Matthew 9:35-10:8 “Express Grace”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

I'm really excited to get to start a study of the Gospel of John with you next Sunday.

That's going to last a few weeks, I think.

But next Sunday, the greatest prologue to any book written in the history of the world.

I guarantee you, don't miss the prologue at the beginning of the Gospel of John.

Looking forward to that.

But today, we're going to finish exploring our mission here at Southwood that we started talking about last week.

Last week, we talked about our need to continue experiencing Jesus' grace every day.

To keep breathing in that grace.

That there's nothing more valuable, more life-giving than living with Jesus.

That relationship is so worthwhile.

It's so vital.

That relationship is why we are, for example, reading through the Bible together on a two-year reading plan.

So that we can know God more.

That is why teenagers wake up early on the only day of the week that they have to sleep in.

To gather here in this place.

To worship God.

To have our hearts revived.

Because He's worthy.

And we need to remember that.

It's why, among other things, we prioritize gathering in grace groups.

Talking and praying together.

That we would learn from others' experiences what it means to trust God and to follow Jesus every day.

You see how important that relationship is?

How much we need to experience His grace?

I said experiencing grace is remembering how desperately I need Jesus to rescue me.

And how completely Jesus rescues me.

It's constant needs constantly met in Christ.

Grace is the air we breathe in constantly.

In fact, y'all did so well last week with the breathing exercise.

That I thought we'd try it again this morning.

I know you're excited.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Now this time I want you to keep breathing in until I tell you to stop, okay?

Breathe in.

Keep breathing in.

I'm the only one who can breathe out.

Hold it.

Isn't that oxygen?

All that oxygen, great.

It is rushing to your blood, meaning they keep breathing in.

What happens if you never breathe out?

You don't know.

Oh, some of you are finding.

You can breathe now.

Eventually, if you just keep breathing in, you're going to explode.

Right, kids?

Eventually, you just have to let it out.

It doesn't work.

What happens if you never breathe out grace?

If you just love soaking in the undeserved blessing of God?

If it's just the delight of your heart, how much God loves you and all the favor he shows

to you even though you don't deserve it, but you never share it, it doesn't work.

That's not the way God designed us or the way God designed grace.

So this week, we're going to talk about the second half of that eternity impacting mission statement.

To do that, I want us to look at part of a passage in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew, we'll read the end of chapter 9, beginning at verse 35, and then skip ahead to just a couple

verses in chapter 8.

This is God's Word, Matthew 9 at verse 35.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and

proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and affliction.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

And then what happens immediately is that the Lord of the harvest, Jesus, starts

sending out laborers.

Jesus sends his disciples, apostles, out two by two.

He gives them power and authority and he sends them out.

And then he says this, skipping down to verse 7 of chapter 10.

He says this to them as he sends them.

Proclaim as you go, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick.

Raise the dead.

Cleanse lepers.

Cast out demons.

You received without paying.

Give without pay.

Usually translated, freely you have received.

Freely give.

This is God's word.

Let's ask for his help.

God, we thank you for your grace that you have poured out freely on us.

We acknowledge before you by the grace of God, I am what I am.

Nothing else, Father.

We're so dependent on you.

And we pray this morning that your grace to us would not be in vain.

That it would not stop with us.

That it would do its work in our hearts.

So by your spirit, do that now.

For your glory and our good.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

I got a phone call a few weeks ago from a local Way FM Christian radio station calling

to congratulate me that Southwood had won free lunch Fridays.

lunch for 10 at our office this was really exciting for me I very rarely win these sorts of things

and and I've heard since I was in high school that there is no such thing as a free lunch

and yet free lunch Fridays was ours the only issue with that is that the church office is closed on

