The Model of Matthew 9

In the video for this lesson, Pastor McVey looks at Jesus’ ministry in Matthew 9:35-10:42. Jesus did go to the “cities” of Galilee and of course he went to Jerusalem, the largest city in Israel. However, these cities would be smaller towns compared to the cities of our day. The Gospels never record Jesus going to Sepphoris or Tiberius, the larger cities of Galilee. Instead, his ministry was almost entirely rural.

We have several stories of Jesus in Capernaum, and today you can actually visit the ruins of a church there that was possibly built on the site of Peter’s own home (cf. Mark 1:21-34). It was perhaps a city of 1500 people located on 10-15 acres. Matthew says most of Jesus’ miracles were done in Bethsaida (Matt. 11:20-21). It was a village of less than 1000 people. Many of his sermons weren’t even done in a town but in the countryside (like the Sermon on the Mount).

Matthew 9:35 says that Jesus went through these towns and villages preaching the good news. After all, the good news was and is for everyone. As Pastor McVey emphasizes, Jesus saw everyone in those villages. Jesus was a “pastor” who got to know people.

Pastor Steve McVey issues a challenge to those of you out there whom God might be calling to rural ministry. A rural setting is a place where you really get to know people. Rural churches are churches where everyone knows everyone, not just those in the church but those outside the church and those who go to other churches in the area.

He also notes that rural churches are opportunities to minister to the whole person. Rarely is there the highly differentiated staff that a large church might have. The pastor is on call for total ministry in a rural setting. Pastor McVey shared how real issues like drug use and poverty can be in rural places that are less likely to have safety nets or opportunities. 

He issues the challenge. Some may view pastoring a small, rural church as a stepping stone to something better. Those in rural churches might wonder if you are just passing through as their pastor, aiming for a career at a larger church. But might God be calling you into rural ministry… for the long haul, for a lifetime?