It's Time to Go: From Learning to Living Out Your Faith

There's a powerful progression in the life of faith that many of us miss. We spend years learning, studying, attending classes, building relationships within our church community—and all of this is good and necessary. But there comes a moment when God says something that changes everything: "It's time to go."

The Pattern Jesus Established
The Gospel of Matthew reveals a beautiful pattern in Jesus' ministry. In chapters 5 through 7, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His disciples how to live. He lays out the principles, the values, the kingdom way of being in the world. But He doesn't stop there.

In chapters 8 and 9, Jesus does something crucial—He demonstrates everything He just taught. He cleanses lepers, heals the paralyzed, calms storms, casts out demons, restores sight to the blind, and gives speech to the mute. He shows His disciples that faith isn't just theoretical; it's intensely practical.

Then comes chapter 10, where Jesus does something that should both thrill and terrify us: He tells His disciples to do what they've seen Him do.

Authority Given, Mission Assigned
"And He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction" (Matthew 10:1).

Notice the sequence: Jesus calls, then He gives authority, then He sends. God never calls us to do something without equipping us for it. When God calls you to a task, He provides the ability to accomplish it. The power doesn't come from our training, our personality, or our experience—it comes from Him.

No One Is Excluded
Look at the list of the twelve apostles in Matthew 10:2-4. What a diverse group! There's Peter the extrovert and Andrew, simply known as "his brother." There's James and John, whose mother had to advocate for them. There's Philip and Bartholomew, about whom we know almost nothing. There's Thomas, forever labeled as the doubter. There's Matthew, the hated tax collector. There's Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the betrayer.

Different personalities. Different backgrounds. Different levels of faith. Different reputations.
Yet every single one was called. Every single one was sent. No one was excluded. No one was left behind. No one was given an excuse.

What does this mean for us? It means your name is on the list too. You might think you're not outgoing enough, not knowledgeable enough, not spiritual enough. You might think people hate you for your past. You might feel like the add-on, the sidekick, the one nobody notices.

None of that matters. If you call yourself a Christian, you are called to go.

The Simple Message
Jesus gave His disciples clear instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Matthew 10:5-7).

Notice the simplicity of the message. This isn't complicated theology. This isn't a PhD dissertation. It's a simple proclamation: the kingdom of heaven is near.

You don't need a master's degree to share Jesus. You just need to open your mouth and say, "Can I tell you about Jesus?"

Eyes Like Jesus
Jesus told His disciples to go to "the lost sheep." These were people who were harassed, helpless, stumbling through life without direction—like sheep without a shepherd.

Who in your life fits that description? Who do you know that's just flopping through life like a fish out of water because they don't have Jesus? When you look at them with compassion rather than judgment, you begin to see with Jesus' eyes.

This is where mission begins—not with a program or a strategy, but with compassion for the lost.

The Grocery Store Gospel
Mission isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it starts with a simple "hello."

Think about the cashier at the grocery store, standing there for hours: beep, beep, beep. Miserable. Mechanical. Going through the motions.

What if you said, "Are you having a super fantastic day?" That might get their attention. They might smile. They might even laugh. And in that moment, you've done something significant—you've reminded another human being that they matter.

Then you can say, "You know what? I bet you'd like my church. We meet on Sundays. You should check it out."

In three seconds, you've gone from a transaction to a meaningful interaction. You've planted a seed. You've shown a glimpse of Jesus.

It really can be that simple.

Trust, Don't Prepare
Jesus told His disciples not to take extra supplies for the journey—no bag, no extra tunic, no sandals, no staff. Why? Because He wanted them to trust that God would provide.

We can't prepare for every scenario. We can't script every conversation. We can't anticipate every need. But we can trust that when God opens a door, He'll give us what we need to walk through it.

When They Say No
"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town" (Matthew 10:14).

Not everyone will receive the message. Not everyone is ready. And that's not your responsibility.

Your job isn't to be the Holy Spirit. Your job isn't to convict people of sin or soften hard hearts. Your job is simply to share Jesus and let God do the rest.

Don't carry the burden of rejection. Don't let one "no" stop you from sharing with the next person. Shake off the dust and keep going.

The Urgency of the Gospel
Here's the sobering reality: if we all died today, statistically, some would go to heaven and some would go to hell. The difference isn't good works or good intentions—it's whether or not someone has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

All have sinned. All are separated from God. All are headed toward judgment. But Jesus offers a solution—the only solution. He offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life to all who believe.

This is why we go. This is why we share. This is why we can't stay silent.

It's Time
Jesus told us what to do. He demonstrated what to do. He prepared us and commanded us to go do it.

You are not excused from this command. You may be new in your faith or mature. You may be introverted or extroverted. You may feel equipped or inadequate.

None of that changes the call.

It's time to get out of the nest. It's time to spread your wings and fly. Jesus has prepared you for this.

How will you share Jesus this week?

The world is waiting. The harvest is plentiful. And your name is on the list.

It's time to go.