Ok, so I know that when most people think of missions, they think of a 10 day trip to some needy part of the world where teens or other groups engage in construction , VBS, and church services. Or they think of a full-time missionary who moves to a foreign country who plants churches, drills wells, and translates the Bible. And, I must confess these are the ways I used to think of missions. Now it is true that these things are all very much a part of missions, however, this isn't all that mission is.
Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20 are the verses (or a few of the verses) I will use to define missions. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
What these verses tell me is that as missionaries we are to make disciples of all people groups; teaching them all things in scripture. (This includes Old and New Testament. John 1; Matthew 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Also Mark 16:15-16 makes clear that discipling includes teaching the gospel and that not all people will accept it. Now the verse in Acts tells us that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do this and that we are to do it wherever we are. This means in our home, town and in the surrounding towns, cities, and states and everywhere God sends us.
Now according to the patterns of scripture, I don't believe that the work of sharing the gospel, discipling, and baptizing is limited to just sharing word, doing the action of baptizing or even just planting churches. Nor do I believe that it is limited to people outside of your family. I believe that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is incorporated into this command. I believe that this command incorporates everything from serving the people of God, and giving to them so that their time and money is freed up to do God's work -- to serving others and loving them to build a relationship with them that prepares the way (softens their hearts) for the gospel.
It also includes serving and discipling your family. Now I don't believe that serving others or giving money is an end-all. I don't believe that we can just give money or time and serve people and say we're fulfilling the Great Commission unless it is coupled with sharing the Gospel and God's Word. We have each been given a personal responsibility to share Christ and His Word with all people. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." This means that not only are we to conduct ourselves well before men but we are all called as well to give an explanation of our faith.
Romans 10:11-15 “As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
In His Service, Sommer Wagner
Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20 are the verses (or a few of the verses) I will use to define missions. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
What these verses tell me is that as missionaries we are to make disciples of all people groups; teaching them all things in scripture. (This includes Old and New Testament. John 1; Matthew 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Also Mark 16:15-16 makes clear that discipling includes teaching the gospel and that not all people will accept it. Now the verse in Acts tells us that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do this and that we are to do it wherever we are. This means in our home, town and in the surrounding towns, cities, and states and everywhere God sends us.
Now according to the patterns of scripture, I don't believe that the work of sharing the gospel, discipling, and baptizing is limited to just sharing word, doing the action of baptizing or even just planting churches. Nor do I believe that it is limited to people outside of your family. I believe that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is incorporated into this command. I believe that this command incorporates everything from serving the people of God, and giving to them so that their time and money is freed up to do God's work -- to serving others and loving them to build a relationship with them that prepares the way (softens their hearts) for the gospel.
It also includes serving and discipling your family. Now I don't believe that serving others or giving money is an end-all. I don't believe that we can just give money or time and serve people and say we're fulfilling the Great Commission unless it is coupled with sharing the Gospel and God's Word. We have each been given a personal responsibility to share Christ and His Word with all people. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." This means that not only are we to conduct ourselves well before men but we are all called as well to give an explanation of our faith.
Romans 10:11-15 “As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
In His Service, Sommer Wagner