Matthew 10:16……….Working

Matthew 10:16……….Working

10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (This is not a motivational speech; it’s a reality check.) (For Complete Expository and Applications get the Whole Book) 

Extended Sermons

“Teaches how ministry is going to be dangerous and hazardous work, requiring vigilance and discernment.” ⇒ Serving the Lord can be dangerous. We might risk being called a Jesus freak, bible thumper, holy-roller, etc. We might risk losing our reputation. We might risk losing our friends. We might risk losing our job. We might risk losing our family. Have you ever had someone say something unkind to you or about you? We’ve all have had that experience. Becoming victims of slander or malicious gossip can be difficult to bear. However, God calls us to exhibit a very specific kind of response in such circumstances. As Christians we should expect to be slandered and made fun of. People will make personal attacks on us trying to destroy our reputation, our character, our joy, our peace. Instead of responding with anger and hate. We are called to bear our injuries with joy, patience, love, and gentleness. We’re to imitate Christ and respond with with love and kindness.

“Calls for being sacrificial, but not pushovers. Loving, but not gullible. Courageous, but not reckless.” → Along with these we’re called to be  — sacrificial, but not spineless. Loving, but not easily manipulated, bold, but not abrasive, gentle, but not passive. Peace‑making, but not peace‑faking. Discerning, but not cynical. Wise, but not suspicious of everything. humble, but not self‑erasing, patient, but not indifferent. Long‑suffering, but not enabling. Forgiving, but not naïve. Merciful, but not permissive. Truthful, but not harsh, honest, but not cutting. steadfast, but not stubborn. Unshakable, but not unteachable. Hopeful, but not delusional. Faith‑filled, but not fantasy‑driven. Generous, but not irresponsible. Open‑handed, but not exploited. Loyal, but not blind. Committed, but not compromised. Spiritually hungry, but not spiritually frantic, passionate, but not chaotic. Watchful, but not paranoid. Alert, but not alarmist. Holy, but not haughty. Set apart, but not self‑righteous. In short Jesus wants believers who are strong without being harsh, soft without being weak, wise without being jaded, and loving without being fooled. People who carry both grace and truth, both tenderness and strength, both patience and conviction. People who are steady, grounded, unmanipulated, unafraid, unmoved by pressure, and fully moved by the Spirit.

“Warns if not gentle like doves we can end up contradicting the Gospel of peace we’re trying to proclaim.” ⇒ Does your conduct adorn the Gospel of grace? Does your walk match your talk? Most of the disrepute that comes upon Christ is because believers are living undisciplined lives. How many Christian leaders have ruined their opportunity to speak and evangelize because of personal scandals. Or on a more personal note. If your non-Christian coworkers are doing a better job about their language and behavior at work than you. How much credibility do you have? How is that going to effect your ability to witness to them? Or if you can win every theological debate at school or work, and then your personal morals and devotion to Christ is lacking your not being as wise as a snake or innocent as a dove. If your witnessing to your teammates and then go get drunk with them after the game, your neither wise nor innocent. If we have any hope of influencing non-believers we need to make sure that our conduct and behavior is worthy of the name “Christian”!

“Even today, we need to proclaim the Gospel with wisdom and gentleness  — knowing not only what to say, but how to say it, without being rude, aggressive, or hostile” ⇒ Wisdom isn’t just knowing what to say — it’s knowing when to say it and how to say it.  Opening up with “You’re a sinner whose heading to hell” is not going to be very productive. In fact you’ll end up turning more people off then winning them over.   And gentleness isn’t just about tone — it’s about posture, restraint, and the ability to stay Christlike even when the environment isn’t. That means we don’t get defensive, angry, or try to get in the last word. We need to be tactful about when to engage other people and when to walk away. We need to know the right time to witness to others. There will be moments when a heart will be open — speak boldly. There will be moments when a heart is searching — share faithfully. There are moments when a heart will be hardened — pray quietly. There are moments when a heart is confused — explain patiently. There are moments when a heart is hostile — walk away peacefully. There are moments when a heart will be searching — guide gently. There are moments when a heart will be skeptical — respond patiently. There are moments when a heart is bitter — comfort tenderly. There are moments when a heart is stubborn —intercede persistently. There are moments when a heart is hungry — feed it truthfully. There are moments when a heart is curious — explain clearly. There are moments when a heart is resistant —  trust God completely.

Additional Notes & Applications    

Teaches how there’s two extremes we need to avoid: Being reckless (charging in without wisdom) and Being timid (staying silent out of fear).

Teaches how Jesus won’t sugarcoat discipleship, He won’t let us go into situations naïvely.

Note: Being “wise as serpents” means we don’t walk into conversations blindly. We think before we speak. We listen before we respond. We understand the moment, the person, and the spiritual climate. We recognize traps, avoid unnecessary conflict, and refuse to let pride pull us into battles that don’t advance the Kingdom. On the flip-side Serpent‑wisdom means being strategic, not silent. Wisdom is not the same as avoidance. Jesus never said, “Be so careful that you never risk upsetting anyone.”

Note: Being “harmless as doves” means our posture stays gentle, our tone stays gracious, and our hearts stay pure. We don’t manipulate, pressure, or intimidate. We don’t return sarcasm with sarcasm or hostility with hostility. Instead, we carry ourselves with a peace that disarms people and a kindness that makes the Gospel believable. Dove‑gentleness means speaking truth with the right spirit, not withholding truth altogether. Gentleness is about how you speak, not whether you speak.

Note: Sheep in the midst of wolves is a scary thought. Many argue no self-respecting shepherd would expose vulnerable sheep to wolves. Jesus would make a lousy shepherd. Leaders are supposed to protect the ones they lead. Yet here, the Gospel casts Jesus in the role of a reckless leader who demands an equally reckless vulnerability from his followers……… (To be continued)

WOLVES TODAY……

• People who will try to manipulate and use us

• People who are false disciples

• People who will try to twist the truth of scripture

• People who……….

HOW SHEEP HANDLE WOLVES….

• Know when it’s best to pray for them

• Be open and understanding of their objections