Anglican Orthodox
Church sm
Worldwide Communion
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
St. Luke, The Evangelist
October 18, 2026
Sunday Report
Twentieth Sunday after Trinty
The propers
are special prayers and readings
from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single
thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of
England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop
of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning
and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday.
The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various
Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading
from one of the Holy Gospels,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect
is said by the minister
as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated
reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel,
which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers
in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read
instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks
the titles are in red, are special days. Most
of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early
saint’s instrumental in the development of the church,
others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day
is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or
Lent. The Propers for today are found in the
Book of Common Prayer page 253-254.
The Collect for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.
Almighty God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke
the Physician, to set forth in the Gospel the Love and healing Power of thy
Son; Manifest in thy Church the like power and Love, to the healing of our
bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Epistle for Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. Ephesians iv. 17.
Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a food fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him
with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I
sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest,
bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the
coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of
whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
The Gospel for Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. St. Luke. x. 1.
THE Lord
appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into
every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto
them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore
the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither
purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever
house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be
there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And
in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the
labourer is worthy of his hire.
On Point: The Bible
Born in
the East and clothed in oriental form and imagery, the Bible waiks the ways of
all the world with familiar feet and enters land after land to find Its own
everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the hearts of
men. It comes into the palace to tell the monarch that he is a servant of the
Most High, and into the cottage to assure the peasant that he is a son of God.
Children
listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as
parables of life.
It has a
word of peace for the time of peril, a word of comfort for the time of
calamity, a word of light for the hour of darkness. Its oracles are repeated in
the assembly of the people and its counsels whispered in the ear of the lonely.
The
wicked and the proud tremble at its warnings, but to the wounded and the
penitent it has a mother's voice. The wilderness and the solitary place have
been made glad by it, and the fire on the hearth has lit the reading of its
well-worn page.
It has
woven itself into our dearest dreams; so that love, friendship, sympathy and
devotion, memory and hope, put on the beautiful garments of its treasured
speech, breathing of frankincense and myrrh.
No man is
poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own. When the landscape darkens
and. the trembling pilgrim comes to the Valley named in the Shadow, he is not
afraid to enter; he takes the rod and the staff of Scripture in his hand; he
says to friend and comrade: "Good-bye, we shall meet again," and
comforted by that support, he goes toward the lonely pass as one who walks
through darkness into light.
Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop
Metropolitan, AOC Worldwide
We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the
Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under
ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles
Blog:
https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
Bishop Ogles
You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
Saturday Food for Thought: The First Baptism
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/10/youtube-video-player_01301394849.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVVdi7uArsM
Video Devotional – ThePrayer of the General Confession
Bishop’s
Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/10/youtube-video-player_0513289806.html
You
Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_l_lNr85k0
Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's
Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest
Anglican Orthodox Church -Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Morning Prayer – Twentieth Sunday after trinity
Psalm: 1,
15; The First Lesson: Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; The Second Lesson: Ephesians
6:1-9
O Almighty and most Merciful God,
of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may
hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
hymns
# 563, 366, 218
The abiding character of a citizen of the heavenly Zion
How are
believers supposed to live and thrive in such a hostile world? Is there some
magic formula that must be used or invoked in order to find peace and
assurance?
Each passage
of scripture set aside for this twentieth Sunday after Trinity points to
character. What is the abiding character of a citizen of the heavenly
Zion? If you want to be sure of your home in heaven you need understand
your duty as a believer. You will find the Scripture is a faithful guide
and director that will monitor your conscience faithfully.
You must be
sincere in you religion; professing it, and endeavoring to stand completely in
all the will of God. Notice in these two psalms the reiteration of the Ten
Commandments: 2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3He that backbiteth not with his tongue,
nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his
neighbour. (Ps. 15:2-3)
A
believer does not take advantage of someone who is down on their luck or in a
hurting manner. They will not loan them money with a high interest rate, which
the unscrupulous do.
