I have a new teaching task at STARBASE, IN. I am to go to the local public schools with outstanding resources to loan, new STEM curriculum projects, a bit of training, along with mentoring and encouragement so more and more kids outside our regular teaching day will have the opportunity to discover and engage in problem solving and building using the latest technology in after school science clubs. Whew, that sentence was as humongus as the task before me! In other words we are exponentially multiplying our efforts by go outside the classroom walls. Mm. Does this sound familiar, church?

This next passage is particularly on my radar this morning. I get it completely. We are only one telling God’s story of redemption until someone we help, show and tell about God love, begins to tell it, too. Then they show and tell others and viola! The salvation seeds are planted all over the world. That’s how God works. THAT was Jesus mission from the beginning. In His three short years of ministry, Jesus came from heaven to seek and to save lost people on earth.

He was compelled to teach and preach in every location he could physically go but He also left a legacy of training The Twelve to do the same! He sent them out for trial runs while He was still with them. They came back with reports of what they had done. Jesus took them away off by themselves. More training? Encouragement? Rest? The crowds got wind of it, but wouldn’t we love to know how Jesus encouraged them before the crowds gathered. Guess what? Jesus still encourages us today! We have His Word!

Luke 9, The Message
Keep It Simple
9 1-5 Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.”

6 Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.

7-9 Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn’t know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, “But I killed John—took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?” Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action.

10-11 The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, he healed.