Kingdom Principle: The disciples are struggling to grasp Jesus’ real purpose in coming to earth. He came in order that he might die. The disciples aren’t ready for this. They don’t want Jesus to die. And they certainly don’t want him to die for the likes of the Samaritans. But what we find is that Jesus has died for all kinds of people. People who are like us and those who are not. We must take the message of Jesus’ death to all peoples. The Disciples Understanding of Grace is _______________ ______________Luke 9:49 (ESV) — 49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”The disciples want exclusive rights to the power of the kingdom.Deuteronomy 7:6–8 (ESV) — 6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. The exclusivity that the Jews enjoyed was in their connection to the God of all the universe. But the Jews had begun to think that their specialness was due to the fact that they were Jewish.Matthew 3:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. If inclusion is our first priority, we will begin to compromise on things that are of first importance.Jesus was not inclusive for inclusiveness sake.Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Our inclusiveness (those we include) ought to be based, or conditioned, upon ones love for Christ and his people. Mark 9:38–41 (ESV) — 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. The Disciples Understanding of Judgement is _____________ _____________Luke 9:54-56 (ESV) —54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village. The disciples didn’t want God to extend grace to the Samaritans. They didn’t deserve it! They were the enemies of God’s people. God’s grace is far more extensive than you could imagine, but it is also far more faithful than you suppose. God’s grace is extended to the chief of sinners in the death of Jesus Christ and no other. There is no other way to be accepted into God’s presence. John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Questions to ConsiderTo whom is God calling you to extend grace to? What might this look like? Does it look like overlooking sin?
