Listen Well, Think Right, Talk Straight, Travel Light

In this message centering on Matthew 9:35–10:10, Chuck Swindoll examines the pivotal moment when Jesus transitions His followers from being “disciples” (learners) to “apostles” (sent ones). Swindoll sets the scene by describing Jesus’ compassionate observation of the crowds, noting that He saw them not as a nuisance, but as “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” This deep compassion prompted Jesus to issue a command not to preach immediately, but to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out more workers, highlighting the vastness of the need and the scarcity of laborers [9–12].

Swindoll provides a crucial theological distinction between the specific instructions given to the Twelve Apostles in this passage and the general application for believers today. He explains that commands such as “heal the sick, raise the dead” and “don’t take any money” were specific apostolic credentials and instructions for that unique era and mission to the house of Israel. He warns against misapplying these verses as a permanent standard for all ministry, contrasting this limited commission with the later “Great Commission” to go into all the world [21–25].

The message concludes by extracting timeless principles for modern ministry: authenticity, simplicity, and integrity. Swindoll cites a sobering warning from Eugene Peterson regarding how easy it is for pastors to “fake” ministry—conducting religious duties without actually attending to God. He challenges believers to reject the temptation to perform for an audience and instead serve with pure motives, reminding them that while they may feel unqualified, God uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His work [20, 26–29].

Message Key Facts:

• The Meaning of Compassion: Swindoll explains that the Greek word used for Jesus’ compassion (splagchna) literally refers to the “entrails” or “bowels.” Just as we use the phrase “I feel it in my gut,” this word describes a deep, visceral emotional response to the suffering of others [10–11].
• Disciple vs. Apostle: The sermon highlights the shift in terminology. A disciple is a learner or intern, similar to a medical student shadowing a doctor. An apostle is one who is “sent forth” with authority. In this passage, the Twelve move from observation to authorized action.
• The “Management Consultant” Letter: Swindoll reads a fictional letter addressed to Jesus from a management firm, recommending against hiring the disciples. The letter describes Peter as “emotionally unstable,” James and John as “self-serving,” and Thomas as “skeptical,” while recommending Judas Iscariot as the most promising candidate due to his “business mind.” This illustrates that God’s qualification standards are vastly different from the world’s [18–19].
• Specific vs. General Instructions: Swindoll clarifies that the instructions in Matthew 10 to “go only to the lost sheep of Israel” and “don’t take money” were temporary constraints for that specific mission. Later commands in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28 expand the mission to Gentiles and Samaritans, proving that methods may change even if motives remain the same [22–24].
• Three Marks of a Minister: Swindoll summarizes the character of a true servant of Christ with three words:
  • Authenticity: Being real, free of hypocrisy, and serving without complaint.
  • Simplicity: A lack of greed and pride; living a life without hidden agendas.
  • Integrity: Being trustworthy, unselfish, and morally pure.
• The Ease of Faking It: Quoting Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles, Swindoll warns that the three basic acts of ministry—prayer, reading Scripture, and spiritual direction—are private and quiet. Because no one sees them, it is dangerously easy for a minister to neglect them and “fake” the public aspects of preaching and leadership [27–29].
• The Cross as Central: The sermon opens with a reflection on the wooden cross, noting that Jesus died as a substitute to pay for sin. Swindoll emphasizes that human effort cannot pay the debt; salvation comes only through faith in the One who “paid it all” [5–6].

Message References:

• Matthew 9:35–38: Jesus’ travel through the villages, His compassion for the distressed crowds, and the command to pray for workers.
• Matthew 10:1–4: The calling of the twelve disciples and the listing of their names (now referred to as apostles).
• Matthew 10:5–10: The specific instructions to the Twelve: go only to Israel, preach the kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, and take no money or extra supplies.
• Acts 1:8: (Referenced as contrast) The later command to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the remotest part of the earth.
• Matthew 28: (Referenced as contrast) The Great Commission to go into all the world.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll