The Joy-Filled Six Dozen

Jesus was pumped!

Ok, Luke says He was "full of joy through the Holy Spirit."

That's the Bible's way of saying, "Jesus was pumped!"

What had Jesus so full of joy?

The seventy-two disciples He had deployed just came back with stories of their mission outings.

"Even the demons submit to us in Your name!" they exclaimed.

Their enthusiasm was contagious and filled Jesus with joy.

This story came across my radar as I have been looking at my goals for Messiah for 2018.

In 2017 we officially launched our Comfort Dog Ministry with the arrival of Gabriel, our LCC (Lutheran Church Charities) K-9 Comfort Dog. We also undertook a number of outreach events that enabled our members to use their gifts in exciting ways.

In 2018 I want to build on that.

With those thoughts in mind, Luke's story of Jesus sending out the seventy-two resonates with me.

Normally I don't treat the Bible like a leadership manual. However, I couldn't help but see things in this story that make sense in terms of pastoral and missional leadership.

1. Be wise.

Jesus didn't start by deploying the seventy-two. The sending of the seventy-two in Luke 10 is preceded by the sending of the twelve in Luke 9. Jesus started with His core group of disciples, those who had seen Him do ministry up-close. The twelve's success bred confidence and their enthusiasm inspired the other sixty to think, "If they can do it, so can I."

Moreover, in both instances, Jesus sent His followers out in pairs. He employed the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 4: Two are better than one.

Missional leaders need to be wise. That may mean taking time to equip your people and build your congregation's outreach ministry. It might mean thinking about the best way of setting your people up for success, because success breeds confidence.

2. Be honest.

Ministry isn't easy, for pastors or parishioners. Pastors receive lots of training to prepare them for their work and we still feel inadequate to the task. We are warned about the challenges and yet, until we face them, we don't understand them.

Our people need us to be honest with them that ministry is hard.

Jesus told the seventy-two that they would be sheep among wolves, that they would need to rely on the generosity of strangers, and that they would face rejection. You can't say that Jesus wasn't honest with them.

We need to be just as honest with our people. Ministry to the hurting and the lost is time-consuming, emotion-draining, and faith-challenging. It is rewarding, but also costly.

3. Be affirming.

When the seventy-two reported their successes, Jesus affirmed the work they had done. "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." In other words, "You did great!"

When people take the risk of doing outreach and caring ministry, they need to be affirmed in their work. When they report that they prayed with someone out loud or shared their faith with another person (maybe for the very first time), we need to affirm to them that their efforts made a difference for that person and, more importantly, filled Jesus with joy.

4. Be grounded.

The seventy-two were excited about their success, as well they should have been. However, Jesus didn't want their joy to be rooted only in their success, because success is not always guaranteed.

Joy needs a firmer foundation, one that can never be shaken. "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven," Jesus said. Salvation is the true source of joy when we succeed. It is also the true source of joy when we fail. Success does not solidify our salvation. Failure does not compromise our salvation. Salvation in Christ is solid, independent of failure or success.

5. Be thankful and praise-ful.

Jesus praised His heavenly Father for making known His truth to the seventy-two. He was thankful for the divine work accomplished through His followers.

Leaders model by example that all glory is given to God. We can rejoice in our people's success, but neither we nor our people deserve the credit for the good that results.

We need people who plant. We need people who water. We need to remember that God gives the growth. Affirm your planters and waterers, but give the glory and thanks to God.

May God bless you all as we begin a new year of adventurous ministry in the name of Jesus.