4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he
honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and
changeth not. 5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor
taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be
moved. (Ps. 15:4-5)
Notice the
reference to never being moved, like the Rock of Ages. Every true living member
of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a Rock. He that doeth
these things shall not be moved for ever. The grace of God shall always be
sufficient for him. The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only
spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Saviour, and love to him. In these
respects let us examine and prove our own selves.*
In the
passage from Ecclesiastes, we again find both words of encouragement and also
admonishment . The nuggets of truth that point to the day to day truths
one encounters, simple common sense. 4For to him that is joined
to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For
the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither
have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6Also
their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have
they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
And as
we read, all the hatred and envy is now gone, all that energy focused on doing
hateful things and doing evil to others is now gone. A waste of time and
possible talent. 7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink
thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works….10Whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device,
nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
The
wisdom that is imparted by the writer is so basic, nothing too hard to
comprehend, easy to digest and put to mind. So now let us transition to
Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. Again, we see a review a part of
the Ten Commandments. 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord:
for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first
commandment with promise; 3That it may be well with thee, and thou
mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3) This is important in
that the family is the core of civilization. Civility taught at home
radiates out to the local community and from there to the community at large
and on and on to the world. The rest of the passage deals with everyday
work, respect of each other, not taking advantage of each other and all of it
because it is what we are to do as servants of God: ...but as the servants of
Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7With good will
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: (Ephesians 9:7)
In
conclusion let us refer to the title of this meditation: the abiding character
of a citizen of the heavenly Zion. Can we say that we have this abiding
character of a heaven bound citizen? Let us endeavor to be more like Christ in
our ever day journey, praying that each day we become more like him.
Let us
pray:
THE
Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in
him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and
obey, be now and evermore thy defence; and make thee know and feel, that there
is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom and through whom thou
mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
O SAVIOUR
of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who by thy Cross and precious Blood that
redeemed us. Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.
IN Christ alone during Trinity
+Roy
Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons
from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!
Sermon Text for Twentieth Sunday after Trinity:
Let us examine again our epistle lesson from Malachi:
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we
wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the
LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment (2:17)?
Consider also the word of the LORD to the prophet Isaiah: To what purpose is
the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of burnt
offerings... I delight not in the blood of bullocks... When ye come to appear
before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no
more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and
sabbaths, the calling of the assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity,
even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
hateth: they are trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them (1:11-14). Now
these passages may appear perplexing to some especially in light of what God
expected from the people. They might ask: Did not God command that these things
be done? And if so, why would he be weary to bear them? To find the answers,
let us turn to the pages of Scripture.
It should be understood that the law of Moses was
given to be, as St. Paul so noted in Galatians 3:24, ...our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The law revealed
to the children of Israel their sinful natures, and set forth their need for
redemption. And such redemption could only be obtained through the shedding of
blood which would only cover and not erase their sins in God’s eyes. Still, it
did not dawn on them that God was training them through the precepts of his law
to become a holy, just and righteous people in his sight. So it follows that
nearly everything God tried to teach them through his word and commandment was
either rejected out of hand, and in its place the sons and daughters of Jacob
substituted a pathetic revision of paganism. They offered God the things he had
commanded without giving him the very things he desired from them— their hearts
and minds in loving obedience to his word and commandment. Ergo, they simply
came to placate the LORD much as the pagans of the ancient world acted toward
their own “so-called” gods. And so, in their eagerness to simply appease God,
they wearied him with their heartless worship of him. And since they possessed
neither a true love for God nor a respect for his law, they could not worship
him in Spirit and in truth. They brought their vain oblations to his Temple
because it was merely a custom or tradition. They came to be seen of their
fellows. They observed the required feast days, new moons and sabbaths during
which they reveled and made merry. All these they did without any thought
concerning the many blessings they had received at God’s hand. You might say—
to paraphrase Charles Talleyrand— that they had learned nothing of any
consequence regarding the true meaning of the law, and they had forgotten every
good thing which the LORD had done for them.
