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Calling of the Twelve

Text: Mark 6:7-13, Matthew 10:1-42, Luke 9:1-6
16 February 2014

CALLING OF THE TWELVE

1. First Call

a) To follow Jesus and be His disciples            Mark 1:17a
b) He will make them fishers of men            Mark 1:17b

2. Second Call

a) He sent them out as His apostles            Matthew 10:2
b) To send then out for ministry            Mark 6:7a
b) Two by two            Mark 6:7b

EMPOWERING FOR MINISTRY

1. Jesus has to empower them            Mark 6:7c

2. Power even over unclean spirits            Mark 6:7d

3. Power to heal diseases            Matthew 10:1c

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINISTRY

1. He commanded them            Mark 6:8a

a) Under orders
b) Jesus is their Lord and Master

2. Clear instructions given for the Missionary Journey

a) To take nothing for the journey            Mark 6:8b
b) Except for a staff            Mark 6:8c
c) No bag            Mark 6:8d
d) No bread            Mark 6:8e
e) No copper in their money belts            Mark 6:8f
f) To wear sandals            Mark 6:9a
g) Only one tunic            Mark 6:9b

3. In the Mission field

a) Stay in the house that has opened its doors            Mark 6:10a
b) Not to depart from the house till the end of the mission            Mark 6:10b

4. Anticipation of negative response

a) There will be those who will not receive them            Mark 6:11a
b) Jesus Himself experienced rejection            Luke 4: 16-30; Mark 6:1-6

5. Understanding of rejection

a) Shaking off the dust under their feet (sandals)            Mark 6:11b
i) They have not taken anything from the people
ii) Not even the dust from their cities
iii) Holy indignation
iv) A testimony against them
b) In the day of judgment
i) Sodom and Gomorrah would fare better
ii) The cities that reject the Gospel preached would fare worse

6. Assessment of the ministry of the Apostles

a) They went out as Jesus sent them            Mark 6:12a
b) They preached a message of repentance            Mark 6:12b
c) They cast out many demons            Mark 6:13a
d) They healed those who were sick            Mark 6:13b
i) Anointing of oil (not curative)
ii) Symbolic

POEMS – Charles Tan

HE BEGAN TO SEND THEM OUT

The Call to follow Jesus was issued some time ago,
The disciples responded and learned, many things, to forego.
The training had begun immediately, and there was much to learn,
Jesus would make them fishers of men, for souls they must yearn.

They learned deep lessons about the eternal Kingdom of God,
Wrong ideas had to be corrected, they worked with one accord.
There were rebukes that brought some grief and pain to the heart,
But these were necessary lessons that Jesus had to impart.

Soon it was time for the next stage of their training from the Lord,
They will be commissioned and sent out to preach the Kingdom of God.
Clear instructions were given as to how they were to perform in ministry,
Following their own ideas would lead ultimately to futility.

The Lord would empower for effective and fruitful ministry,
Demons would flee in response to their apostolic authority.
But there would be some who would rudely reject the Gospel call,
Faith must be exercised that God is truly sovereign and He knows all.

Inspiration: Mark 6:7