Grace Congregational UCC

“Like Sheep in the Midst of Wolves”
Galatians 6:1-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

July 8, 2007 - Kim M. Henning

Last Sunday I enjoyed the privilege of sitting with my family as we worshiped God. That is not the case, most Sundays. Usually, I am here in the pulpit, they are in the pew. But last Sunday we sat together and we worshiped God.

We worshiped God with a congregation we had never been with before. Per chance, the worship service was outdoors. Our family arrived early, we spread a blanket on the ground and made ourselves comfortable under a shade tree. It was beautiful.

A few minutes before the start of worship while we’re sitting and waiting, a small bird unexpectedly came tumbling out of the tree above us and landed at our feet. She fell to the ground flapping her wings but was not able to fly. She caused quite a small disturbance—especially with our grandson, Jacob. He didn’t know what was going on—this flapping bird. But a mother Robin must have pushed one of her young ones out of the nest. And where did she land? But at our feet. It’s a law of nature: there comes a time when every young bird will be pushed from the nest and she must begin flapping those wings.

This morning, Luke tells us a story.....

“After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he had intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest if plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.”

It is time, obviously, for those early followers of Jesus to be pushed from of the nest. One by one, they had come to Jesus. One by one, they listened with interest to his teaching. “You are the salt of the earth!” and “Take up your cross and follow me.” One by one, they fell in love with Jesus and his message, ‘the kingdom of God is at hand.’ One by one, they discovered that this Jesus was one like planet earth had never known before.

It was comfortable, I presume, being close to Jesus. But today he pushes 70 from the nest. And I promise you this: it was not any easier for them to go forth than it is for any of us.

It’s never been easy. Have you ever ‘been sent out’ to raise money for a capital fund campaign or for Relay for Life? Have you ever been sent out with a petition asking for signatures? Have you ever stood at a corner protesting? Have you ever been pushed out of the nest into a situation that made you feel nervous?

Today, Jesus appoints 70 to go forth. And he is right honest. “I sent you out like lambs in the midst of wolves. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” And just to make sure that their trust would always be in him, he said, ‘carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, (no lap top computers, no i-pods, no cell phones) and greet no one along the road.’ They would be vulnerable. And Jesus assured them that they would experience some failure, ‘whoever rejects you, rejects me,’ Jesus said.

I wonder if some said ‘no’ when Jesus gathered together those 70. “No, I’m not ready. No, I don’t have the time.” or “no, I just don’t feel comfortable yet talking to others about my faith.” Do you think one or two said, “Jesus, thank you, but no thank you.”

It is never easy leaving those places where we have grown comfortable and relaxed. And I am the greatest of all sinners. When I find my niche, that is where I stay. When I find my comfort zone, that is where I dwell. I always have the greatest admiration for those looking for a new adventure, a new cause.

When Jesus sends the 70 forth, he is clear that he is sending them ‘like lambs in the midst of wolves’ and because we know that Jesus loved his followers so very much, and because we know that Jesus cared for his children so very much......we have to understand two things.

One of the things that we have to understand is that the mission was of great importance. Jesus was sending these 70 out.....to spread his message, his love, his power, his mercy to others. Jesus was not out raising nickels and dimes. He sent those 70 out with a cause: ‘the kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Do you know the importance of that? Jesus is not one priority among many—Jesus, the kingdom of heaven----is ‘the’ priority. Here there is health. Here there is healing. Here there is salvation. Here is God. One of the things we have to understand is that this mission is of great importance.

The second thing we must understand......is that human beings are at their best when they are challenged, when they are pushed out of the nest. Paul once said that human beings plant seeds, but it is God who grows us. It is God who causes us to mature. It is God who promises, ‘all things work together for good....for those who love him.’ It is God who ‘helps us in our weakness’, who ‘searches the heart,’ who ‘intercedes for us according to the will of God.’

And now a confession. We have taken our youth 11 years to the Appalachian Mountains and my confession to you is that every time I have felt anxiety. “Why am I doing this?” “Why am I leaving the comfortable security of my home, my bed----to sleep in a gymnasium, on a cot, among people who snore as loud as I do?” Every year I have this conversation with myself that goes something like, ‘you are not a carpenter, you are not a handy man’. Who do you think you are?

Or, I think to myself, ‘what if they don’t like me?’ what if they see how inadequate I am?” Always, this Appalachia Service Project experience is always beyond my ‘controlled life.’

And always....throughout the experience and at the end of the experience there are tears of joy.....for being with youth who sometimes for the first time experience the wonder of faith. Always, there are tears of joy.....for being with adult chaperons who are unexpectedly grasped by the wonder of Jesus Christ and his mission. And this year, we had the experience of meeting Sharon Firebaugh. Sharon did not have money to insulate her home, but she had money to fix us a scrumptious meal four times. Sharon did not have money for a septic system but she had money for pork chops and potatoes and broccoli. We worked at Sharon’s home for five days and when we left on Friday, one of our youth cried all the way home.

Seventy were sent out. Seventy returned with joy, and they said, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us.” Jesus said to them, (can you see the smile?) “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of light. See, I have given you great authority.....Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven........

Rejoice, Jesus said, to any who will go forth....that your names are written in heaven.

I’m not sure what makes you happy, I mean....really happy. Is it a new car? Is it the home you live in? Is it your family? What makes you ‘happy’? Jesus said to all who go forth, ‘rejoice, your names are written in heaven.’ It doesn’t get any better than that.