Matthew 10:1-42

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they..."

"Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are..."

"Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: ‘Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel — God’s lost..."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came....."

"[Jesus continued his warning to the apostles when he sent them out:] "But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with....."

"[Jesus continued his instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay....."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will..."

"[Jesus continued his instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out..."

"[Jesus continued his instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message,...."

"[After giving the apostles authority to cast out evil spirits and heal every kind of disease and illness,] Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with..."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not..."

"And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find...."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is...."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will..."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me..."

"[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not...."

"[Jesus continued his instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "Go and announce to [the people of Israel] that the Kingdom of Heaven is..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 10:38-39 -- And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

How can it be a good day when you don't get your Interruptions and surprise visitors are not bad things in a busy day of ministry; they are an answer to prayer.

How special are you and why? What will it take for us to realize our great value to God simply because he wants us to love him and be with him?

"[Jesus concluded his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of..."

""All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.""

"[Jesus warned the apostles when he sent them out:] "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as..."

"The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause...."

"No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the...."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 10:42 -- And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. Matthew 10:42 niv

I am sending you out as Sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and as harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 10:22b -- ... he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

These three lurk in the shadows seeking to derail us and do us in. Russ Lawson talks about fear, uncertainty, and doubt, or FUD, and how God's word and God speaks into each of these to give us life.

Does he really care about all this mess? When bad things happen, we need to realize that God does see and care and will remember.

When is the last time someone brought you refreshment? A kind friend can bring refreshment to the parched soul of another friend.

What have you learned and done based on what happened last year? As we age and the years speed by, we need to take some time and examine what we have done with our lives.

Can I live up to my purpose? Teresa Bell Kindred shares some ideas about New Year's resolutions and living for others.

What can I do that really matters to the Kingdom of God? Phil Ware begins a short series on Untold Stories from the Bible and shares the story of Onesiphorus refreshing Paul while he was in prison.

How important are the little things you do for others? Rubel Shelly reminds us how important it is to do simple acts of kindness and not simply look for the splashy and big things to do to bless others.

Can there be more than recipes in those cookbooks? Our offers of love and friendship enrich us and bless others.

Life is a dangerous endeavor. We pass our days in the shadows of ominous realities. Max Lucado reminds us to be courageous in our times of trouble for we have put our faith in the one who has conquered.

Life is a dangerous endeavor. We pass our days in the shadows of ominous realities. Max Lucado reminds us to be courageous in our times of trouble for we have put our faith in the one who has conquered.

We fool ourselves into discounting the malignant threat of sin to our souls. Bill Sherrill has a visit with a surgeon about removing malignant tissue and this experience opens his eyes about how we must treat sin in our lives.

Shouldn't somebody help? Phil Ware uses a car full of girls running out of gas on the way to church to connect Jesus' ministry and Moses' call to our opportunity to be God's tools of deliverance in the lives of those around us.

How can we help? Disaster Relief sites are given for the California fires

Do you have the right accent to say this one? No matter what language, dialect, or accent, saying Jesus is Lord is the key thing for all of us to say.

Saved every way a person can be saved Phil Ware continues his series on Out of the Box and focusing on the big Four primal fears that Jesus helps us address and he reminds us that salvation involves a from, for, and to component and shouldn't be simply elevator theology.

Largely, in the days when Jesus came, children were only valued if they were wanted. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we not only must become like children, but as Jesus' followers, we must value children.

How can the younger brother of Jesus help us find our way to hope? Phil Ware lets us journey with James, the half brother of Jesus, through the cross and resurrection to find our way to hope and confidence about our future.

Would you still sing without your tree? A mockingbird reminds Bill about our need to find satisfaction in what we have.

What is there really to fear, but fear itself? Phillip Morrison shares very good information, spiritual and scriptural application, on the fear mongering happening because of Ebola.

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.