The Sending of the Disciples (Mark 6:7–13) — A Sermon by R.C. Sproul

Summary

The sermon, based on Mark 6:7-13, describes Jesus sending out the twelve apostles two by two with authority over unclean spirits. They are commanded to travel light and depend on local hospitality. Jesus emphasizes the importance of receiving His messengers, warning of severe judgment for those who reject them. The mission's purpose is to preach repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick. The sermon also highlights the necessity of reverence and fear of God's judgment to drive people to seek salvation through Jesus.

Takeaways

• 📖 Jesus sends the twelve disciples out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
• 🧳 Disciples are commanded to take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bag, bread, or money, emphasizing reliance on God's provision.
• 🏠 Disciples are instructed to stay in the first house that welcomes them until they leave that village.
• 🌍 Jesus highlights the principle of being sent out to testify and bear witness to the kingdom of God.
• 👥 The disciples' mission involved casting out demons, anointing the sick with oil, and preaching repentance.
• 📜 Jesus uses the authority given to the disciples to authenticate their mission and message.
• 👂 If a village does not receive the disciples, they are to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them.
• ⚖️ Jesus emphasizes that rejecting the disciples and their message will result in severe judgment, worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• 🌌 The passage underscores the seriousness of the final judgment and the reality of God's wrath against unrepentant sin.
• 🙏 The sermon concludes with a prayer for an awakening fear of God and a call to repentance and faith in Jesus.

Q & A

What is the main scripture passage being discussed in the sermon?

The main scripture passage is Mark 6:7-13, where Jesus sends out the twelve apostles two by two.

Why did Jesus send the apostles out two by two instead of individually?

Jesus sent the apostles out two by two for companionship, partnership, and to fulfill the Old Testament principle of establishing truth through the testimony of two witnesses.

What instructions did Jesus give to the apostles regarding their journey?

Jesus instructed the apostles to take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts, to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

What was the purpose of the miracles performed by the apostles?

The purpose of the miracles was to authenticate the apostles as agents of revelation and to demonstrate the authority and power given to them by Jesus.

What should the apostles do if a village does not receive them or listen to their message?

If a village does not receive them or listen to their message, the apostles are instructed to shake off the dust under their feet as a testimony against that village.

What does shaking off the dust under their feet symbolize?

Shaking off the dust under their feet symbolizes God's judgment and rejection of the village, similar to how Jews would shake off pagan dust when returning to Israel to avoid contamination.

How does Jesus describe the consequences for a village that rejects the apostles' message?

Jesus states that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for a village that rejects the apostles' message.

What was the primary message that the apostles preached?

The primary message that the apostles preached was that people should repent.

What role does the fear of God play in the sermon's message?

The sermon emphasizes that there is a lack of fear of God among people, and this fear is necessary to drive them to the cross and to seek salvation through Jesus.

What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between Jesus and the apostles' authority?

The sermon suggests that the apostles' authority comes directly from Jesus, and rejecting the apostles is equivalent to rejecting Jesus and his authority.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Sending Out the Twelve Disciples

The sermon begins with the reading of Mark 6:7-13, where Jesus sends out the twelve disciples two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. Jesus instructs them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, emphasizing reliance on God's provision. He warns them to shake off the dust under their feet as a testimony against any place that rejects them. The disciples then go out, preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick.

05:01

🛤️ The Call and Commission

Jesus first calls the disciples to himself before sending them out, highlighting the pattern of being called and then sent. The term 'apostle' means one who is sent with authority, and the disciples are given Jesus' authority to carry out their mission. This authority is foundational to the church, and the disciples are sent in pairs to establish the truth of their testimony.

10:05

⚔️ Authority Over Unclean Spirits

Jesus gives the disciples authority over unclean spirits, a power that comes from the authority vested in them. This is a trial mission where the disciples will practice what they have learned. Miracles, such as casting out demons, serve to authenticate their divine commission, similar to how God authenticated Moses' mission with miracles before Pharaoh.

15:09

🎒 Instructions for the Journey

Jesus instructs the disciples to travel light, taking only a staff and wearing sandals, but no bag, bread, or money. This recalls the Passover readiness and emphasizes reliance on God's provision through the hospitality of those they visit. They are to stay in the first house that welcomes them and not seek better accommodations, maintaining integrity and focus on their mission.