And in response to their faux religious practices, God
replied: ...when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you:
yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of
blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before
mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:15-17). Thus
the LORD had reached the limits of his patience with their false offerings of
praise which came forth from their lying hearts. God said he would no longer
see them as his own and would no longer listen to their prayers. And why?
because their hands are full of blood on account of their disturbing and
repulsive worship of Molech and Baal. In the case of the former, they engaged
in human sacrifice. While for the latter, their worship involved lustful
depravity and uncleanness with temple prostitutes. These things they did in worship
of their false gods, and then afterwards would come into the presence of the
LORD and lift up to him in worship their unclean hands and unclean hearts. This
sort of thinking mimics that of a spouse cheating on his or her mate who upon returning
home acts as if nothing is amiss in their relationship. It was through these
and other acts of false piety, as well as the wholesale rejection of his word and
commandment, that the people wearied the LORD their God.
And the people angered God with their arrogance as
they did not think he could see what they were doing. But God does indeed see
and on a level which would shock most people. Our Lord said, That every idle
word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment (St. Matthew 12:36). Every idle word? That means every action,
every thought, every aspiration of the heart shall be made known and judged.
And so shall every false offering, as well as every false witness, all errant
beliefs and aberrant thoughts will also be called into judgment before the
throne of a just and righteous God. Every person living and dead over the
millennia of Creation WILL have to answer for their unconfessed sins apart from
a saving faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As St. Paul reminded the
Philippian church: For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell
you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is
destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things (3:18-19).
Yes, there is a judgment coming, and there will be a
good deal of weeping and gnashing of teeth when it arrives. God will judge and
consign all who are not his in Christ Jesus into the pit of perdition. Yet this
truth stands sure and certain: None need perish if they but turn unto God
and repent in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. St. Peter
admonished the crowd who in ignorance mocked the disciples at Pentecost saying,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts
2:38). And to Cornelius, the Roman centurion, and his household he said, that
through [the name of Jesus Christ] whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins (Acts 11:43). And further, the apostle Paul called on the
Philippian jailer to, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house (Acts 16:31).
Consider also the following passages from Isaiah
wherein the prophet spoke on behalf of the LORD saying: Come now, and let us
reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be
willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land (1:18-19). Notice
that the concept of repentance is plainly set forth. When we examine the
scriptures regarding the necessity for sacrifice under the law, we find that
such was provided as a means for the believer to be cleansed so that he or she
could commune with God. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel
18:23). Continually throughout both testaments, there is this calling out to
both Jew and Gentile to repent and turn away from sin. God will reason with us
through his word, but we must be obedient to his expressed will and commandment
for there can be no salvation apart from obedience to the same.
Sadly, the majority of Israelites did not turn from
their wicked ways and were lost to captivity and the sword of conquest as
prophesied by Isaiah who said, But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be
devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it
(1:19-20). What remnant that was left was half-hearted in their faith, but God
spared them to honor his promise to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Still, none but the faithful will be spared everlasting separation from God
because he only accepts those who are truly faithful to his word written. God
does not care for lip-service, neither will he accept a thoughtless prayer of remorse.
Only the truly penitent person may pass into his kingdom and into his rest.
Only a person who has accepted his free gift and repented will avoid wearying
God. We cannot walk our own paths and do what we think is right as opposed to
those things that have been expressed within the pages of Scripture. God’s word
is truth at all times and in all places (St. John 17:17). The children of Israel
acted as if God was not present with them on a personal level. Needless to say,
there are many in today’s world who claim to be Christians and are just as slack
in their faith and worship as the unbelieving of the Israelites. Such persons will
show up on Sunday, and occasionally on Wednesday evening, to be seen of their
fellows within the precincts of the church building. They may even make an appearance
on special feast days and so forth, but their hearts are elsewhere. Our Lord’s
description of them is frighteningly accurate: Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias
prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they
do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (St. Matthew
15:7-9).
Keep in mind our need to be made right with God, and
recognize his great gift to us via the atoning work of his only begotten Son.
