Biblical Missions

Introduction:  Neither the word missions nor the word missionary is found in the Bible.  Yet, it is difficult to read through Acts or Paul’s epistles without seeing its practice on every page.  Mission comes from the Latin word missio and means a sending or sending away.  A mission is defined as a sending out with authority to perform a special duty.

1. THE SENDING OF A MISSIONARY (Acts 13:3-4)
1. Sent by the Church (Acts 13:3)
2. Sent by the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:4)
2. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Responsible to God
2. Responsible to the Church (Acts 14:26-28)
3. Responsible to the People (1 Corinthians 15:34)
3. THE WORK OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Their Biblical Duty
1. To preach
1. Message
1. The word of God (Acts 13:5)
2. The gospel (Acts 14:7)
3. Turn from vanities unto the living God (Acts 14:15; Acts 26:17-18)
2. Location (Acts 20:20)
1. Synagogue  (Religious Establishment)
2. Publicly  (Public Ministry)
3. House to House  (One on One and Discipleship)
2. To warn the lost (Acts 20:31)
3. To baptize believers
1. This can be done by the missionary (1 Corinthians 1:14-16)
2. Though this is not the purpose of the missionary (1 Corinthians 1:17)
4. To teach the saved (Acts 18:11; Acts 20:20-27)
5. To ordain elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5)
6. To establish churches (Acts 14:23)
7. To confirm the churches (Acts 15:40-41; Acts 16:5)
2. A Confusion of Their Duty
1. Much of the mission work done in our day is for the social welfare of man rather than the spiritual welfare of man.
2. This is largely based on a misapplication of Matthew 25:34-40.
4. THE SUPPORT OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Supported by His Work
1. If a missionary can work in the field to which he has been called there could be some benefit to him doing so.
2. Paul was able and willing to do some work to make some necessary money (Acts 18:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9)
2. Supported by Churches
1. Concerning the church at Philippi (Philippians 4:10-12)
2. Concerning the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:9)
3. Concerning the church at Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9)
3. Biblical Concept for the One Ministering Locally (2 Corinthians 11:7-8)
1. Paul makes a point that the way things ought to be done is for the church to which the man is ministering to support the man.
2. Should be supported by the church he is ministering to.  This would be the equivalent of the national pastors of our day.  They should be obtaining the support from their local congregation.
3. Anytime a local church is planted it ought to be taught how to support their pastor.

Conclusion:  If we are going to be Bible-believers then we have to be willing to submit our doctrine and our practice to the authority of the scriptures.  In doing so, we will seem strange to some, but we will be pleasing to the Lord.  This is our foremost goal anyway.