The Invitation of Emmanuel and The Lifestyle That Changes Cities (Part 1 of 5)
An Invitation Into Luke 10 Living: A Journey Into Blessing, Building, Meeting Needs & Sharing Jesus
On this Christmas Day, we pause to remember the miracle that reshaped all of history — Jesus Christ stepping into our world not as a distant king but as Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The God who created the universe chose to draw near, to take on flesh, to walk among ordinary people, to sit at ordinary tables, and to speak hope into ordinary lives.
And His nearness was never meant to be admired from afar. It was meant to be experienced — and then extended. The same Jesus who came close to us now invites us to come close to others. The incarnation is not only something we celebrate; it is something we participate in. As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus now sends us (John 20:21). The God who moved into our neighborhood now calls us to carry His presence into ours.
This is the heart of Luke 10.
It is Christmas lived out.
It is Emmanuel expressed through our everyday rhythms.
When Jesus sends out the seventy-two, He is continuing the very mission that began in Bethlehem: God reaching the world through humble people who simply say yes. Ordinary men and women, filled with extraordinary presence, extending peace, offering relationship, meeting needs, and revealing the nearness of the Kingdom.
So as we begin this five-part journey, hear the beautiful echo of Christmas in it:
God came near — and now through you, He comes near to others.
This lifestyle isn’t reserved for pastors or missionaries; it’s the joyful invitation extended to every believer. Emmanuel with us becomes Emmanuel with them through us.
My prayer today is that Christmas would reawaken our hearts to the wonder of being sent — not alone, not unprepared, but carried by the same Presence that came to us in a manger. Jesus is still Emmanuel. And through His Spirit, He is still inviting us to participate with Him in the healing and transforming of the world.
When Scripture Doesn’t Just Speak — It Sends You
Every once in a while, we encounter a passage in Scripture that doesn’t just inspire us but actually moves us. It pulls us into God’s heart and reveals something about who we are meant to be. Luke 10:1–9 is one of those passages. In it, Jesus sends out seventy-two ordinary disciples — not the Twelve, not the spiritual elite, not trained evangelists. Just regular men and women who had simply said “yes” to Him. And He sends them out two-by-two into the very places He Himself was planning to visit.
Something about this strikes me deeply: Jesus didn’t need them to be impressive. He simply wanted them to be available. This is the same Jesus who chose fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary tradesmen. The same Jesus who said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Please note this, He never asked them to make themselves qualified — He promised to transform them as they followed.
Let’s be honest, and please consider if you’ve ever felt a pull to step into something big that God is leading you to, but feel apprehensive or even totally frozen by the magnitude of it because “you’re not qualified”? Have you found yourself telling God that you’ll step into that one assignment as soon as you do “xyz” to help you “prepare for it”. Do you feel a sense of hesitation at the possibility of being rejected or unsure of how people will receive you (or Jesus)? Friend, you’re not alone! But remember this, Jesus promised you and I that HE would transform us as we followed Him. That means you and I, right in the middle of our daily routines, are also invited into His mission.
Whether we feel prepared or not, whether we work in ministry or not, whether we see ourselves as leaders or not — the simple truth remains: Jesus loves to send ordinary people into extraordinary moments. We are all His ambassadors, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:20, carrying His message of reconciliation into our world.
Luke 10 reminds us that ministry was never meant to be confined to pulpits, platforms, or mission fields. It was always meant to be lived out in the streets, homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods where real people live and carry real burdens. Jesus sends the 72 into everyday life — and He still sends us the same way today.
Four Simple Steps, One World-Changing Pattern
Let’s examine Luke 10:1-9:
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
“‘When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
“‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, “The kingdom of God is near you.”’”
Within Jesus’ instructions in Luke 10, a simple rhythm emerges — one that any believer can live out without changing their schedule or title. From this passage come the four steps of the “Luke-10-lifestyle”:
Bless.
Build Relationships.
Meet Needs.
Tell About Jesus.
These steps reflect the heart of Jesus' ministry. He blessed people with His peace (John 20:21). He built relationships everywhere He went — with tax collectors, with the hurting, with the overlooked (Luke 19:1–10). He met needs with compassion, whether through healing, feeding, or simply listening (Mark 10:51, Matthew 14:14). And He boldly shared the truth of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15).
