Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'" The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail"—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— "that they may believe that the Lord , the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak." So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground." But Moses said to the Lord , "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord ? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs." - Exodus 4:1‭-‬17 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

God calls Moses and then immediately sends Moses. This is mirrored in Jesus' ministry. He calls the disciples and then says he will make them fishers of men. So it is with us. But instead of joy and excitement, God's people often react with reluctance. Here's three themes in this passage. Be

The fear of man

Moses is called to go to the nation of Israel. God says that the nation will listen to him, but Moses is still doubtful. Before the 40 years of herding animals in the desert, Moses had tried to lead this people and they had rejected him. They didn't respect him. The miracle of the snake staff was a symbol of Egypt. Egypt had a Cobra as it's symbol, but God is trying to say that He is more powerful than man. God controls not only Pharaoh, but even the nation of Egypt. God is bigger and stronger than any man.

Fear of our own shortcomings

Cockiness and brashness has no place in the service of God. We must know of own weakness in our own power. But we should not end there, we must remember the power of God. We can't focus so much on our weakness to forget of the power of God. The disciples were poor, uneducated fisherman. Moses had a stutter. Paul/Saul was a murderer of believers. Talk about the wrong skillset or irredeemable problems. But God uses these very ordinary people to further his kingdom. The staff of Moses was nothing special, but God uses it to do the miracle of the snake. God doesn't just use weak ordinary people, he seems to seek them out for his service.

Just unwilling

Moses finally comes down to the last bit of reluctance. He asks God to send someone else. Moses doesn't want to go. So it is with us. We don't want to go where God calls us. We don't want to minister to those people. We don't want to fully surrender. But God doesn't stop, God sends a helper with Moses... His brother, Aaron. God won't leave Moses to where he was. 

Jesus, the Sanhedrin, the crowd, & Pilate

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you." But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." And Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. - Mark 15:1‭-‬20 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The silence of Jesus

The religious leaders put Jesus on trial without due procedure and very unjust way. The Sanhedrin charged him with claiming to be God. The religious leaders wanted to put him to death, but they could not. The nation of Israel was under the rule of the Romans so death sentences could not be carried out without the Romans. Pontius Pilate was not Jewish; he could care less about religious squabbles. If anything at all, Pontius wanted nothing to do with executing Jesus. As the accusations were spun as high treason against Caesar, Jesus only commented upon the accusations. Jesus did not defend himself. 

Do not take Jesus' silence as accepting injustice. In this instance, Jesus was in the role of the silent sacrificial lamb of God. For us, silence in the face of evil is evil. We are called to point out injustice. The religious leaders were hardened in their stance and desire to have Jesus killed.  Jesus has done miracles and taught in the temples. Even if Jesus gave a water tight argument to them at this time, they would not have listened at all. So it would have been fruitless to argue.

The cry of the crowd

Pilate knew that there was no guilt in Jesus. There was a tradition for the Romans to release a single prisoner during this time of year. Pilate knew that the Sanhedrin was trying to kill Jesus out of jealousy. So Pilate brought out Barabbas, a known revolutionary and maybe even a murderer. The chief priests stirred up the crowd to their desire. Barabbas' name meant son of the father. Ironically, they choose the counterfeit son and rejected the real son of God. 

Perhaps the priests had stirred up the crowd, but in some way, the crowd also rejected Jesus. Loving your enemies is so much harder than fighting them and trying to kill them. The status quo of restoring the nation of Israel was so much more comfortable than accepting Jesus and this kingdom of heaven. 

So it is also with us. We may not cry aloud our rejection of Jesus, but do we not still reject Jesus? Our theology is so at odds with our day to day. We claim to follow Jesus but we chase after money, power, and comfort. Our actions speak of our rejection. Are we so different from the crowd?

Jesus delivered

Jesus was delivered to death so that we could be delivered from it. We, the ones guilty of cosmic insurrection, would find life while Jesus paid for our guilt. He was scourged by the Romans for us. This is the love of God for us. When we see this clearly, we will cry "away with my sin!" This hated of sin and all that distract us from Jesus will become a stench to us. We will run to Jesus and turn from the ugliness in us and in our desires.