20:10

🏡 Accepting Hospitality

The disciples are to accept the hospitality of the first house that receives them and not seek better accommodations elsewhere. This ensures their commitment and integrity. They are to depend entirely on God's provision through the generosity of others, not carrying extra food or money. This directive underscores their reliance on God and the importance of their mission.

25:11

⚖️ Judgment for Rejection

Jesus warns that those who reject the disciples will face severe judgment, more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them. This emphasizes the gravity of rejecting the gospel. The shaking off of dust symbolizes God's judgment. Jesus speaks of a final judgment with varying degrees of punishment, stressing the serious consequences of rejecting the message of salvation.

30:11

🙏 The Mission and Call to Repentance

The disciples go out, preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick, reflecting Jesus' own ministry. This first apostolic mission sets the stage for their future work. The sermon concludes with a prayer, asking for a revival of the fear of God among the people, driving them to the cross for salvation.

Keywords

💡Apostle

An apostle is one who is sent by Jesus with authority to preach and perform miracles. In the script, Jesus calls and sends the twelve disciples as apostles, granting them authority over unclean spirits and the power to heal and preach repentance. This concept highlights their role as messengers and representatives of Jesus's teachings.

💡Repentance

Repentance refers to the act of feeling remorse for one's sins and changing one's ways to align with God's will. In the script, Jesus's apostles are sent to preach repentance, emphasizing its importance for entering the kingdom of God. This concept underscores the transformative message of the gospel.

💡Authority

Authority in this context refers to the divine power given by Jesus to his apostles to cast out demons and perform miracles. Jesus imparts this authority to them as part of their mission. It highlights the legitimacy and divine backing of their work.

💡Miracles

Miracles are extraordinary events that manifest divine power, such as healing the sick or casting out demons. The apostles are given the ability to perform miracles to authenticate their message and mission. Miracles serve as signs of God's presence and authority.

💡Hospitality

Hospitality involves receiving and providing for the needs of guests. In the script, Jesus instructs the apostles to depend on the hospitality of others for their journey, symbolizing reliance on God's provision through people's generosity. This concept also ties to the cultural practices of providing shelter and food to travelers.

💡Judgment

Judgment refers to God's assessment and decision regarding people's actions and faith. Jesus warns that towns rejecting the apostles' message will face severe judgment, worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. This underscores the gravity of accepting or rejecting the gospel.

💡Faith

Faith is the trust and belief in God's word and promises. The apostles' mission requires faith in God's provision and guidance, as they are to take minimal supplies and rely on hospitality. Faith is central to their journey and message.

💡Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God represents God's reign and authority over all creation, as well as the spiritual realm where God's will is fulfilled. The apostles are sent to preach about the kingdom, inviting people to repent and become part of it. This concept is foundational to Jesus's teachings.

💡Companionship

Companionship refers to the fellowship and support provided by partners. Jesus sends the apostles out two by two to provide mutual support and verify each other's testimony. This concept highlights the importance of community and mutual aid in ministry.

💡Testimony

Testimony is the act of bearing witness to the truth, particularly regarding God's works and teachings. The apostles' mission involves testifying to Jesus's teachings and miracles, with their dual presence reinforcing the truth of their message. Testimony is crucial for spreading the gospel.

Highlights

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits and instructing them to take nothing for their journey except a staff and sandals.

He commands them to rely on the hospitality of those they encounter, emphasizing a complete dependence on God's provision.

Jesus stresses the importance of accepting the first offer of hospitality and remaining there, avoiding seeking better accommodations, which teaches humility and contentment.

Shaking the dust off their feet when not welcomed is a symbolic act of judgment, reflecting Old Testament practices and indicating the severity of rejecting the gospel.

Jesus highlights that rejecting his disciples and their message will result in a harsher judgment than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, underscoring the gravity of rejecting the gospel.

The power and authority given to the disciples mirror the authentication of God's messengers through miracles, as seen in both the Old and New Testaments.

The disciples' mission is described as a 'trial mission,' where they apply what they have learned and the power they have received from Jesus.

Jesus' call to 'come' and 'go' is a recurring theme, indicating that following him involves both receiving and being sent out to spread his message.