Fridays so when they showed up a couple days later on that Friday with 10 delicious boxed lunches

there were only four of us around 10 big lunches for four people we had way more than we needed

we were able to get a couple of our spouses to come and together we ate six of the 10 lunches

and had four then left kids that was your math review over the weekend

I knew they weren't going to keep until Monday these were easily 10 lunches right already packaged

in a box I could have gone out front of that restaurant and made 40 dollars just like that

with those left don't think it didn't cross my mind you know how cheap I am

but we had received them for free that didn't seem right

but neither did keeping extra good food that we weren't going to eat

so I thought of who would appreciate them I remembered a homeless camp that I go by sometimes

drove over there briefly and was able to share free lunch Friday with a couple of men who were really

really excited I said hey someone gave these to me and it's more than I need I want to give them to you

what a joy that was right

listen y'all that is our story with God's grace isn't it he has dumped his grace on to us his blessings

over and over freely he has given them to us way beyond what any of us can contain you can't eat it all

and we get the joy not merely of soaking all that grace up although it's wonderful

but really of sharing his grace as freely as we receive it it is free grace every day

it never runs out one of the things I love about this passage is that Jesus tells us to pray

to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest and then immediately he seems to hear

an answer I don't know the prayers aren't recorded but but all of a sudden Jesus Jesus starts sending

right here are some of those very people Jesus has healed has forgiven has given his grace to and

now they're going to get to pass it along themselves that is the design of grace y'all or as you might say

that is how the kingdom of heaven works how do you know that the kingdom of heaven is at hand

how do you know that you're touching the the king of grace the edges of his influence you get for free

what you could never afford you get for free what you could never afford that's what Jesus has been

doing for these people right proclaiming the good news of the kingdom that they didn't know

and healing every disease and affliction that they couldn't handle as we continually breathe in

Jesus's grace we pray for his help to breathe it out where he sends us right now I will admit we are not

the 12 disciples given unique power and a unique mission here but the scriptures are very clear in many

places Jesus sends all of his followers into the world doesn't he John 17 for example they're very

clear that we are to be ambassadors of the king 2nd Corinthians 5 that we are in fact to go make

disciples where of all nations Matthew 28 and we do that as we see in verse 8 by giving freely

what we receive what we receive freely because that's how Jesus graces us it's really easy isn't it just to

live for ourselves anybody good at that doesn't take a lot of practice we're naturally good at living life

for ourselves my priorities my success my comfort and if by the way somebody else happens to

fit in nicely and easily to that then fine great I'll be nice to them

it requires grace to think of someone else first to love our neighbor as ourselves

in the midst of our very busy lives we need God's help to express grace particularly to do it the way

that he has called us to so we pray then we pray to the Lord of the harvest to send us out right the

very people Jesus tells to pray that he would have laborers to send out he starts sending out

and this passage helps guide just some of how we can pray if you're not sure where to start in that

prayer I just want to give us three simple ways this morning three simple prayers that we can all pray

toward the end of expressing God's grace in our lives first simple prayer is one we've already heard sung

Jesus give me your eyes and your heart for the people around me each day look at verse 36

when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like

sheep without a shepherd we talked last week about having an awareness of our own desperate need

but sometimes we overlook our own need don't we we think we're okay and sometimes we see people

around us and we think man she's she's really got it all together I mean he's really successful

they're what I want to be what I wish my family looked like and and we assume no need

in them how crazy that we think that we know better don't we this room is full of need

every person you meet is needy in some way so this city is is full of need Jesus give me your eyes

that see people that then all of a sudden your heart is moved with compassion he looks out and sees them

harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd

it's not good is it it's not good to be a sheep without a shepherd but but what an apt description

of so many in our day yes constantly being told to achieve more

challenged to come up with your own identity it's up to you you need to figure it out

bombarded along the way with images of others lives that you're supposed to keep up with if you really

want to be good enough or successful harassed and helpless for sure many feeling isolated and alone

an epidemic of anxiety in our society shame driving suicide rates to an all-time record high people crying

out in many different ways where can I turn where's a shepherd to guide me they're not using those words

but that's what we're asking for that's what we're longing for is that what you see

when you see people around you are you more quickly moved with compassion

or do you more quickly feel frustration

exasperation oh there they go again

are these people and their needs

honestly a bother to you

or are they a harvest field

for grace

to move it oh look at all the the grace that's needed

don't you love the heart of god that jesus embodies so beautifully here

god is near

he heals the brokenhearted

the god who reigns on high dwells also where

with the lowly

god hears and delivers

the needy

i loved hearing many of our leaders

tuesday night talk about what what god might do if his kingdom came in a new and fresh way in our hearts

if more and more we longed for what he longed for that that we talked about longing to be present