Jesus is betrayed

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard." And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled." And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. - Mark 14:43‭-‬52 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Deception

Judas came while the disciples were still groggy. It is apparent to the reader by now who Judas is. But the text reminds us, Judas was one of the Twelve. Jesus was not married, so in terms of relationships, this is as close as they could get. Judas saw the ministry of Jesus, the same miracles, lived life together with the rest of the disciples. When Judas came with the armed crowd, it must've been a shock to the disciples. We associate Judas with betrayal, but that is not who he seemed to be. Judas was the keeper of the money bag. He was considered trustworthy, not apt to rash decisions. He was in the inner circle. Judas was ministered to by Jesus. Yet somehow, Judas was an unbeliever. 

So today, we should find this sobering. In our church, renewal presbyterian, there are unbelievers. Not just those who serve alongside us, but even church leaders. C.S. Lewis said there would be three surprises in heaven: 1) that we find ourselves there 2) who we find there with us 3) who we don't find there... Don't depend on that moment of initial conviction to carry us to salvation. Don't trust past service, spiritual office, or past good works. Live a lifestyle of faith and trust in Jesus. Today, live in faith where you are now. Judas looked like he was following Jesus, but he was known for stealing from the money bag. Judas was not driven by kingdom focus but by money. Judas was driven by worldly motivations. He looked outwardly like a believer, but was not. Judas did not take his guilt to God, he never repented.

Assimilation

Judas greeted Jesus with a kiss. This is appropriate in that day and age. That is how rabbis were greeted by their disciples. But consider another disciples, Peter, the rash one. He also betrayed Jesus, but in a different manner. Peter denied Jesus three times. When they came to grab Jesus, Peter grabbed his sword and injured the servant of the high priest. Peter was a believer, but he saw Jesus being seized and jumped to using the world's methods. Judas brought armed men because the religious leaders saw Jesus as the leader of a rebellion. Peter reacted with worldly methods, grabbing the sword. So it is today, many Christians grab the sword to defend the kingdom. But Jesus calls Peter to put away his sword. Kingdom methods are entirely different. 

Jesus heals the servant. Jesus rather than taking up a sword, goes under the sword. This is kingdom minded with kingdom methods. 

Naturalization

Jesus laid down his life to bring us into the kingdom of god. We are constantly bombarded with the world's values and methods. Kingdom values come to believers slowly but surely. We become slow to anger and quick to listen. We stand in the gap for others. As we become more and more citizens of heaven, we will become more alienated from the world. This is hard. There are two reactions that will come to us. First is to hit back at those who strike at us. Second is to hide from the world, to only hang out with Christians. But that is not what we should do. We should go to be alone with Jesus. He will remind us how he handled his enemies. How he brought us in while we were still his enemies. We will find His power to react with kingdom methods.

The garden

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch." And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." - Mark 14:32‭-‬42 ESV 

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Real Sorrow

The garden of gethsemane was an olive garden. Jesus and the disciples often visited this garden. There was likely an olive press on this garden, a very apt image. Tonight was a different night however. Judas was going to find Jesus here and betray Him. 

Jesus felt this night a sorrow and deep troubles. A darkness so deep that he felt like he was going to die. He was going to be physically tortured and killed. Jesus is not composed or stoic. But Jesus was not distraught over the physical pain and suffering, he prayed about God removing the cup. This cup was the wrath and fury of God. 

Jesus, the innocent one, who only knew the pleasure and love of God, was going to face the anger and punishment of God. Jesus was going to take on the sins of every person, the eternal punishment for the sins across many generations. This was why Jesus fell to ground in prayer. 

In seeing this, we can see how to relate to God honestly. Jesus, facing this horrible path, prayed to ask if God could provide another path. But not stopping there, Jesus prayed that not his will, but God's be done. So we can be honest when God brings us to difficult circumstances. We can pray in submission because Jesus went before us. Jesus gazed into the jaws of hell and said yes. Jesus saw the agony of hell and separation from God and picked that rather than an eternal separation from us. 

