The Danger Zone Matthew 10:5-31. “When I think about the history of the SS United States, I wonder...

The Danger ZoneThe Danger Zone

Matthew 10:5-31Matthew 10:5-31

““When I think about the history of the When I think about the history of the SS United States, SS United States, I wonder if she has something to teach us about the I wonder if she has something to teach us about the history of the church. The church, like the SS United history of the church. The church, like the SS United States, has been designed for battle. The purpose of the States, has been designed for battle. The purpose of the church is mobilize a people to accomplish a mission. Yet church is mobilize a people to accomplish a mission. Yet we seem to have turned the church as troop carrier into we seem to have turned the church as troop carrier into the church as luxury liner. We seem to have organized the church as luxury liner. We seem to have organized ourselves, not to engage in battle for the souls of people ourselves, not to engage in battle for the souls of people around the world, but to indulge ourselves in the around the world, but to indulge ourselves in the peaceful comforts of the world.” peaceful comforts of the world.”

David Platt, Radical, pages 170-171David Platt, Radical, pages 170-171

Matthew 10:5-16Matthew 10:5-16These twelve Jesus sent out with the following These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. enter any town of the Samaritans. 66 Go rather to the Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. lost sheep of Israel. 77 As you go, preach this As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 88 Heal Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. received, freely give. 99 Do not take along any gold or Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; silver or copper in your belts; 1010 take no bag for the take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.worker is worth his keep.

Matthew 10:5-16Matthew 10:5-161111 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. until you leave. 1212 As you enter the home, give it As you enter the home, give it your greeting. your greeting. 1313 If the home is deserving, let your If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. you. 1414 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. leave that home or town. 1515 I tell you the truth, it I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. the day of judgment than for that town.

Matthew 10:5-16Matthew 10:5-161616 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”as doves.”

• The world is The world is hostilehostile to Jesus’ disciples. to Jesus’ disciples.

Sheep Among WolvesSheep Among Wolves

Matthew 10:17-25.Matthew 10:17-25.

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. synagogues. 1818 On my account you will be brought On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. and to the Gentiles. 1919 But when they arrest you, do But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, that time you will be given what to say, 2020 for it will for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. speaking through you.

Matthew 10:17-25.Matthew 10:17-25.2121 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a "Brother will betray brother to death, and a

father his child; children will rebel against their father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. parents and have them put to death. 2222 All men will All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. the end will be saved. 2323 When you are persecuted When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:17-25.Matthew 10:17-25.2424 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. above his master. 2525 It is enough for the student to It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!”how much more the members of his household!”

““This is the unavoidable conclusion of Matthew 10. This is the unavoidable conclusion of Matthew 10. To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable life free from danger, stay away from comfortable life free from danger, stay away from Jesus. The danger in our lives will always increase in Jesus. The danger in our lives will always increase in proportion to the depth of our relationship with proportion to the depth of our relationship with Christ. Maybe this is why we sit back and settle for Christ. Maybe this is why we sit back and settle for a casual relationship with Christ and routine religion a casual relationship with Christ and routine religion in the church. It is safe there, and the world likes us in the church. It is safe there, and the world likes us there. The world likes us when we are pursuing there. The world likes us when we are pursuing everything they are pursuing, even if we do put a everything they are pursuing, even if we do put a Christian label on it. As long as Christianity look like Christian label on it. As long as Christianity look like the American dream, we will have few problems in the American dream, we will have few problems in this world.” this world.” David Platt, Radical, page 167-168


• Following Jesus is Following Jesus is inherently dangerous.inherently dangerous.



• Following Jesus is Following Jesus is inherently dangerousinherently dangerous..

• Sheep are Sheep are defenseless and dependantdefenseless and dependant..


““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- sheep know me-- 1515 just as the Father knows me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 the sheep.” John 10:14-15

““For you know that it was not with perishable For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, to you from your forefathers, 19 19 but with the but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

Snake Eyes, Dove TeethSnake Eyes, Dove Teeth

““I am sending you out like sheep among I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16


• Don’t seek Don’t seek danger.danger.

• Use Use limited resourceslimited resources with wisdom. with wisdom.




Matthew 10:7-8 “As you go, preach this message: Matthew 10:7-8 “As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.’ `The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 8 Heal the sick, Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”give.”




• Be faithful in Be faithful in innocenceinnocence. .

““We say things such as, “The safest place to be is in We say things such as, “The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.” We think, the center of God’s will.” We think, If it’s If it’s dangerous, God must not be in it. If it’s risky, if it’s dangerous, God must not be in it. If it’s risky, if it’s unsafe, if it’s costly, it must not be God’s will. But unsafe, if it’s costly, it must not be God’s will. But what if these factors are actually the criteria by what if these factors are actually the criteria by which we determine something is God’s will? What which we determine something is God’s will? What if we began to look at the design of God as the most if we began to look at the design of God as the most dangerous option before us? What if the center of dangerous option before us? What if the center of God’s will is in reality the most unsafe place for us God’s will is in reality the most unsafe place for us to be?” to be?”

David Platt, Radical, page 164-165David Platt, Radical, page 164-165

Confidence in a Culture of FearConfidence in a Culture of Fear


““So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. will not be made known. 2727 What I tell you in the What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 2828 Do not be Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” both soul and body in hell.”


29 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. will of your Father. 3030 And even the very hairs of And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. your head are all numbered. 3131 So don't be afraid; So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”you are worth more than many sparrows.”


• SecuritySecurity is found in God’s is found in God’s sovereigntysovereignty..

““Indeed, God knows every detail of our lives, and Indeed, God knows every detail of our lives, and when we step out in faith to follow him, he will when we step out in faith to follow him, he will show us that our greatest security is not found in show us that our greatest security is not found in the comforts we can manufacture in this world but the comforts we can manufacture in this world but in the faithful provision of the only one who knows in the faithful provision of the only one who knows our needs and the only one who is able to meet our our needs and the only one who is able to meet our needs in every way.” needs in every way.”

David Platt, Radical, page 174 David Platt, Radical, page 174


• SecuritySecurity is found in God’s is found in God’s sovereigntysovereignty..

• We are never beyond We are never beyond God’s careGod’s care..

• ““Reckless” obedienceReckless” obedience requires requires eternal perspectiveeternal perspective..

““For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 Philippians 1:21

““Your life is free to be radical when you see death Your life is free to be radical when you see death as reward. This is the essence of what Jesus taught as reward. This is the essence of what Jesus taught in Matthew 10, and I believe it is in Matthew 10, and I believe it is the key to taking the key to taking back your faith from the American dream. The key back your faith from the American dream. The key is realizing–and believing–that this world is not is realizing–and believing–that this world is not your home.” your home.”

David Platt, Radical, page 179 David Platt, Radical, page 179

To which wolves is Jesus calling you?To which wolves is Jesus calling you?

““Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. the Samaritans. 66 Go rather to the lost sheep of Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 10:5-6Israel.” Matthew 10:5-6

To which wolves is Jesus calling you?To which wolves is Jesus calling you?

““Radical obedience to Christ is not easy; it is Radical obedience to Christ is not easy; it is dangerous. It is not smooth sailing aboard a luxury dangerous. It is not smooth sailing aboard a luxury liner; it is sacrificial duty aboard a troop carrier. It’s liner; it is sacrificial duty aboard a troop carrier. It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” enough for us.”

David Platt, Radical, page 181David Platt, Radical, page 181

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