with lonely people

to provide healing for those who are abused and broken

we talked about longing for the the church of jesus christ to be recognized as a place of refuge and restoration

rather than of hurt and hate

there's a hurting world that we long to minister god's grace to

we long that that people would experience the kingdom of grace

because they would get for free what they could never afford

do you long for that for the people that are around you is that what you want them to taste

or if you're honest do you just long for a calm week

for for a college scholarship

for for a better vacation for the schedule to go the way it's supposed to for your world to go the way you want it

as the grace of jesus grips your heart

as as his spirit

breathes life into you pray for his eyes

for the people who are around you each day

now which people

i want to be very practical

this morning

jesus sends us

to people

so as you ask for his eyes say jesus show me the people

that you've sent me into relationship with

so that i can pray for them and point them to you

who are those people

isn't it interesting that jesus himself heals only

so many people while he's here on earth

he forgives some people's sins

he teaches to crowds in many places

but many other places he never visits

his grace

spreads

one relationship at a time doesn't it

it's not

always

straight from him

he sends disciples out on his behalf

to announce

the king is here

there are many people who will hear

that message

not from the mouth of jesus himself

who will experience that healing

not at the hands of jesus himself

but

from those jesus sins

aren't there

i want to encourage you this morning

if you don't have something like this already

to make a relationship

inventory

you do it according to your personality

not mine

it doesn't have to be a chart

it doesn't have to be electronic

it doesn't have to be a list

that you mark stuff

on

but this is an important part

of being on mission

with king jesus

because he has most certainly sent you

to express grace

to

people

okay

that starts with the people you're sitting with

this morning

family

and church family

see i start mine at home

and with my grace groups

we've got to start there

we

we need

grace

sometimes the people

closest

to us

get skipped right over

when they need

god's grace the most

don't forget how many lonely

anxious

ashamed

confused

overwhelmed

overwhelmed

people

are right

here

in this family

this morning

we just said last week

we are a family

desperately in need

of god's

grace

it's part of why

you jump into a grace group

it's part of why

you're needed to be there

you need it

and the other people

there need you

you need god's grace

from them

they need god's grace

from you

that's

why we live that way

in relationship

it's all sorts of relationships

you're in

co-workers

friends

but i especially

want you to think about your neighbors

over here on the left side of this

i didn't use names

on this one

people beyond the walls of your church family

who

who may well

not trust jesus

yet

you may know them from

any number of

places

if you've been here

we've been encouraging you

to pray for three people

right

just

just three

people

that we want to point to jesus

we've been talking about this since january

i hope you've gotten to three

okay

the relationships that impact eternity

are not only with one another

but also with

our neighbors

people you live near

people you eat with

people you study with

people you work with

you play with

exercise with

think of names

i promise that if you pray

for jesus to show you the relationships

that he is sending you into

some of them will be people who don't know him yet

that's the way he is

he wants them to

he may well be sending you into relationship

for that purpose

so you can introduce him to your mutual friend

what a privilege then

if he's sending you

to actually be able to pray

to him

to ask for his help

in showing his heart

of compassion to them

to be depending on him

for the love that you know you're called

to show to your neighbor

but many days you just don't feel like you have

pray

pray that he would show you

them and give you

that heart

i encourage you

even right now

maybe this afternoon

take some time

take stock of your relationships

i don't know how you'll use it

maybe as a prayer list

maybe you'll consider some people

you want to invest in getting to know better

maybe you're never going to write anything like this down

but just thinking of people by name

will grow your compassion for them

great

maybe as you think through it

you'll think of areas where you realize

God is calling you into

relationships

and you need to add some names

expressing grace

happens

in relationships

and as you ponder those names

as you're praying through your own

pray

Jesus

help me express your grace

in specific words and deeds

that point to the one who truly meets

our needs

it's not ultimately you

right

it's him

it's really interesting in this passage

