This week Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 3 Year C is Luke 10.1–11, 16–20 which records Jesus sending out the seventy-(two) on ‘mission’ and their return. It is passage that is rich with material for reflection on issues of ministry and pastoral theology—but one that also includes some surprising and challenging perspectives on what mission is about.
James and Ian explore the theological and textual issues, and reflect on both how we preach on this passage and its implications for practice and pastoral ministry in the local church.
Full details can be found in the previous post here.
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1 Kings 13:16 may be what is alluded to . The man of god turned aside against the specific instruction of God not to. He was killed by a lion.
Thanks very much for these enjoyable thoughts, love the emphasis on collaborative ministry from Jesus…good safeguarding ethos too! For Bishop’s perhaps Suffragan’s need to be elevated, but maybe the CNC & Queen will need to attune their matchmaking skills as well as not being afraid of clergy who speak of judgment?
P.S. Ian, that’s a Sweet glow of a light you’ve got there 😉
Thank you so much for this – very thought provoking. I’m preaching on this in abt 10 days time. Just thinking about the extent to which Jesus instructions here are normative for us, as opposed to specific for this particular mission? Because some of the instructions appear to be rescinded in Luke 22:35-36.
And I guess even though the harvest is plentiful, the parable of the sower reminds us that people’s responses vary hugely.