Real Weakness

This scene shows the weakness of the disciples. They fell asleep not once, not twice, but three times. They said they would not desert Jesus. They failed. Peter said he would not deny Jesus. He also failed. Very similarly, we say yes to ourselves and no to God. We say yes to fleeing pleasures and no to the joy of salvation. We say yes to our personal ambitions and dreams and no to the dreams and kingdom of God.

Real Power

Jesus had brought the disciples as his friends, but Jesus didn't do this for himself. He instructs the disciples to pray to be empowered. Jesus prayed so that he could be empowered, the very son of God. How much more do we, sinners, need God's help and empowerment? How much weaker are we than Jesus? 

There is a burning bush and in the Bible, it is not consumed. How is this so? So it should it be for Christians in this life. We can stand in suffering and in trouble and not be destroyed by the power of God in us. This is the power of God.

Not around the pain, but through it

Rev. Travis Drake

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same. - Mark 14:12‭-‬31 ESV 

Jesus sends the disciples out to find a man carrying a jug of water. This is a strange and very difficult task. They are in a city that is swelled with pilgrims and they are to find one man. He would be strange to be carrying water, but still a super hard task. It would have been supernatural to complete this task. Not only that, but Jesus said that they would find a larger upper room prepared and ready to go. And they found it as described.

This sets the expectations of a Passover unlike any other. There is a difference from other Passover meals they had attended, this is the first Communion. But then Jesus says that someone in this room would betray Him. The awkwardness of this meal would've been palpable. The disciples would've wondered who would do this, surely not I each would've thought.

The passover meal would consist of the following: Unleavened bread, a roasted lamb, a bowl of salt water, bitter herbs, and four cups of wine. The salt represented the tears and the bitter herbs represented the bitterness of slavery. The cups of wine represented the promises of God to the nation of Israel.

This is a set of scenes. Each one shows joy and pain in alternate fashion. The joy of passover, the darkness of betrayal. The introduction of a new passover observation, communion, followed by the pain of abandonment of Jesus by his disciples.

How would our lives look different, if we lived knowing that God will come to us in our pain, difficulties, and suffering?

Jesus shared this special meal with the disciples. He knew of their future failures. The upcoming betrayal and abandonment. He shared with those who were going to hurt him. He shared knowing this all. So it is with us, ready to sell Him out for a bit of entertainment, a bit of distraction, a little pleasure. We are ready to follow Him until he asks for something we can't or won't give up. Jesus comes with love seeing our wayward hearts and lives. He sees our brokenness and still draws near. He knows we don't deserve it, but still he hands us the bread, broken for you. He hands us the cup, poured out for you. He comes for us, even when it requires suffering for Him, because He wants to draw us near and love us still.

The woman with the alabaster jar

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people." And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.  And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."  Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. - Mark 14:1‭-‬11 ESV

Rev. Ryan Egli

The people at the temple who held the authority were seeking to kill Jesus not knowing that the temple was to be destroyed.

Men don't get it

Ryan wears glasses 90% of the time. But things sometimes get blurry. And it takes a bit to figure out that his glasses were so dirty. Back when he was younger, he didn't realize his vision was getting bad and he needed glasses. It wasn't until he got glasses and suddenly everything was in HD that he realized how much he was missing. So it is with the temple authorities. They needed spiritual glasses. The scribes, the chief priests, and the Pharisees all wanted Jesus dead, but they didn't want to disturb the Passover. We don't have a modern day equivalent. The city of Jerusalem swelled five or six times. This was a tense time and the men did not want to grab Jesus out in the open. They were afraid of a riot or uproar from the people. These men saw Jesus but they didn't see him for who he was. They sought to grab him by stealth and eliminate him quietly. Judas gave them that opportunity.

A woman does

In this passage, there is a woman who was clear eyed and went down to business immediately. She comes to a dinner party uninvited. Jesus is having dinner with Simon the leper. He didn't have leprosy at the time, but rather was formerly a leper. Women were not deemed very important. They suffered from poverty and were often excluded from many areas of public life. Many rabbinic teachings sought to exclude woman and cover them up... Even imprison them. But this woman comes to Jesus and breaks open this perfume over his feet. This isn't just any perfume. This was an expensive perfume worth 300 denarii or a years wages. This was a treasure, simply the best she had to offer.

