Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd … These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “…  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 9:35; 10:5, 7-8).

This week we move towards the conclusion of our Inner Strength: Building a Resilient Core series by looking at the fifth of our church’s five core values, outwardly focused.  Then Chatham Serves Sunday on October 15 will serve as a capstone to the series, as we put into practice those core values of being Gospel-centered, Biblically guided, relationally connected, generous-hearted and outwardly focused.

What do you see as you look out over the world?  Never-ending dangers and threats?  Grinding poverty, intractable political divisions, social decay, gathering gloom?  Or are you of a sunnier, more optimistic disposition – you see amazing scientific discoveries and breakthroughs, breath-taking technological advances, signs of hope all around, even in the face of many challenges?

Or are you someone who stays pretty fully occupied with your inner and closest-to-home world?

Jesus sees differently.  As he looks around, he does so neither as an optimist nor a pessimist, but as a realist.  The most real reality is the kingdom of heaven.

As Jesus looks out over the world, he sees two things in particular: people and God’s kingdom.  He sees that kingdom intersecting with those lives.

He sees people that are harried and harassed, like shepherd-less sheep.  And he sees the kingdom coming to them, bringing healing, restoration and liberation.

God’s kingdom is God’s answer to the world’s deepest needs.  So seeing the way he sees, Jesus sends.  He sends us, entrusting us with both the message of the good news of God’s kingdom, and the delegated authority and power of that kingdom.  The activities (compassion, healing, generosity and so on) without the message reduce the church to another social service agency.  The message without the demonstrations of its truth and power reduces us to hypocrites.

When we turn outward, what do we see?

As we move towards Chatham Serves Sunday, how could you prepare to see both the people and the kingdom, the kingdom intersecting the lives of the people?