The distinction between disciples (learners) and apostles (sent ones) is explained, with apostles carrying the authority of Jesus to establish the church.

Miracles in the Bible serve to authenticate God's agents of revelation, with Jesus and his apostles performing miracles to validate their divine mission.

The concept of apostolic authority is emphasized, with apostles having the authority of Jesus to teach and lead the church.

The practice of relying on the hospitality of others during their mission reflects a deeper trust in God's provision and the generosity of the community.

Jesus' instructions to travel light and not take extra provisions align with the urgency and dependence seen in the Passover and Exodus narratives.

There is a principle of degrees in God's judgment, with greater severity for those who reject the gospel compared to those who never heard it.

The sermon concludes with a prayer for a renewed fear of God in the nation's soul, driving people to seek Jesus and avoid the final judgment.

Transcripts

well today we're going to get back to

the gospel according to saint mark

to the sixth chapter

and i will be reading from verse 7

through

verse 13 actually

and i'd ask the congregation to stand

for the reading of the word of god

and he called the twelve to himself

and began to send them out two by two

and gave them power over unclean

spirits he commanded them to take

nothing for the journey

except a staff no bag no bread

no copper in their money belts

but to wear sandals and not to put on

two tunics and also he said to them

in whatever place you enter a house

stay there till you depart from that

place

and whoever will not receive you nor

hear you when you depart from there

shake off the dust under your feet

as a testimony against them

assuredly i say to you it will be more

tolerable for sodom and gomorrah

in the day of judgment than for that

city

so they went out and preached that

people should repent

and they cast out many demons and

anointed with oil

many who were sick and healed them

you as ears to hear the word of god

let them hear please be seated

let us pray

oh lord we thank you so much

for this inspired record

of the ministry of jesus

at times we flatter ourselves thinking

that we know

all there is to know or surely

enough about him

until we are brought fresh to the pages

of the gospels

where our feeble knowledge

is exposed and we get new

glimpses of his person

the lord this morning show us more

of jesus that our order

affection and passion for him

might increase for we ask these things

in his name

in our last look at mark's narrative we

saw

the experience that jesus had when he

went back to his hometown of nazareth

and how he was greeted with hostility

and scorn and rejection

and then we read at the end of

verse 6 that he went about the villages

in a circuit teaching that is he left

nazareth and he returned to the

lake region of galilee to the northwest

shore of the sea of galilee

and now we have this mini record

of what we can call a trial

mission of the disciples up to this

point

the disciples had been learning they had

been being taught

from jesus about the kingdom of god

for the most part with respect to jesus

miracles

they were spectators they were students

and now he sends them on a mission

where they will try out what they have

learned

and what power they have received from

him

now what i read this morning is only the

beginning of that account

which in the middle of the full account

of the mission of the twelve

mark interjects the account of the

beheading of john the baptist

and other matters so that this morning

we'll just familiarize ourselves

with the beginning of this missionary

outreach of the disciples and we read in

verse 7

and he called the twelve to himself and

began

to send them out to by

do now there's something we don't want

to miss here

that before jesus sends anyone

anywhere first

he calls them and he had already called

each one of the 12

to be a student under his rabbinic

tutelage and now he calls them again to

assemble them

for a purpose he calls in order

to send and we don't want to miss that

because so many people love it when we

tell them that jesus says

come unto me all who are burdened and

heavy laden

and i will give you rest we like it when

jesus says

come to me but anytime you come to jesus

he say go ye

into all the world making disciples

of all nations and that

pattern of coming and going

of being invited of being summoned

and then being sent we see here

in this gospel account and so he began

to send them out

two by two two things i want to observe

in that

little clause first of all when it says

he began to send them the word that he

uses here

that mark uses is a variation of the

verb

form of apostleship

an apostle is one who

is sent apostolos

and we hear in the new testament about

disciples and apostles and we tend to

think that the two words are synonyms

they're not a disciple

is a learner a student an apostle

is one who is commissioned by the master

to whom the master designates

his own authority and that's critically

important for us because

the new testament tells us that the

foundation

of the church are the prophets and the

apostles

and the apostles have what we call

apostolic authority over the church of

all ages

because they're given that authority by

the one who sent them

and again i remind you we've been over

this before that the first

apostle in the new testament the apostle

par

excellence is whom

anyone who

jesus remember

jesus said i speak nothing on my own

authority but only that

which was given to me by the one who

sent me our lord himself

is the supreme apostle of the father

and he carries in his ministry nothing

less

than the authority of the father

and when jesus commissions men to be

apostles

he gives to them his own authority this

is very important particularly in this

day and age

where people are trying to tear the

bible into various parts and people i

hear it all the time say

well jesus i like but it's paul i can't

stand

paul the chauvinist who denigrates women

paul says nothing to us and to the

church

except by the authority of jesus christ

you don't like paul

