Wanted: Missionaries

Wanted: Missionaries December 28, 2008

Missionaries are Called Acts 26:15-19; Gal. 2:6-10

Last week we read about Paul being entrusted with monetary relief for the Jewish Christians sent from the Gentile Christians. These passages are about Paul defending himself to King Agrippa on his return to Jerusalem. Paul knew before he went to Jerusalem that it was a dangerous trip for him. His focus was on the welfare of the Jewish Christians instead of his own.

• What mission situations cause you to fear?

Paul also speaks of God calling him to take the gospel to the Gentiles just as Peter was called for the Jews. Paul was called to leave his fields while Peter worked within his. Another example of how some are called to leave their homes and travel to other fields to witness and some are called to witness at home. Regardless of where you are called, you are called to be a witness for Christ.

• How would you respond if you felt God calling you to leave your field to serve Him? http://going.imb.org provides information about International missions.

Missionaries are Commissioned Acts 13: 1-3

These verses speak of a local church, like View Acres, who the Holy Spirit spoke to. Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were to be set apart for the work they had been called for. In an act of obedience the church prayed and laid hands on Barnabas and Paul and sent them off.

• Is this a familiar scene to you? Why do we lay hands on and pray for those in our church who are called and go out?

Missionaries are Connected Acts 14:26-27

After everything they had been through, Paul & Barnabas came back home. Notice that they didn’t tell of the things they had done, they reported everything God had done with them and the door of faith God had opened to the Gentiles.

• We need to always remember to report what God has done through us, not what we have done.

• Why is it important to both the missionary and the church for the church to hear about how God is using the missionary?

One way to connect is through the Acts 1:8 Challenge at www.ActsOne8.com

• Pray and watch for the doors of opportunity God provides through you this week.

Your Mission Involvement

Romans 15:23-28

Paul offers a beautiful example of how God uses each of us to complete His plan for each of us.

Paul is ministering to the needs of the Jewish Christians by delivering relief offered by the Gentile Christians who have been touched by the Jewish Christians for Christ. While doing this he writes to the Christians in Rome for their support. He desires to travel to Spain to reach the people there for Christ. He wishes to see the Romans on his way and asks for their prayer but also for workers to travel with him to Spain.

Paul, one person, is serving four different people groups who may or may not ever meet each other. As we go through our day we witness, one way or another, to people we may never meet.

How many of you have heard of “The Six Degrees of Separation?” It is the idea that if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six “steps” away from each person on earth. As we witness to one person it creates a chain effect to reach people in infinate proportions. We do not know when our witness to one person is designed to reach a person six steps away from us that we may never meet. Our job is to simply be a witness for Christ.

Matthew 9:35-38

Examples of Jesus -
Jesus told his disciples to pray for workers
Jesus met both spiritual and physical needs
Jesus felt compassion for the crowds of people

Do we pray for workers?
Do we strive to meet spiritual and physical needs? Which is easier?
Do we feel compassion for the crowds of people?
How does God work through praying Christians? Can anyone tell me a prayer request that has been answered?

Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission

The Great Commission gives us assurance because Jesus has all authority. He is in control of all things – we don’t have to be.

Our mission is to make disciples. To go means to be deliberate, to have purpose. We are to go, make disciples in our daily walk with those whom we come in contact while we pray and provide support for those called to serve elsewhere. We should never neglect either mission field, home or abroad. We should be available always to offer ourselves where God needs us most.

Jesus promised “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Considering who is in control (Jesus) and our responsibility (to be available and respond to God’s calling), how do you feel about fulfilling The Great Commission now?