In Luke’s gospel chapter 10 Jesus introduces us to an apostolic commission that would later be reemphasized in Matthew’s gospel chapter 28 with a command to go and make disciples. Jesus gathers, appoints and then mobilizes 72 ordinary disciples to go out into various cities ahead of his arrival. He models an aspect of the apostolic ministry of equipping and mobilizing missionary or pioneer leaders for gospel proclamation and demonstration.
As Jon Wiest and Ed Love describe in their book Pioneers, “Jesus mobilized a new wave of pioneering leaders to press forward. The focus is not a story about recruiting volunteers for a church program but sending out workers to transform the surrounding towns and villages”
These 72 can in many ways be considered the Nirst apostles who were obedient to the command to “go” as Jesus sent them. This is the same mobilizing DNA that was present in the early believers that sparked a global movement. Ministry mobilization within our current context must draw us back to this apostolic call and DNA in order to regain the multiplying effect that was dynamic in the life of the early church.
Jesus understood the strength of people when he sent out the 72 and told them not to take any money or extra items. While they seemingly had little, they had much because their trust was not in the material things but rather in the Spirit and the one who sent them. Their authority didn’t come from the institution but from being in relationship with Jesus. This is what we also see in the early life of the church. It was not programatic or complex but rather simple and nimble. In fact all the believers had was the simplicity of the Gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit, a conviction to the cause of Christ, and an apostolic DNA to live on mission.
Mobilization is where the gospel meets culture and creates environments in which pioneering disciples impact the cities and communities where they are called. I believe the common hope that can be found is that there is no greater hour in history in which the church is uniquely positioned for maximum impact. Millions await the redeeming power of the gospel through the missional work of the church and everyday disciples of Christ. The words of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel come alive when he said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers in His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). This is a mobilization call to the body of Christ.
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