you don't like jesus jesus himself said

those who receive you receive me

and if they reject you they reject me

you don't know anything about jesus

except what comes to us through the

testimony

of the apostle so it's a false dichotomy

to separate apostolic testimony

apostolic authority from the authority

of

christ now that's very important and

the church has to fight that battle in

every generation

but anyway he sent them out two by two

why two by two seems to me he would get

more mileage if he would send them

one by one and each one could go to a

separate village and you double

the missionary outreach but the two by

two

involves companionship it involves

partnership but it also harkens back to

the principle of the old testament

where something is established as true

if testimony is given to it

by two witnesses

and so jesus sent them out to testify to

him

to testify to the coming kingdom of god

and he sent them

by twos so that what one proclaims

the other verifies

and he gave them power

over unclean spirits

now the word there is the word we've run

into already

on more than one occasion it's the word

axusya

which sometimes is translated authority

other times it's translated power the

normal word for power

sheer power or force or might is the

greek word dunamis

from which we get the word dynamite

but here it's the power

that is contained within this authority

that jesus gives to them in this

trial mission this is not the final

commissioning

of the disciples to become apostles that

comes much later

but for this particular local

mission to which jesus sends them

he authorizes them

and he empowers them

a little bit earlier this morning i read

from the fourth chapter of

the book of exodus and you remember the

struggle

that moses had in that

situation where god had commanded him to

go to pharaoh

and say to pharaoh let my people go

israel is my son my firstborn son

and you've enslaved him i want you to

release him so that he can come to my

holy mountain

and worship me

you want me to go where you want me to

say what

you want me to tell the people

who are enslaved to follow me you want

me to tell pharaoh

to let them go it's like

moses is saying are you kidding me

lord nobody's going to believe me

you know i'm not an eloquent man

i'm slow of speech

and i have no intrinsic authority

who will listen to me

and what does god say to him

he said moses what's that stick you're

leaning on

he said throw that stick on the ground

when he throws the stick on the ground

it becomes a snake

moses jumps back he's fearful god says

just grab it by the tail and so he grabs

it by the tail and voila

it becomes the stick again

moe said wow i said

i'm not finished yet put your hand in

your bosom

puts his hand in his bosom pull it out

he pulls it out it's white as snow

covered with leprosy now moses

is terrified god said put it back he

puts it back brings his hand out

and it's like the rest of his flesh with

no sign

of disease finally he says take the

water throw it on the ground

it becomes blood

what's the purpose of that one of the

things that christians seem to

misunderstand more than anything else

is the purpose of miracles in the bible

the fundamental purpose of miracle both

in the old testament and the

new testament is to authenticate

agents of revelation

remember nicodemus came to jesus at

night and said teacher we know

you are a teacher sent from god

or else you wouldn't be able to do

the things that you do see god does not

empower demons to perform

authentic miracles they do lying and

counterfeit works but true

bona fide miracles are restricted in the

bible

to those whom god is placing his

seal of approval upon that's what's

going on with moses

when pharaoh won't believe you and i'm

going to harden his heart

turn that stick into the snake

the water in the blood

and you will demonstrate my power in

such a way that even

pharaoh will not be able to gain say

and the same thing happens with jesus

when he says if you see me

casting out satan by the finger of god

that is by the holy spirit

then you know that the kingdom of god

has come upon you

and so before he sends out the twelve

two by two

in this mission this teaching mission

he gives them power and authority

over the demonic realm

and so our lord imparts

his power to those who represent his

name

and teach his truth

and then he commanded them to take

nothing for the journey

except the staff no bag no bread no

copper in their money belts

but to wear sandals not to put on two

tunics what's this all about

well first of all jesus says you're

going to travel

light again this brings to mind

exodus and the passover

the night in which the children of

israel were commanded

to be ready at a moment's notice to

leave their homes to the summons of god

that they should be dressed to move

quickly

travel light no time to pack get up and

go

and now jesus does the same to his

disciples

when you go all you can take with you

is a staff now if you notice the other

gospel say

the other gospels say no staff so why do

the other gospels say no staff

and mark says take the staff well

there's a distinction here

you remember the equipment of the

shepherd in the old testament the 23rd

psalm

by rod and thy staff

they comfort me

the staff was the shepherd's crook which

also served as a

walking stick and if one of the sheep

wandered off he could just

hook him around the neck and bring him

back into the path

the rod was a weapon

a weapon of defense to attack against

an animal like a bear

or a lion or if a crook

came pardon the pun if a thief came to

rob the sheepfold

the shepherd would use that rod

to defend the sheep against

the robber and so

we don't have a conflict between mark

and the rest of the gospel jesus is

saying with him

you're not allowed to take your

powerful rod with you but you can't take

a walking stick

and incidentally in church history

the symbol for the bishop

has always been what the crook

of the shepherd not that bishops are

crooks but the

bishops bishops are supposed to be

shepherds and that's why that symbol

emerged in church history and jesus said

you can take that

but you can't be packing on this

journey

[Laughter]