that Jesus sends his followers

to do for others

what he has already done

for them

we mentioned that's the design of grace

freely received

freely give

it happens once again

with what they're told to do

Jesus

verse 35

is proclaiming

and healing

word

and deed

the good news

of the kingdom of grace

is always

both of those things together

by the way

and in verse 8

when

they bring the kingdom

they are told to

guess what

proclaim

and

heal

the exact same

two words

that Jesus was doing

the kingdom is at hand

is the message

right

hear it

and

feel it

you're gonna know

what this kingdom is

see the followers of Jesus

were not sent out

to attract people

to themselves

to their own styles

their own powers

their own abilities

they were

and are

to point people

to the king

of grace

doing it his way

if you're an ambassador

of king Jesus

he sends you

to declare

his king

and to demonstrate

what it's like

to be touched

by his kingdom

where you

freely receive

what you could

never afford

that's what you're

sent to do

and I want to think

about that

specifically

with some of the needs

that you'll come

across often

both in this church

and in this community

as you're in those

relationships

you think of

specific names

on your relationship

list

and what words

or deeds

might express

God's grace

to them

okay

that's what I want

you doing

for the next

couple minutes

it is both

of those

by the way

we are sent

to speak

and act

not necessarily

both in every

interaction

but certainly

both in every

relationship

right

proclaim the good

news of Jesus

meet tangible

needs like Jesus

so many needs

how could you

express grace

to someone

who is lonely

you know someone

lonely

I bet you do

isn't a piece

of helping them

receive what they

can't afford

being present

with them

that's not

complicated right

that's part of it

giving time

to listen to them

entering into

their world

but when you

do leave

when you

aren't

there

don't they

need to

hear the

good news

of a God

who will

never leave

them or

forsake

them

don't

don't they

need that

too

don't they

need to

know of a

savior who

is always

listening and

hears their

cries even

when no one

else is around

don't they

need to know

of a community

of people

who will be

together

with this

father and

a family

forever

they need to

hear that from

you too

how could you

express grace to

someone who's

guilty

that's all of us

before God

who need to hear

the good news

of forgiveness

that we could

never earn

but it is given

as a gift

that is grace

we need that

but perhaps

someone on your

list is tormented

by something they

have done

or said

to you

maybe they

know that

you're not

ready to

forgive them

and

and maybe

you can

extend

forgiveness

yourself

when they

least expect

it

and know

they don't

deserve it

and they

get for

free

from you

what they

could never

afford

themselves

and it

begins

in that

moment

to point

them to

Jesus

to someone

who gives

like that

over and

over and

over

that he's

real

and he

gives grace

to them

like that

how could you

express grace

to someone

who is

confused

perhaps

searching

for identity

feeling

lost

in the

process

not really

sure

where they

fit in

in the

world

at school

in

relationships

maybe God

has put you

in relationship

with them

to see the

image of God

in them

that they

really can't

find anymore

to value

them as

they are

more than

they can

value

themselves

and perhaps

even

then

to tell

them of

the God

who made

them

fearfully

and wonderfully

and for

himself

forever

to embrace

them

and never

reject them

giving them

significance

and purpose

just because

they're his

because the

king of

grace

came for

them

last one

how could

you express

grace

to someone

who is

hopeless

you know

hopeless

people

more

and more

and more

every day

nowhere to

turn

don't know

why to

keep

living

you can

share the

reason

for the

hope that

you have

because it's

not you

a hope

outside

yourself

a hope

in the

savior

who

redeems

brokenness

of all

sorts

a hope

in a

king

who will

set

all

things

right

one day

no matter

what it

is they're

going

through

and along

the way

if that's

going to be

more than

just words

to them

if they're

going to

entertain

the prospect

of hope

again

they'll

probably

need you

to show

them

to show

confidence

in them

when they

don't have

it

to give

them a

job

beyond

their

resume

to stand

with them

against

injustice

to show

them there's

someone who

fights for

them

you won't

be able to

fight every

time but

king jesus

will

and you

can give

him a

taste of

what he's

like

word and

deed

deed and

word

what

specific

things

can you

do for

someone you're

in relationship

with to

give them

for free

what they

could never

afford

what they

don't have

access to

outside of

you

what they

will never

know if

they don't

know the