God gave him up to serve as that sacrificial lamb— that perfect offering for
our sins— who died on that rude cross so long ago. For it was there that he
took on the sins of whole world. It was there that his blood was shed so that
all who would turn unto God in his name would be saved. In no manner of
speaking did he die so that a universalist understanding of salvation could be
accomplished. God’s saving grace has always been reserved exclusively for the
true and faithful Christian and not for those who only pretend to be in Christ.
As Christians, we have been called to be witnesses and ambassadors for our
risen Lord. So let us go forth today and every day ready to serve our Lord in
his harvest keeping ourselves in Christ and away from evil.
Let us pray,
O holy and gracious God, we appeal to you to forgive
us of our sins and trespasses, and help us in our lives and work to be more
effective witnesses on your behalf; for this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed week!
Bryan+
Rev.
David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We
are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
The Beauty of God's love in Eternal life -Your Most
Holy Faith
Jude vs 20 (and
all that comes before)
"But ye ,beloved, building up yourselves
on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life." (Jude 20-21),
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to
rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He
is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you
knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently
He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not
seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He
is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out
a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making
courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but
He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C.S.
Lewis, Mere Christianity
I know our lives feel like there is a lot of knocking
about and hurt with our walls being re-adjusted adding new drains and extra
floors and towers. It may seem that way in the time Jude was writing with
"…murmurers, complainers, and their mouth speaketh with great swelling
words…." (Jude16) But is what they are saying true, or are they?
…12clouds they are without water, carried about by the wind,
trees whose fruit withereth… and …13wandering stars, to whom
is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever? (Jude 12,-13)
In the midst of all this ungodliness, and our world
as well, we are called beloved. Jude says to "…17but
remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord
Jesus Christ." (Jude 17) The word beloved is in the vocative tense,
marking the one addressed (plural here of course). It reminds me of two towns
in Texas near where we lived. First you passed Welfare and then came
Comfort. Jude tells us there should be mockers. But if we are in
Christ we are preserved, beloved and called. What a delightful thought to
be in the house God is building for Him to dwell in.
We often do not feel that way. Our road seems
abandoned at times with the strong storms, not a guiding Hand. (Just turn
on the news and we will be jump out of our skin if we listen too long) But
though the way we difficult we are protected and kept by God Himself. This
is our journey, but our Keeper has us.
1. Build
yourselves up in your most holy faith. "20But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your
most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," This verse
describes those who would trouble us, even in the teaching of the Church,
"…18who should walk after their own ungodly lusts,
…19they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."
(Jude 18-19) A person who does not have the Spirit is described in Romans
8:9- "…9Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ , he is
none of His. Vs 18-18"How that they told you there will be mockers, in the last time,
fho should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” 19These are the
ones who separate themselves (cause
divisions), having not the Spirit., [p]worldly-minded, [q]devoid of the
Spirit." What is the most holy faith? Jude said it before in verses 3
saying it is once delivered unto the saints.
Forgetfulness of the teachings and warnings of God in
Scripture is a major cause of spiritual deterioration. Acts 2:42 - "And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread , and in prayers." Acts 20:32 - "I
commend you to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up…."
Hebrews 5:14
talks about practice in discernment because our senses are trained to know good
and to know what is not good. "But strong meat belongeth to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil."
2. " Praying in the Holy
Ghost" The false teachers had given up on prayer as
unfortunately as many " false Christians" have. Prayer is our armor
Ephesians 6: 18 "…praying always with all prayer and supplication in
the Spirit...."
3. "Keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
(Jude 21) It is possible to turn your back on the love of God. Jude talks
about the false teachers who did that. "Keep alive the fire of
Christian hope" ( Michael Green) while living in the world which denys it.
As I was finishing this message I happened on
the Kelp Cam from the Monterey Bay Acquarium where I used to live. The
beauty of God's love is shown to us so wonderfully above and below the sea as I
watch the fish swim among the kelp. There is a whole world out there God has
created for us to enjoy. Reflect on His love and our faith that He will
bring us home so that we may enjoy His presence forever.
