Who is a Missionary

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Intro

This week we are starting a new series on missions. We will discuss different missionaries, types of missions, why missions are important and who missionaries are. This week we are going to talk about who is a missionary.

So who do you think is a missionary?

Everyone.

The Great Commission

One of the clearest portions of scripture about missions comes from what is known as the Great Commission. We find this in the last chapter of the book of Matthew.

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In this passage gives the disciples a command. This takes place after Jesus had risen from the dead, and is the very last thing that Matthew recorded. I think that is important because generally when you write something you put the most important things in the very beginning, and at the end.

So we see that it must be important for us to go and be a missionary, because this was the very last statement that we have recorded from Jesus Himself while He was walking on earth. So this tells us that we are all called to be a missionary of some type.

Why should I care about missions?

You may be thinking ok so we have this command of the great commission but why should i care about missions. What is the big deal about sharing our faith with our friends?

Well the big deal is if you dont share Jesus with your friends who will?

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

This passage in Matthew reminds us that there are a lot of people out in our world that we interract with on a daily basis that need to hear about the love of Jesus.

You may be thinking but nobody around me actually wants to know about Jesus

Barna study slide

There was a study done by the Barna group where they surveyed over 24,000 students. they discovered that over 75% of all teenagers would like to know more about Jesus, and if you take out the students that believe in Jesus, they found 53% wanted to learn more about Jesus. So in your friends group the odds are at least one out of every 2 of your friends are at least some what interested in hearing about Jesus.

How do I become a missionary?

So now we have talked about the great commission and that we are called to be missionaries, we have also talked about the need for missionaries, but now lets talk for a minute on how to be a missionary.

Lifestyle

The first thing we have to do is to make sure that we are living a lifestyle that would allow others to see Jesus in us.

John 13:34–35 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Now this passage is Jesus speaking this is toward the end of His life, as he is preparing His disciples for His death. So as we spoke earlier about the most important things that you would tell someone is right at the end, this is getting to the end of Jesus life where He is wrapping everything up.

As He is wrapping everything up, He gives this command to love one another. That command also tells us that this is how people will know you are a follower of Jesus. However this does not mean that we will always agree with someone.

Our culture has changed the definition of love to mean that if you do not agree with them, or affirm what they are doing then you no longer love them. However if you truly loved an addict of some kind I promise you will get them help instead of affirming that is just who they are. So we have to make sure that we are living a lifestyle that promotes Jesus.

Have an answer

Finally how do we be a missionary. We have to be willing and able to express and explain the hope we have in Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Basketball referee story

Now for most of you, your mission field will always be the people that sit at your lunch table. Whether it is at school, or work, or in your home. However there may be some of you that find yourself called to be a missionary. Next week you will get to hear from someone that was your age when she was called by God to be a missionary.