated 'Christian Fish' emblem on the trunk. Naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car."

That, my friends, is an example of not being a lamb.

Look at verses 5-7. Jesus is telling them to build relationships with people – to love them into the Kingdom of God

While I was in Wyoming this last week, something in the paper caught my eye. Apparently, there was a new barber in town. And just getting started, he began to advertise that the haircuts of the first five people, or during the first hour of the business day, whichever came first, would be free. In the newspaper, he said that he knew that if he could just get people in the chair for a haircut, they would become regular customers. He wanted to build relationships—not just cut hair.

Friends, this is what Jesus was telling the disciples then, and the same principles apply today.
1. the world is hungry for spiritual meaning - to know that they matter, - that’s what Jesus meant when he said that the harvest was large, but the workers were few.
2. we are sent by Christ to share the good news.
3. the task of bringing people to Christ will be done by creating and building relationships with others.

Just like the barber in Wyoming, I believe that if we can just get people into relationships, not just with us, but with other Christians, the relationship with Christ is not far behind.

In Richmond, KY, there is a coffee shop that is owned by a former pastor. He has worked very hard to make sure that this shop does not get the name “Christian” attached to it, because he didn’t want to scare people off. There was a young man who came in regularly and finally approached the owner and said, “When I first came here, I found that the atmosphere was great, and the coffee was good. Some of my friends told me this was a Christian coffee shop, but I came anyway, and if you don’t mind an atheist hanging around, I’m going to continue to come.” A few months later the owner hired the young man to work at the shop. A few months after that, he gave his life to Christ.

There are at least two reasons why we should build relationships and bring people to Christ, and hopefully to church here:
1. The gospel of Jesus Christ- the Good News – is simply too good to keep to ourselves
2. The people who you grow to love in relationship will find wholeness and healing – abundant life – as a follower of Christ.

Perhaps this morning you sense that I’ve been talking to you directly – for some reason the Holy Spirit has touched you and you know that God is calling you to something more – to build the Kingdom in his name – to share his love with the world around you.

Maybe you’ve come this morning because someone asked you to come. Know that this is a place where you are loved and cared for—no strings attached.

Maybe you’re just tired – you’ve been working hard, playing hard, living hard - maybe it’s time to simply rest in the arms of God – to find peace and wholeness.

No matter where you are this morning, I want you to invite you to pray with me this morning...