24Now to Him who is
able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of
His glory, blameless with great joy, 25to the only God
our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion,
and authority before all time and now and [r]forever. Amen.
Jude concludes with this. Lovely!
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
David D. Mc Millan,
Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office We are grateful to have this sermon today from Rev. Don Fultz
from
St. Peter’s AOC, Statesville NC
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
Sermon: Luke 10:1-11
Today, we honor St Luke. He wrote a large part of our
New Testament. He wrote one Gospel, sharing the life and teachings of Jesus. He
also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, which told the story of Jesus’ continued
ministry through the church which was born on Pentecost and lives here today. Paul,
Silas, Barnabas, and Luke, among others, proclaimed the Gospel. This is how Jesus has His voice heard in the
world.
For as much as
St. Luke wrote, we still know relatively little about his life. From a few details in St. Paul’s letter to
the Colossians we find that Luke was from Antioch. By vocation, he was a
physician. He was also a Gentile, which
is surprising that a non-Jew wrote so much of the New Testament. The Book of
Acts tells us that he traveled with St. Paul on missionary journeys.
During his life, Luke gathered eyewitness accounts
from those who had been closest to Jesus. His account, along with others, would
become his Gospel which he wrote for a certain Christian named Theophilus. As
previously stated, Luke was a physician.
But God also had in store for him another calling—to be sent forth to
preach the Gospel.
Hence, the Gospel appointed for St. Luke’s Day is
Luke’s own account of Jesus sending the seventy to go ahead of Him into the
places He would go. These were close followers and believers of Jesus who had
hand-picked them. They were not Apostles or ordained clergy. They were just
ordinary men commissioned to act as ambassadors or missionaries to help spread
the Gospel. However, Jesus had given them extraordinary power to heal sickness
and cast out devils in his name.
Let’s look at
the text this morning and some of the Principles of Evangelism that Jesus
commanded them to follow before sending them out on this mission. Verse1 “After
these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two
before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.”
Why would Jesus send them
out “two and two,” which means in pairs to each town or village instead
of sending one person to each different location. Surely Jesus had much to do and little time in which
to do it. He wanted them to go ahead of Him to every city and place where He
Himself was going to come and clearly this could be accomplished much more
quickly if the number were not diluted by pairing them together.
Two answers present themselves. First, Jesus knew the
value of mutual support and encouragement.
The Bible says: “Two are better than one because they have a good
reward for their labor. For if they
fall, the one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he
falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Second, Jesus knew the Law. He was a rabbi, and He
came to fulfill, not abolish it. Therefore, He practiced the wisdom of
Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any
iniquity, or any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the
mouth of three, witnesses shall the matter be established.” This practice of
pairing seems to have taken hold in the early Church. In Acts we find Peter and John working
together. Later, Barnabas and Paul are sent out together. Then we read of Paul
and Silas going one way and Barnabas and Mark another. The list continues.
Jesus tells them first to pray for the mission. Because of his compassion, Jesus implored His
followers to “…pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into His harvest….” (V2)
We cannot think too highly of the power and importance of prayer. Prayer is one
of the best and most powerful means of helping forward the cause of Christ in
the world. Not all of us have the spiritual gifts or personal characteristics
to be missionaries. Also, not all of us are financially able to give to
missions. But all believers can pray for
the success of the Gospel. After all, “the effective fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).
Next, He tells them to be obedient. The command is simple and
direct. “Go
your ways.” Jesus said (v. 3). The verb is rendered in the tense
that means to keep going. It is not a one-and-done command. We cannot explain
the gospel to one person and think we are finished any more than we can give to
the church one time and think we have met our obligation to financially support
God’s work. Also, there is urgency implied. When Jesus sent out these seventy,
He was but a few months away from His death.
He still had much ground to cover. There were many people in Judea who
had not yet heard the good news that the kingdom of God had arrived. Today we
do not know when Christ will return, but we do know that He could return at any
time. There is less time to share the
gospel before He returns each day.
