Dusty Shoes
Luke 10: 1 - 10
Intro: There was a teacher who was helping one of her nursery school students put on his boots? She pulled while he pushed and the boots just wouldn’t go on. The teacher worked and finally got them on when the little fella said, “Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet.” Pulling them off wasn’t any easier than putting them one. Once they were on the correct feet the little guy said, “These aren’t my boots.” The teacher bit her tongue as she took the boot off again. Once off, the little guy said “The boots are my brother’s boots. My mom made me wear them.” Biting her tongue yet again, the teacher finally got the boots back on. When she finished, she asked him, “Now, where are your mittens?” The little boy replied, “I stuffed them in the toes of my boots.”
I Outreach is a bit like a teacher putting on the little guy’s boots. It seems things never go easily or as planned.
A VS. 1 “After this the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”
B The number is debatable: some say 70 represents the elders appointed by Moses in Israel (EX 24:1; Num 11:16) or 72 which is the number of nations (Gen 10: 2 – 31)
C Only LK records the mission of the “72” who are not apostles but anonymous disciples (OTHERS) who were true followers of Jesus.
II VS. 2 “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
A According to a recent survey on how people come to know the Lord: .0001% - TV or Crusade, 1-2% - Street evangelism, 2 – 4% - Church program, 3 – 6% Sunday School, 4 – 6% - Walk-in, 6 – 8% Pastor or Minister, 74% - Friends and relatives.
B Our mission field consists mostly of the people you see every day. There is a plentiful harvest to be had; but, how often do we actually reach out.
C A teacher noticed that during his lecture one of the students was sound asleep. The teacher said, “Billy, wake up that boy sitting beside you.” To which Billy replied: “You put him to sleep, you wake him up!”
III We are often reluctant to get involved because we don’t believe it is our responsibility.
A There was an old farmer, ragged and barefooted, who sat on the steps of his tumble-down shack, chewing on a stem of grass. A passing stranger approached him seeking a drink of cool water. Attempting to be friendly, the stranger asked, “How is your cotton coming in this weather?” --- “Ain’t got none.” --- “Didn’t you plant any?” --- Nope, afraid of weevils.” --- Well, how is your dorn?” --- Ain’t got none. Afraid there wasn’t going to be no rain.” --- What did you plant? --- “Nothing, I jest played it safe!”
B We are often like that old farmer. We play it safe. We aren’t willing to risk or take a chance. We are afraid our work will be for nothing or we might fail. --- “If you risk nothing; you gain nothing!”
C VS. 10-11 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.”
Concl: Culture changes; but, the needs and desires of people never really do. Every person longs for peace. Every person wants to know they have a real purpose. Every person wants permanence; they want to be a part of something that will last, that won’t wash away or crumble. We offer those things here. How will others know if you don’t tell them? If it doesn’t go well chalk it up to experience
