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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 59 : SENDING OUT THE APOSTLES

Text: Matthew 10
2 April 2023

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 2 APRIL 2022
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Text: Matthew 10

Subject: SENDING OUT THE APOSTLES

1And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Matthew 10:1-7

1. Different titles

a) The Disciples
i) Learning stage
ii) Key idea behind the word “Disciples” – “One who learns”
b) The Twelve
i) The number of people selected
ii) They had become a Group of Twelve
c) The Twelve Apostles
i) The idea behind the word “apostle”- “One who is sent”
ii) The Apostles would represent the Lord Jesus

2. The Calling of the Twelve

a) They were formally called
b) They were then especially empowered:
i) Power over unclean spirits, to cast them out
ii) Power to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease
c) These were assign-miracles:
i) To authenticate them as “apostles”
ii) Special power to perform miracles would prove their authority

3. Instructions to The Twelve

a) Their ministry was to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”
i) Israel
ii) Lost sheep
b) The Twelve were from Israel too
i) It would be an easier ministry
ii) This was the beginning of their ministry as Apostles
c) What was prohibited at this point of time?
i) Ministry to Gentiles
ii) Ministry to Samaritans
d) Why was there this prohibition?
i) The Twelve were not ready
ii) They would not know how to minister to them
iii) The Jews had very little dealings with Samaritans/ Gentiles

4. The Core Content of the message they are to proclaim

a) They are to preach about the Kingdom of heaven
b) They are to say that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand
c) This was what the Lord Jesus focused on too
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17

5. Our understanding of “Apostles” today

a) There are no more apostles
b) The special powers given were meant to authenticate their authority as apostles

6. What remains as relevant

a) The message of the Gospel
b) Evangelism
c) Preaching the kingdom of heaven

CONCLUSION

1. Three things are needed for a successful ministry

a) Compassion
b) Commission from the Lord understood
c) Commitment to follow through

2. Prayer to be made to the Lord

a) To send forth labourers into the harvest field
b) To work hard at helping people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