all right and he said

no bag no bread no copper in their money

belts

no bag it's not no suitcase it means

no beggar's bag notice when we take up

the collection

every sunday morning we pass the bags

in order to collect the money for the

church

jesus when he sends out the 12 on this

occasion said no bags

you can't beg for money on this trip

you're going to have to depend on my

father

at every point of this mission

no bag no bread can't even take anything

to eat with you

no copper that means not the slightest

bit

of change small change even in your

purse

but wear sandals and do not put on

two tunics why no bread

because jesus says when you go to these

villages as soon as you enter into the

village

look for somebody who will house you

and feed you and grant you hospitality

it will be their burden to provide bread

for you

it will be their burden to provide

housing for you

you don't give that a thought you are to

concentrate

on your mission and we want you to be

free

from concerns about food and money and

housing

and notice this he says when you go into

the village

if somebody receives you into their home

you go into that home you accept their

hospitality for how long

as long as you're in the village now

what's that about

listen carefully what jesus is doing

here he's saying look

if when you enter the village some poor

person comes up and says i offer you my

humble abode

for your headquarters while you're

ministering here among us and you go

into that person's house

and you know that the accommodations are

spartan and then the next day

the wealthiest person in the village

said oh i didn't know you were coming

why don't you come over to my house i

have

grand quarters for you

too late you get a better offer

you don't take it i see this in the

ministry

all the time small church invites you to

speak

you accept the invitation you put it on

your calendar they put it on their

calendar and

three months later some big national

event comes along and said

marcy can you come speak at this

5 000 people are going to be in the

audience wonderful honorarium

what do you do say i'm sorry

i have a previous commitment

merchants do this all the time they say

i'll be over to your house to do such

and such a work for you it's a small job

but they make the appointment

and then they don't show up and they

don't show up because in the meantime

somebody gave them a better offer

so that we don't let our yay mean yay

and she said you go there and whoever

welcomes you you accept their

hospitality

for the duration

why not two tunics why does jesus said

you can only have one tunic

again in the ancient world people who

were travelers and had to stop

at the night where there was no in and

sleep outside the purpose of the second

tunic

was as a covering from the elements as

they slept

under the stars you said i'm not going

to let you sleep under the stars

you're going to be cared for by those

who host you

in the villages

and listen to this whoever

will not receive you nor hear you

when you depart from there

shake off the dust under your feet as a

testimony against them there is

no such thing as

indifference to christ

you're either for him or you

are against him in the kingdom of god

beloved there

is no neutral ground

we have it in our culture today that if

we do evangelism

the standard technique that we do in

mass evangelism is after the sermon is

proclaimed

then we offer the invitation

as many as would like please come

we don't say as many who would like to

respond to christ come now and those who

don't want to respond to christ may go

to hell

we don't say that that would be

politically incorrectness with a

vengeance wouldn't it

but the gospel is a two-edged sword

if you receive it the benefit is eternal

life

if you reject it fully and finally

you do so to your everlasting peril

jesus said that when he came he brought

a crisis

into the world crisis is the greek word

for judgment

and he tells his disciples when you go

in there and they don't receive you

and they don't receive your teaching you

leave that town

but before you leave you shake the dust

off your feet

now that goes back to antiquity

to traveling jews who for business

reasons would go

to pagan countries to gentile

communities selling their wares or

whatever

and when they would come back home to

cross the border once again

into israel the rabbis required

that they literally shake the dust off

their feet

lest they bring the contamination

of the pagan community into israel

and that symbolized god's

judgment upon paganism