The woman was rebuked by the men at the table. They spoke of how this perfume should've been sold and money given to the poor. They sneered at her. So this attitude is still found today among the religious today. They seek to silence a voice that they disagree with. She saw clearly, even more clear than the men at the table.

Jesus response

Jesus defends her. But not simply as an act of chivalry, defending a poor woman. He affirms that she was acting rightly. She was preparing him for his death and burial. He speaks prophetically that this woman would be remembered whenever the gospel was shared. 

Jesus is not dismissing the poor. The woman's action is right for this particular time and place. Jesus is no longer around to be anointed with costly perfume, but Christians should continue to care for the poor and to preach the gospel. 

Don't. Don't be like the temple authorities looking for power. Don't be like Judas selling friends out for money. Don't be like the dinner guests sneering at the woman. Don't abuse your power and spiritual authority for selfish gain and sinful desires.

Be like the woman in loving on Jesus with your best. 

Be on guard and stay awake

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. "But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. - Mark 13:1‭-‬13‭, ‬24‭-‬31 ESV 

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This passage is often called the olivet discourse. Jesus is sitting at the mount of olives across from the temple of Jerusalem. One of the disciples comments on the beautiful temple. Jesus prophesies that everything around them would be destroyed. The temple was so central to their lives that they could not imagine a life without the temple. To lose the temple would be like losing the sun, it would be the end of the world. But this was not true. 75 years after Jesus, the Romans would come and level the entire city. This was an act of God's judgement on Israel. This passage is considered a very difficult one to interpret because it describes both the end of the temple as well as the end of the world as we know it. Jesus speaks of both and makes it hard to know which one he is talking about.

Brave yourselves for trouble

In response to the disciples question of the destruction of the temple and end of days, Jesus responds that we should beware of false teachers. He also speaks of warring nations and he calls these "the beginning of the birth pains." Why does Jesus tell us this? Jesus wants us to brace for trouble. He is trying to correct us. We see many troubling things this past year. Pandemic, natural disasters, rumors of war, and rioting may make us think that Jesus is coming back. Jesus calls this labor pains. Contractions come in waves. The baby doesn't come in the first contraction. It can be hours before the baby is delivered. This is how labor works. But Jesus is setting expectations for us, we should expect trouble. Not just the general suffering of this world, but trouble because we bear witness and proclaim the name of Jesus. The book of Acts speaks of this, but this trouble is not limited to just that time period. We were chosen out of the world and the world will hate us. God saves by grace through faith. This gospel message is foolishness and offensive to the world, both the religious and irreligious. Some may embrace being offensive, but we are not called to that. The message is offensive, but we need not add anything more offensive to it. Some, perhaps our congregation leans this way, tries to not offend at all. They point to other Christians as crazy. They are afraid to share the gospel in whole for fear of offending rather than concern for the souls of our neighbors. 

Be on guard & stay awake

There will be false messiahs, false prophets, and even miracles that point away from Jesus. There's even an antichrist. We think that we won't be led astray, but Jesus brings it up because it is a serious issue for believers. False teachers sound right, use the right words/phases, but are in error in serious ways. It won't be readily apparent, but a serious error will steer us wrong a little at a time away from Jesus and the way of life. We are called to understand the word and be wise & discerning.

We are also called to stay awake. Jesus is returning and we don't know when. If someone claims to know when Jesus will return, they are a false prophet. What does it mean to fall asleep? It means to live like this life is all there is. It's like getting an Airbnb then shopping for that rental and looking for landscaping for that rental. It's absurd, but that's what it means to fall asleep. We are to be about the kingdom of God. Either making new disciples or building up believers... That sums up the life purpose of a believer. Everything we do should fall under these things. This is not just the job of overseas missionaries. The church is to be fishers of men, rather than keepers of the aquarium. Reaching people for Christ and raising up believers is what we are called to. 

This may be overwhelming. On top of everything else that is going on right now. Why, Dwight, why are you piling on more? Because it is good for us. We may reach the end of our wisdom, willpower, skills, etc. We may find how much we need God for this work. It is by enduring that we will receive from God.