Call of missionaries

The call to all God’s people

Ps 96:2–3; Mt 28:19

See also Mk 16:15; Jn 20:21; Ac 1:8

Missionaries in the OT

Those sent to their own people

Isaiah 6:8–10 ESV

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

See also 2 Pe 2:5 Noah; Je 2:1–4 Jeremiah’s ministry extended further but was primarily to his own people, Judah; Eze 2:3 Ezekiel

Those sent to other peoples

2 Ki 17:27–28 A priest from Samaria returns to teach the resettled population about the Lord.

God’s servant is to bring salvation to the whole world:

Is 42:6; Is 49:6; Ac 13:47

Am 7:15 Amos, from Judah, is sent to the northern kingdom of Israel.

Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh:

Jon 1:1–2; Jon 3:1–2

Missionaries in the NT

John the Baptist

John 1:6–7 ESV

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

See also Mal 4:5–6; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2–4; Mal 3:1; Is 40:3; Jn 1:33

Jesus Christ’s disciples

Lk 9:1–6 Healing and deliverance accompanies preaching as part of the disciples’ mission.

See also Mt 10:5–16 During Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry the disciples’ mission was limited to Israel; Mk 6:7–11; Lk 10:1

Other believers

Acts 11:19–20 ESV

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

See also Ac 8:5 Philip; Ac 18:24 Apollos; Ac 26:15–18 Paul

Receiving the missionary call

The call given by God

Jeremiah 1:4–10 ESV

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

See also Mt 4:19 Peter and Andrew; Ac 8:26 Philip; Ac 22:21 Paul

The call confirmed by the church

Acts 13:2–3 ESV

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

See also Ac 14:26–27; Ac 15:40; Ac 22:14–15 Paul’s call to be a missionary to the Gentiles is communicated through Ananias; Ga 2:7–9 Paul’s mission to the Gentiles is recognised by the other apostles.

The call through circumstances

Ac 8:4 Persecution drove the early church to wider mission.

See also Ge 45:4–5 Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt; Da 1:3–6 Daniel among those taken into exile in Babylon; Ac 18:1–2 Priscilla and Aquila left Rome because of persecution.

Missionaries compelled by the message

Acts 4:18–20 ESV

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

See also 1 Co 9:16; 2 Co 5:14