First Presbyterian Church
647 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44304-1684
330-434-5183

Food for Thought: Go With a Blessing (Send)

From the "Acts 3:15 " series...

Dr. Mark Ruppert

John 20:19-21

Have you ever had the experience where you were going to be going somewhere whether it was for a short or long time and you were sent with a blessing? Not that I relish the fact that we do it here at our church but when a member or, if it is a family is moving away to another part of God’s creation on their last Sunday, and this is only if they are open to it, I will bring them forward at the end of the service for a farewell blessing. I still remember the day I was to go off to Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and I stood in my parents’ kitchen and my Mom, Dad, Grandmother and Brother and I joined hands, formed a circle and we prayed and they gave me their blessing.

When men and women are ordained in the Presbyterian Church we bring them forward and lay hands on them and pray over them and give them our blessing as they embark on their ministry as a church leader. Let me stop right here and ask you, have you ever blessed anyone? Have you ever given a blessing to your child, or someone you care for and love? Maybe that is something to think about this week. Is there someone that I know who could really use a blessing from me so that perhaps my encouraging them in a way might minister to that person and empower that person in their daily walk? Something to think about, Aye?

Here in our passage today we find the resurrected Christ appearing to the disciples in a room where they had met before. It is very possible that it was that same Upper Room where they had gathered prior to Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion to celebrate the Last Supper.

Only this time the scriptures tell us it was the evening of the resurrection day and the doors of the house where locked, another translation says they were “closed”. Why? Out of fear that the Jewish leaders would search them out and come and take them away, just as they had Jesus. Can you imagine the fear that the disciples felt at that particular time?

Let me just stop right here and offer this observation with a contemporary twist. How often do you the think the contemporary church finds itself behind its closed doors, living in fear, being ineffective and living on the wrong side of the resurrection? Churches that are afraid to try something new or are afraid that they might fail in their attempt and so they do nothing? Fearful to attempt a new ministry and so the opportunity is missed. Do you ever think the modern day church finds itself locked behind closed doors because the problems seem so overwhelming and so immense and all the talk about Jesus seems so useless? So what else can we do but hide away in the sanctuary and talk about how bleak the situation looks?

Ah, but Jesus came to the disciples and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” This was no fly by night visit on the part of Jesus. He was coming to them to assure them that He would be with them forever. Look at Jesus’ greeting to the disciples. He says, “Peace be with you.” Now this was much more than a familiar greeting. Jesus offering to them the gift of peace was the fruit of salvation He had won on the cross. When He showed them His the nail prints in His hands and the scar on His side where both the blood and water came out of Him, Jesus at that moment was the “visible evidence of the victory He shares with them in His peace.” ( The Communicator’s Commentary, John, R. Fredrikson, p. 286) And after Jesus offers them the gift of peace He says to them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

It has been said that these words, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” are the “ Charter of the Church”. Jesus is blessing His disciples and He is commissioning them to continue on with His mission to a lost and hurting world. There is a parallel for just as God the Father sent Jesus on His mission so now Jesus is sending them out on their mission. Now it is the turn of the disciples who must conduct themselves in perfect obedience “just as’ Jesus has done in being sent by the Father. This statement by Jesus is the commission and constitution of the community of believers. It is your commission it is my commission.

This morning we come to the 6 th and final Defining Practice of Transformational Ministry. We have previously discussed Witness, Prayer, Care, Word, With-Me and today we come to Send. Jesus sent out His first followers and He has been doing so ever since. Do you know that for the Christian that is part of our mission in life? But what does it mean to be sent?

Let me share some thoughts with you about the Defining Practice of Sending. First, every believer is in ministry on behalf of Jesus Christ. Let me ask you, if we do not take responsibility and engage in ministry on behalf of Jesus Christ and if every Christian had the attitude, “let someone else do it” where would the Church be? How about DEAD! The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4 that pastors and teachers are to “prepare God’s people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:12 tells us that every Christian is in ministry to build up the body of Christ which is the church. That is why I have been impressed with churches that have as you enter the sanctuary the words on top of the doors, “Enter to Worship” and when you leave the sanctuary above the doors are these words, “Exit to serve”. Every believer is in ministry on behalf of Christ.

Second, we need to encourage and help people discover their talents, spiritual gifts and interests for ministry. We need to encourage people and help them find their place to serve Christ and His people so that they are blessed through their acts of service and that those they serve are blessed. At the end of the last Adult Inquirer’s Class we offered a class where we discussed Spiritual Gifts in order to help believers get in touch with the spiritual gift or gifts they have been given. And if, as a Christian, you do not know your spiritual gift or gifts let me know and we’ll address it.

And finally, SENDING means we send people to THEIR ministry in home, school, workplace and in the church and community. Why do we do this? In order to apply the other 5 Defining Practices of Transformational Ministry were we are engaged in witness, prayer, care, imparting the Word of God, and being with others in order for them to “pursue the passion for ministry God has given [us] with the spiritual gifts and resources that God has given [us].” ( The Acts 16:5 Initiative, Volume 1, Stan Ott, p. 3-7)

Jesus sent those first follows into a hostile world to continue His transforming work and they did it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and because they believed in their cause and who Jesus was, the went out into the world and they turned the world upside down. As Christians, we are Christ’s “sent-ones” who have work to do. And it is going to take all of us. All of us. We have a message of hope that the world desperately needs to hear. God will equip you, God will enable you, God will give you the words to say. Just constantly be reminded and engage the second Defining Principle, which is PRAYER, and the fourth Defining Principle, which is Word. Prayer and the Word of God will never let you down.

Key Points

Introduction: Have you ever been sent somewhere with a blessing?

Our passage from John

Possibly the Upper Room

Behind locked or closed doors

Jesus appears

Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”- these words are the ________ of the Church

Our sixth Defining Practice of Transformational Ministry- SEND

First, every believer is in ministry on ________ of Jesus

Ephesians 4:12

Second, we need to encourage and help people discover their ______, ______ gifts and _______ for ministry

Finally, SENDING means we send people to _____ ministry in home, school, workplace and in the church and community

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)