Since these men knew enough
to be saved, they knew enough to share the gospel. They could be witnesses. That
is, they could tell what Jesus had done for them. They did not need to address such theological
issues as might be raised to a rabbi like Jesus. They simply needed to proclaim
the simplest of gospel messages, “that the
kingdom of God has come nigh unto you.
Then He warns them to be aware of danger. Jesus wanted
these men to know what they were getting themselves into. Never one to make
things seem what they were not just to aid recruitment Jesus reminded them that
“…I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” (v. 3). Shepherds guarded their
flocks from predators, and wolves were their main enemy. Jesus always wanted
His followers to know the truth.
He wanted them to count the
cost and understand fully the implications of their commitment to follow Him. He
warned His disciples at a later date, “these
things have I spoken unto you, that ye shall not be offended. They shall put you out of the
synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because
they have not known the Father or me. But these things have I told you, that
when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.”
(John 16:1-4)
We must remember that
following Jesus can be dangerous. “Cain will murder Abel, if he can, to the
very end of the world” wrote Martin Luther.
Let us not forget that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Let us never be so naive as to “marvel
not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13). We do not know the
lives of these seventy men. How many were ostracized by their families or
friends for choosing to follow Jesus? How
many were martyred in later life. All we know is that Jesus sent them out fully
aware of what they would be facing as followers of His.
Another principle to take
away is that we ought to understand fully the cost of discipleship. We cannot
be shocked when things do not go our way in this world as we follow Jesus. We
must focus on the advantage we have eternally, and let that be our joy. Next,
He tells them to be humble. As with His own disciples,
Jesus commanded these seventy to “carry nether
purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” (v. 4). Note: They were not allowed to wear
shoes but were allowed to wear sandals with straps. (per J C Ryle)
Also, as we have learned,
this did not mean they were to take nothing, but rather nothing extra. They
were to rely upon God’s provision. They needed to come to the point where they
could say, like the greatest missionary of the early Church, Paul, “For I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how
to abound: everywhere and in all things.
I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to
suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12).
This, of course, was not a forever requirement. As we have learned
before, Jesus changed His instructions to accommodate the needs of His
disciples. Later He exhorted them “he that hath
a purse, let him take it, and
likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment,
and buy one.” (Luke 22:36). But
it is worth noting that was after He had established the fact that God was the
ultimate provider, And He said unto them, “…When
I sent you without purse and scrip, and shoes, lack ye anything. And they said, Nothing.” (Luke 22:35).
The greeting referred to was not simply a saying of “Hello” to fellow
travelers. It had to do with the long ritualistic greeting of Jews on certain
occasions. Jesus didn’t want them to hinder themselves with needless ceremonies
and complements.
The purpose of this commandment was twofold:
First, these men were not to
expect to create a relationship with someone along the way that might lead to
their supporting the mission.
Second, they were not to evangelize
based on friendship, but rather on the power of the gospel message itself.
The seventy were also
clearly told to not try to improve their accommodations as they traveled from
place to place. When they came to a house that received them, they were to “in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things
as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire…Go not from house to house.”
(Luke 10:7). That does not mean that these men ought not to accept what was
offered. They were free to receive hospitality, but they were not to expect to
be entitled to any special treatment.
Jesus let them know that “whatsoever city
ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you”
(v. 8). For Jews traveling through predominantly Gentile and Samaritan areas,
this meant that they were relieved from strict obedience to the Jewish dietary
laws as they went their way. If they
dined in a Gentile home or with Samaritans to whom they were sharing the
gospel, they were permitted by Jesus to eat what was set before them. They were
not to let their own peculiar requirements for food be a stumbling block to
receiving the gospel. They were not to let food get in the way of the message.
Another principle to
remember is that we should not care too much about the luxuries of life. We
should pass through the world like we travel on vacation. We ought to recognize
that the place we live and the food we eat is not what it would be like at
home.
