What would you do if God asked you to step out with nothing but the clothes on your back and a task to accomplish? No money, no food, no safety net — just a word and a promise. That is precisely what Jesus asked of His twelve apostles, and what He wanted them to discover on the other side was far more valuable than any provision they could have packed.
Key Scripture: Mark 6:1-13
Cultural Christian or Committed Disciple?
Leon Pretorius opens with a pointed question that cuts close to home in the South African context: if you asked most people around you whether they are Christians, the majority would say yes without hesitation. Yet Jesus draws a sharp line between cultural familiarity with Christianity and genuine discipleship — between knowing about Him and actually coming under His authority. A disciple, Leon reminds us, is someone who says, ‘Lord, you tell me how to live.’ That posture changes everything.
Stripped of Provisions, Taught to Trust
When Jesus sent the Twelve out in pairs with no bread, no bag, and no money, He was not laying down a permanent rule for ministry. He was teaching one profound lesson: God is with you, and He will take care of you. As Luke 22:35 confirms, when Jesus later asked them whether they had lacked anything on that journey, the answer was nothing. Every need had been met.
Leon is careful to show that this was a unique, once-off assignment. Paul worked with his own hands, carried provisions, and still trusted God completely — as 1 Thessalonians 2:9 makes clear. The principle is not ‘never plan ahead’; it is ‘whatever your circumstances, God is sovereign and sufficient.’
Faithful to the Message, Free from the Results
The second guiding principle Leon draws out is equally liberating: our responsibility is to give the gospel faithfully; the results belong to God. Where a town refused to listen, Jesus did not tell His disciples to argue, pressure, or fight. He told them to shake the dust from their feet and move on. There is an urgency to the gospel, but also a humility — we are messengers, not judges.
This matters deeply for how we share faith with family, neighbours, and colleagues. Rejection is not failure; it was part of Jesus’ own experience in His hometown in Mark 6:1-6. We are called to be consistent with His character — kind, patient, and gentle — while leaving the outcome firmly in His hands.
All Things, Not Some Things
Leon closes with Romans 8:28 — not as a tidy comfort, but as a genuine anchor. Whatever hard thing God has allowed into your life right now, He is working it together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That is the same trust Jesus wanted the Twelve to discover on the road with empty pockets, and it is the same trust He invites every disciple to practise today.
Watch the Full Sermon
There is much more in Leon’s full walk through Mark 6:1-13 — including a pastoral and careful look at the use of oil in verse 13 and what James 5:14 actually calls us to. Watch the full sermon to let these truths settle deeply into how you trust God and share His gospel this week.
Plan Your Visit
New to the area or looking for a church home? You’re warmly welcome at Grace Fellowship Sasolburg. We gather Sundays at 09:30 at 26 Koeberg Street, Vaalpark, Sasolburg — come as you are, and we’d love to meet you.