king

so they

taste the

kingdom of

grace

so they

will recognize

the king

of grace

grace

I hope

some ideas

are coming

to mind

I want to

be honest

with you

about one

thing as

we prepare

to come to

this table

together

when you

do that

in word

and deed

moving to

give people

something they

can't afford

themselves

you should

know that

it's not

merely grace

shared for

free

although isn't

that wonderful

often expressing

grace means

grace that you

share at

great cost

yes

freely receive

freely give

sounds easy

right

I'll just

pass it along

no big deal

you keep

giving me grace

God I'm going

to keep

sharing it

but then in

John chapter

John 20 · chapter mention

20 the risen

Jesus appears

to his

disciples

it's one of

those amazing

encounters where

the God who

saves is the

God who

sins

the God who

saves us and

brings us into

relationship is

sending us out

into relationships

and once again

Jesus says to

them as the

father sent me

so I am

sending you

just like that

I had never

noticed the

context of that

comment Jesus

makes until

this week

he says you

go out like

me after

reminding them

of what

verse 20

he showed

them his

hands

and his

side

what

happened to

Jesus when

he was sent

he says let

me remind you

of who I am

these are

emblems of

my death

these are

reminders of

the cost

that the

father sent

me to pay

to give

you grace

upon grace

for free

friends you

and I have

received that

kind of grace

from him

gifts for free

that we could

never afford

but they were

at great cost

to the one who

gives them to

us weren't

they that is

the kind of

gracious savior

that we want

to point people

to in all of

our relationships

so we should

expect that it

will cost us

to share grace

like his

freely

and even at

great cost

to ourselves

as we consider

that pray

that we would

not

selfishly

or distractedly

even

fearfully

hold our

collective

breath

but that we

would breathe

out

the grace

that is giving

us life

I don't know

what it will

cost you

to breathe

out

but let's

together decide

right now

that there is

no price

too high

there's no

price that

could keep us

from sharing

in word

and in deed

with anyone

we're in

relationship with

as our hearts

fill with

compassion for

them

the glory

and grace

of Jesus

nothing could

keep me

from that

right

may God

make us

willing

and eager

to express

that costly

free

grace

Jesus

fully aware

of what it

would cost

him

to give

that grace

to his

followers

to bring

forgiveness

and hope

and life

to them

on the night

that one of

them betrayed

him

took bread

and he

broke it

and he

gave it

to his

disciples

as I

ministering

in his

name

give this

bread

to you

he said

take

eat

this is

my body

given for

you

do this

in remembrance

of me

in the same

way after

supper

he took

the cup

and said

this cup

is the

new covenant

in my

blood

which is

shed

for many

for the

forgiveness

of sins

it's the

only way

to have

sins

forgiven

so I'm

going to

give my

blood

drink

from it

all of

you

as often

as you

eat this

bread

and drink

this cup

you proclaim

the Lord's

death

it's what

he's called

you to

it's what

he sent

you for

until

he comes

you need

to hear

it

so it's

being

proclaimed

to us

this morning

isn't it

we need

it

and we

need to

remember

it

because

we're

sent

to

proclaim

the same

hope

this is

the

Lord's

table

and he

invites

all of

you

who by

faith

are his

have

trusted

in

Jesus

for your

salvation

through

baptism

have been

united

not only

to Jesus

but to

a church

a body

of Christ

that preaches

the good

news

of salvation

through faith

in Christ

alone

he invites

you to

come

to come

again

and feast

on his

saving

and sustaining

grace

if you

don't yet

place your

hope

in Jesus

if that's

not where

you are

then

first of all

thanks for

being here

we're so

glad that

you're here

to consider

Jesus

with us

we would

ask you

not to

come

take

these

elements

and do

outwardly

something

that is

not true

for you

inwardly

right

but we

would

invite you

to come

even to

come to

these tables

to observe

to pray

with us

we'd love

to pray

with you

but especially

to come

and consider

the free

offer of

Jesus

a gift

of grace

that will

give you

something

you could

never afford

for yourself

any other

way

he offers

it to

you this

morning

would you

no matter

how else

you participate

in these

next few

minutes

would you

consider

the grace

of Jesus

offered

to you

in his

word

let's pray

and we'll

come together

Jesus

thank you

that you've

given us

this reminder

this sign

this meal

to share

with you

to strengthen

us

would you

take

common

elements

and would

you use

them

because by

your spirit

you're with

us

to strengthen

our hearts

to give us

hope

to remind

us we're

loved

would you

do that

even in

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