Following Jesus: Travelling light
Passage: Matthew 10:9-15
Preacher: Mark Kingston
Before Jesus sends out his disciples, he gives them some very specific instructions - words that are just as challenging for us today. Here's what it looks like to follow Jesus, on His terms:
1. Go
Jesus doesn’t say, “Wait for people to come.” He says, “Go.” And that changes everything. Too often, the church has flipped it. We’ve expected people to walk through our doors. But the Kingdom doesn’t begin with a welcome sign. It begins with going. Jesus never said, "Build it and they will come." He said, "Go."
That only makes sense when we remember that the church isn’t a building, or a service, or a Sunday time slot. It’s us: you and me. Ordinary people, filled with the Spirit, scattered into ordinary places: schools, offices, grocery stores, parks. We already go. So the question is: will we go with purpose? Will we go with our eyes open? Will we go ready to offer an encouragement, a prayer, a blessing, or a simple act of kindness?
2. Travel Lightly
Jesus sends His disciples out with nothing extra. No bag. No money. No safety net. Why? Because this mission of extending God's Kingdom doesn’t run on our strength. It runs on trust. Trust in Him, and trust in each other, because sometimes God provides for our needs through the generosity of others.
That means following Jesus means learning to ask for help. That’s hard for some of us. But sometimes, your need is the doorway to someone else’s obedience. Your vulnerability creates space for someone else to give. That’s how friendship grows. That’s how community starts. That’s how God designed His Kingdom to work.
3. Speak Peace
Jesus tells His followers to greet each home with blessing. Not just a polite hello, but a real declaration of peace: Shalom…wholeness. The presence of God. That's the gift you get to give to those who have been kind to you.
When you speak blessing over someone, you’re not just being kind, you’re participating in the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is at work in you. So don’t underestimate the impact of a prayer, a word of encouragement, or a moment of peace. It matters.
4. Shake the Dust
Not everyone will welcome you. Some won’t want what you bring. Some might even reject you. And sometimes, that rejection will come from people inside the church, those who are afraid of change, or protecting comfort, or acting from deep hurt.
Jesus says: don’t carry that offence. Don’t let it stick. Shake the dust off your feet. Trust God with the outcome. And keep going, don't get stuck.
So, today, as you head out into your everyday life, remember that this is your mission field. This is where you've been sent. So go lightly, go honestly, and go in trust. Let's see what God will do!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Go: Where are the everyday places God is sending you this week? What might it look like to show up there as someone who’s been sent by Jesus?
Travel Lightly: Where might God be asking you to let go of control and depend on Him or on others? What’s one area where you could risk asking for help? Who might you ask?
Speak Peace: Who in your life could use a word of peace, encouragement, or prayer right now? What’s stopping you from reaching out?
Shake the Dust: Are you carrying any past rejection or offence that’s weighing you down? What would it mean to shake that off and trust God with it?
Live the Mission: What’s one small, Spirit-led step you could take this week to live more intentionally as a follower of Jesus - in your home, your workplace, or your community?
