This is part of the worship series
"Lead More Like Jesus: Three Services for the Pentecost Season"
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
Third SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Sermon Notes: THE LOOK OF LOVE
Matthew 9:35–10:8
In our attempts to "lead more like Jesus," we must first learn to see people as Jesus saw them. He looked at the crowds that surrounded him and saw their brokenness. But he didn't despise them for it; he looked at them with eyes of love.
There is a wonderful movement in this passage from Jesus' eyes to his heart to his hands. Or, to express it another way, from vision to mission to action. The truth is, Jesus models for us the perfect paradigm for involvement in reaching those who are spiritually unaware. We must have a similar "look of love," seeing with Jesus' eyes the desperate needs of post-modern and post-Christian people.
We must see "the crowds."
North America is now the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. There are only a few countries with populations larger than our unchurched population of approximately 120,000,000. You'll find a lot of excellent information on the subject in George Hunter's book How to Reach Secular People, which profiles the harvest challenges in North America.
We must see the individual.
Jesus did more than see the crowds. He is the good shepherd who calls us by name and enters into an intimate relationship with each one of his flock. And we need to follow his example. We need to break the crowd down into the neighbor next door, the colleague at work, or the family member who needs to be introduced to Jesus Christ. We need to see them one by one with Jesus' eyes.
We will then be moved from the depths of compassion (the Greek verb esplagchnisthe (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη) is one of the strongest words rendered "compassion" and is used in the Greek New Testament only of God and his Son) to introduce these "lost ones" to Jesus. Like our sender, Jesus, who came "to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10), we go forth in genuine response to the call and anointing of God. We go forth in his strength and love, knowing it is only through kingdom power that we dare engage in this spiritual warfare of taking people "from the power of Satan to God" (Acts 26:18).
In chapter 10 Jesus names those whom he is sending out. The Lord of the harvest personally calls and names us to the honor roll of harvesters. And he equips us with the message of the kingdom, the Word (Matt. 10:7), accompanied by his own almighty power (Matt. 10:8; Rom. 1:16). He invites us to come and share in the joy of the harvest; the joy of the father who says, "Come and rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep."
In many of our cities there are long unemployment lines. This passage makes it clear that there are no unemployment lines in the kingdom. Our Lord is sounding the call for workers.
Worship Outline
Gathering Songs and Opening Prayer
Song
"Out of Need and Out of Custom" Medema
Prayer
Father, we are here because you have looked upon us with love
and have invited us into your presence.
We remember today the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, because of our sins.
We joyfully come before you in awe and humility
to glorify and praise your name, our Rock and Redeemer. Amen.
Songs of Praise
"In the Presence of Your People" Chambers
"I Will Exalt My God, My King" Cardenas
"You Are the Mighty King" Espinosa
"Great Is Your Faithfulness" Chisholm
Service of Reconciliation
Call to Repentance
1 John 1:5–8
Prayer of Confession
"Change My Heart, O God" Espinosa
Assurance of Pardon
1 John 1:9
Service of the Word
Scripture Readings
Old Testament: Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Psalm 116: "What Shall I Render to the Lord" Psalter, 1912
Epistle: Romans 5:1-8
Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8
Message: The Look of Love
Response and Sending Forth: Hymn Suggestions
"Sent by the Lord Am I" Aguiar, Trans. Maldonado
"In Heaven's Eyes" McHugh
"O Christians, Haste" Thomson
"Send Me, Lord" Anon.
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 6