and so now jesus is sending these men to

the villages

of the jews and he says if they don't

hear you

you shake the dust off your feet just as

they shake the dust

off their feet that belongs to pagans

because

if they don't heed the preaching of the

gospel

even if they're jews they're pagans

that's the message here here's the scary

part

shake off the dust under your feet as a

testimony against them

for assuredly i say to you it will be

more tolerable for sodom and gomorrah

in the day of judgment

than for that city

now i have to confess that there's a

textual variant here and not all the

manuscripts of antiquity include this

extension of verse 11. but the

translators of the bible that i'm giving

to you

were convinced that the manuscript

evidence warranted including this in the

text some other day we'll talk about

textual

variants and so on but listen to what

jesus is saying

if there's a village here that doesn't

receive my disciples

they're going to have to answer for that

on the day of judgment

and i tell you with certainty

it's going to be more tolerable for

sodom and gomorrah

whom god destroyed with fire in the old

testament

then it will be on those villages now

there are a couple things we need to

learn from that friends

one is this is one of many many times

when jesus

talks about a last judgment

there will be a last judgment and every

last one of us

will have to appear at that last

judgment

also we need to see from this text

a principle that occurs at least 25

times

in the new testament that is

god's judgment on the last day of

judgment

will be a matter of degrees

there are degrees of sin

there are degrees of works of obedience

though our works carry no intrinsic

merit jesus at least 25 times tells us

that our reward in heaven will be

according to the measure

of obedience that we give in this life

paul warns the romans

the impenitent romans that they are

heaping

up piling up wrath against the day of

wrath

i don't know how many times i've heard

guys say well i've lusted i might as

well go ahead and do it

or i've committed this in once which

nothing's going to hurt me if i get

10 more oh every sin

will be brought into the judgment and

god's

justice will be perfect some will be

visited with many stripes some with few

stripes

and here we see in this text that there

is a greater judgment

given to these people who heard the very

apostles of jesus

then even the cities of sodom and

gomorrah would symbolize

the nader of human decadence

in the old testament so that if you

reject

christ your judgment will be worse

than the judgment god poured out

on sodom and gomorrah we don't believe

that we don't believe there is judgment

we don't believe in a god of wrath we

don't believe in a god of justice

and if there is a judgment you're either

in or you're out

and it doesn't make a difference how far

out you are i'll never forget

when my professor in seminary said the

sinner in hell

would give everything that he had

and do anything that he could

to make the number of his sins during

his lifetime

one less

now who talks like that today

no wonder people don't want to listen to

this book

no wonder people don't want to listen to

our lord jesus christ

but it was the lord jesus

who developed this theology

of scaring people if there ever was one

we need to be scared

of god we need to be scared of his wrath

because jesus saves from what

from the wrath that is to come

and so we have a a micro

picture of the history

of the mission of the church this little

trial

mission go to the little villages here

preach the kingdom of god

with my authority if they reject it

shake the dust off your feet

and consign those people to my father's

judgment

so they went out and they preached

that people should repent the same

message john the baptist preached

the same message jesus preached the

message that nobody wants to preach

today

that people must repent to enter

into the kingdom of god they cast out

many demons

they anointed with oil many who were

sick

and they healed them

that introduces this first apostolic

mission after we look at the

interludes that they're to come we'll

see

how this mission proceeded let's pray

father you have called us

you have sent us

we are not apostles but we are disciples

and we are to bear witness to you to

your gospel

to a dying world

but father there's no fear of thee

before the eyes of our people

we pray that you would awaken in the

souls of

the people of this nation a fear of you

that will drive them to the cross

and to jesus lest he

shake their dust from his feet

amen

you