What I love about this rhythm is its simplicity. It is accessible. It requires no stage, no microphone, and no special credentials. Just a willing heart. Just eyes to see people the way Jesus sees them. Just openness to the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live out what we cannot do in our own strength (Acts 1:8).
You don’t need to be a pastor to bless someone.
You don’t need to be a missionary to build relationships with people far from God.
You don’t need to be a theologian to meet a need.
And you certainly don’t need to be a polished speaker to share Jesus.
You simply begin where you already are.
This is the slow, steady, relational way the Kingdom grows. It’s why Jesus used parables of seeds, yeast, and lamps — small things that change everything when they are simply present (Matthew 13:31–33, Matthew 5:14–16).
Why Luke 10 Matters More Today Than Ever
Our world is hungry for real connection — and real hope. People are carrying invisible burdens. They’re exhausted, lonely, and spiritually thirsty. Even those who seem put-together on the outside often feel fractured within. In this cultural moment, many are not looking for a debate or a sermon; they’re longing for someone who will see them, listen to them, and bring peace into their lives.
Jesus knew this. It is why His first instruction to the 72 was simply, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house’” (Luke 10:5). Peace opens doors that arguments never will. Paul echoes this in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Imagine what could happen if believers became known as people who carried peace into every room, every meeting, every conversation. Imagine what could shift in our communities if we lived out Philippians 4:5, letting our gentleness be evident to all. Imagine the impact on families, schools, workplaces, and streets if we brought the peace of Christ — not anxiety but peace, not division but unity, not desperation but confidence — into daily interactions.
This is why “Luke-10-living” matters right now. Not because the world needs louder Christians, but because the world needs Christlike Christians — tender-hearted, Spirit-sensitive, slow to judge, and quick to bless. The harvest is still plentiful, Jesus says, but the workers are few (Luke 10:2). And those workers look a lot like you and me.
What’s Coming in This 4-Part Series
To help us walk this out, the next few blogs will explore each of these steps in depth — not in theory, but in ways you can begin practicing right now, right where you are.
Blog 2 — “Start With Peace: The Transforming Power of Blessing”
We’ll look at what it means to release God’s peace over people and places, quietly or boldly, and why blessing is the doorway to every other step.
Blog 3 — “Stay a While: How Relationships Become Kingdom Pathways”
We’ll explore how Jesus intentionally built trust, why relationships are central to transformation, and how God highlights “persons of peace” in our lives.
Blog 4 — “Love Looks Like Something: Meeting Needs the Jesus Way”
We’ll talk about compassion in action — how meeting emotional, practical, or spiritual needs softens hearts and reveals God’s love.
Blog 5 — “When the Moment Comes: Sharing Jesus With Humility and Courage”
We’ll learn how to sense God’s timing, how to share your faith naturally, and how simple conversations can become sacred moments.
Each step grows from the one before it. Blessing opens doors. Relationships build trust. Meeting needs builds credibility and compassion. And sharing Jesus flows naturally from a life that looks like Him.
This Isn’t a Program — It’s a Posture
When Jesus sent the 72, He wasn’t giving them a checklist — He was giving them a lifestyle. A way of showing up in the world that reflects His heart. This lifestyle is not about striving or spiritual performance; it’s about abiding. Jesus said in John 15:5, “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
The fruit comes from remaining.
The impact comes from being with Him.
The boldness comes from walking in His Spirit.
So we step into ”Luke-10-living” not to impress God, but to walk with Him. Not to win souls by force, but to love people through presence. Not to check off spiritual boxes, but to carry the Kingdom wherever our feet touch (Isaiah 52:7).
Anyone can do this. Every believer is invited. Every believer is equipped. Every believer is sent.
A Prayer as We Begin
As we begin this four-part journey, my prayer for you is simple: “Lord, awaken our hearts to the beauty of being sent. Open our eyes to the people around us. Teach us to bless, to slow down, to build relationships, to meet needs with compassion, and to speak the name of Jesus with love and courage. Make our everyday lives holy ground — and make us people who carry Your peace wherever we go.”
I’m excited to walk through this together. The lifestyle Jesus describes in Luke 10 is not only doable — it’s transformational. And as we say yes to it, I believe we’ll see God move through us in ways we never expected in the circles of influence He has placed us in - family, church, workplace, community, etc.
Grace and Peace,
Paola
By Paola Hall, Therismos Gospel Project | Preserved International