Next, Jesus commands the 70
to be always gracious. Jesus instructed these men that “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, peace be
to this house.” (v. 5).
They were to extend an
offering of peace. But this implied more than an informal greeting. The peace
being offered was the peace of the gospel message. They were quite literally
bringing the opportunity for peace with God with them as they entered. That is why not all would receive it. “And if the Son of Peace be there, your peace shall rest
upon it, if not, it will turn to you again.”
(v. 6). If their message was not received, they were to go on their way. It was not their fault, and they were not to
take it personally.
These men were given the
power to do great things as they went about preaching the kingdom of God. They were to “heal
the sick that are therein….” (v. 9). They were to not only deal with
things eternal, but with things practical. Many to whom they would go
had specific immediate needs beyond those of salvation, and these men were to
be attentive to those needs. They were given these powers because they were
necessary to authenticate the gospel message - to offer positive proof that “…The kingdom of God has come nigh unto you.”
(v. 9). The fact that we do not possess these same powers today does not
absolve us from being aware of, and attentive to, the practical needs of those
to whom we preach the gospel. We may not be able to exorcise demons or heal the
sick. However, we are to do what we can that is practical and reasonable for
those who hear the gospel message.
Lastly, He gives the seventy
a message
about judgement. It was clear that Jesus did not expect these
men to be well received wherever they went. Therefore He instructed them, “But into whatsoever
city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your way out into the sreets of the
same, and say, 11Even the
very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: not withstanding be ye sure of this, that the
kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”
(v. 10-11). They were not to sneak away in the night, but to make a public
declaration of the sins of the city and the wrath to come.
The act of shaking the dust
off one’s feet was a symbolic act that meant a great deal in Jewish
culture. It was a way of demonstrating
that the rejection of the good news of the gospel resulted in the bad news of
judgment.
Was the mission of the
seventy successful? Yes, it was as St Luke tells us in verse 10:17, “And the
seventy returned again with Joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject into
us through thy name.” Then Jesus responded to them in verse 10:18, “And
He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.”
In closing, as we obey Jesus’s
command to share the gospel may we do so with compassion, that we might be
directed and empowered to evangelize others with attitudes and actions that
reflect the God we serve. In the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
The Rev. Don
Fultz
AOC
Worldwide Prayer List –
I have received updates from a few and
those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and
updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed
from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Prayer
Needed: Keep Praying Please
Howard – car accident – hospitalized – paralyzed from the neck down – pray for
recovery
AOC Church of
the Redeemer who still needs a Pastor
Bishop John –
gall bladder removed – pray for complete recovery
Brenda – fracture knee cap and shoulder, long recovery – at home and recovering
well
Sandy
Carpenter – Congestive Heart Failure –
weak limbs – husband, Darryl and their family
Michele Gee- stage 3 cervical cancer
Darryl and Jennifer Baughn - assisting Darryl’s mother who is suffering with end
of life issues
Arnold and Martha Robbins – Senior Health issues
Rhett Carter – has succumbed to his injuries – comfort for widow and parents, John & Karen
Donny Clark –
hospitalized for stroke – Anne – overseeing his
care
Kathy – Kathy is beginning to heal please keep praying for this healing and
severe anxiety related
Baby Baelin –
Praise God, Baby Baelin has gone home – tube removed
and doing well!
Donny – hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping
him in recovery
Ben Hancock –
treatment for colon cancer
Rev.
Geordie: needs prayer
for medical issues
Debbie
Grimes: colon cancer – surgery
Bobby
Effinger – recovery from heart surgery
and ongoing heart issues
Joseph
Broddie – recurring throat cancer
David
Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife
Sherie for coping with changes
Colby Landry – cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of
trial.
Persecuted Christians – subject to persecution and imprisonment for
their faith.
Bobby Bryan –
suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.
For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across
the globe.
USA – Leaders,
citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet
Members Safety
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Dave – COPD –Diabetes type 2
Extended Issues need
continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms – Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations,
breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing
depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer
Treatment
Keep Praying for the following:
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