In Luke 9:1–6, Jesus gives His disciples power and authority, sending them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal, relying not on their own resources but on God’s provision. This passage reminds us that the kingdom isn’t a distant hope but a present reality—Jesus is Lord right now. Like the disciples, we’re called to live and proclaim that truth in our homes, communities, and workplaces, not just with words but through lives that reflect His love and power. And we don’t go alone—we go together, filled with Christ’s authority, carrying hope and courage into a world that needs to see His kingdom at hand.

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Good morning, friends. It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday. If you’re watching online, you might notice a different camera angle today. My setup didn’t quite work, so we’re going “old school” straight from the computer. If the sound or video looks a little rough, thanks for your patience—and I apologize for giving you a closer look at my face than you probably wanted this early in the morning!

Today we’re looking at Luke 9:1–6.

“Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey—no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”

This moment is powerful: Jesus gathers His disciples, gives them authority, and sends them out. They weren’t to rely on their own resources, but on God’s provision and the hospitality of those they met. If rejected, they were to move on—not defeated, but with confidence that God’s mission continued.

The geography of Galilee helps us picture this. Around the Sea of Galilee, towns were closely connected by paths, roads, and of course, the lake itself. The disciples could cover a lot of ground quickly—sharing the good news widely, healing, and bringing hope to many communities.

And what was their message? The kingdom of God is at hand. This is one of the earliest Christian confessions, summed up in three words: Jesus is Lord. That truth was proclaimed, lived out, and carried forward until it became the heartbeat of the church.

Friends, here’s what strikes me: too often, we as Christians live as if Jesus might one day be king, instead of living in the truth that He is king right now. The kingdom of God is not some far-off dream. It’s present. It’s here. And just like the disciples, we are sent into our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and families to proclaim and embody that reality.

Imagine what would happen if we lived as though Jesus really is Lord—if we cast a wide net like He did, embracing the forgotten, the hurting, the ones on the margins. Imagine if we proclaimed the kingdom not just with words, but with our lives. That kind of faith could change our families, our communities—even turn the world upside down, just like in Acts.

And here’s the encouragement: we don’t go alone. The disciples went out two by two. We are part of the body of Christ, sent together, and filled with the authority of Jesus Himself. We are not powerless. We are not bound to defeat. Through Christ, we are more than conquerors.

So don’t live as if sin, fear, or despair have the final word. Live in the power of the risen Christ. Live in the authority He gives you. Live knowing that the kingdom of God is here, and Jesus is Lord.

Let’s go today with that hope, that courage, and that mission.

Thanks for joining me, friends. Have a wonderful day, and we’ll pick up again tomorrow in Luke’s Gospel.