SENT WITH AUTHORITY

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Luke 9:1-6 NLT One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Opening question

What do you think it felt like for the disciples to be sent out without Jesus physically going with them?

INTRODUCTION

Up to this point, the disciples had been watching Jesus minister. They observed His miracles, His authority, His compassion, and His teaching. Now everything shifts. Jesus is not just teaching them anymore, but He's sending them. Our walk with God is not just about learning. It’s about being sent.

Truth #1

JESUS GIVES US AUTHORITY BEFORE HE SENDS US

(v.1-2) One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

  • The Bible says Jesus gave them power and authority over demons and disease.
  • Notice:
    • He didn’t send them empty-handed.
    • He didn’t send them unprepared.
    • He didn’t send themo in their own strength.
  • He gave them His authority.
  • Authority: delegated power, the right to act on behalf of someone greater.
  • As believers today, we are not sent in our name, but we're sent in Jesus’ name.

Matthew 28:18–19 (NLT) – “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go…”
  • We don’t work for Jesus’ approval, we work from Jesus’ authority!
  • Stop praying for authority you already have. Start walking in it.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What areas of your life do you need to start walking in the authority Christ has already given you?

Truth #2

JESUS CALLS US TO DEPEND ON HIM, NOT ON COMFORT


(v.3–4) “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town
  • Jesus tells them:
    • Take nothing for the journey.
    • No food.
    • No money.
    • No extra clothes.
  • Jesus is teaching His disciples to put their dependence in Him.
  • If they carried everything, they would trust their supplies.
  • By carrying nothing, they had to trust God.
  • Sometimes God removes comfort so we can grow in dependence and faith.
  • Faith doesn’t grow in convenience, it grows in obedience!

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

  • God may strip away what you lean on so you can lean fully on Him.
  • Don't allow anything in your life to become a substitute for trusting God.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Have you ever experienced a season where God forced you to depend on Him more deeply?

Truth #3

OUR JOB IS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE, NOT TO CHANGE THE HEART

  • (v.5-6) 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
  • Jesus tells them that if people reject them, shake the dust off your feet and move on.
  • This teaches us something powerful: We are responsible for obeying Jesus, carrying the message to others. and God is responsible for changing the heart.
  • Not everyone will receive the message. But that shouldn't stop us from carrying the message of Jesus.
  • Rejection does NOT mean failure.
  • The instruction to “shake the dust off your feet” was a symbolic act. It meant:
  • Don’t carry rejection with you.
  • Don’t let resistance discourage you.
  • Don’t allow someone else’s refusal to stop your obedience.

1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT) – “It’s not important who does the planting or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”
  • Rejection does not cancel your assignment. Shake off discouragement. Keep moving forward.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

How do you normally respond to rejection? What would it look like to “shake the dust off” spiritually?

GIVING

When we allow genuine compassion to drive our generosity it invites God’s blessings into every aspect of our lives.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT)

10 Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. 11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?