What is a Missionary

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Intro

The last few weeks we have been discussing missionaries. We have talked about who is a missionary, we have heard from a missionary that is from right here in Wapak, and last week we heard about a missionary who gave up his life to reach a people that were violent and that most people were terrified of. This week I want to talk a little bit about what a missionary does.

Missionaries are ambassadors

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think what a missionary does is that they are ambassador. But you may be thinking what in the world is an ambassador. You may have heard the phrase brand ambassador before check out this video on what a brand ambassador does.

Play brand ambassador video

An ambassador is very similar. Simply put an ambassador is someone that comes on behalf of someone else to share what their culture, or country is like. The ambassador also comes to share what their leaders would like the country that they are living in to know.

Ephesians 6:19–20 NIV

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Paul is writing this letter from prison, and he is reminding us that he is an ambassador even while he is in prison. Now if you dont know much about the life of Paul you may not realize that he is frequently considered the worlds first missionary for the Gospel of Jesus. He went on multiple missionary journeys and throughout his life faced many different struggles, but the one thing Paul is very famous for, is always pointing people back to Jesus.

We are always going to be an ambassador for someone. We will either be an ambassador for ourselves and our own “brand”

Missionaries are Community builders

Not only are missionaries ambassadors, but many times missionaries come in and try to help build community. Sometimes missionaries go to areas where there is no trust between people, or no trust from outsiders, and one of their goals is to try to build trust, and help them work together. We even see this being important in scripture.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NIV

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This passage reminds us that we are better when we are together. God created us to work with one another, and to have community with each other.

cutting a rope illustration?

Thats why we have small groups. So that hopefully you will be making friendships with the other students in your small groups that you can interract with, and know if you need someone to talk to, I hope you feel comfortable enough to reach out to one of your small group members.

Missionaries are Servants

However not only are missionaries ambassadors, and Community builders but missionaries are also servants. And I believe that if we call ourselves Christians or Christ followers than we also have to be a servant. However this goes against everything that we want.

Story about Main dining room on cruise

But lets look at what Jesus says in Matthew

Matthew 20:25–28 NIV

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This was right after the disciples were asking Jesus who was going to sit at the right and left side of Jesus. Jesus is teaching His disciples that it should not be our goal to be served all the time but to be a servant.

We are called to be servants because it is completely opposite of what our culture expects of us. We are naturally selfish people and yet Jesus tells us to put aside our selfishness, and follow Christ.

The fun thing about each of these is that there are no requirements on where you have to be to do these things. You in your school, or in your office, or wherever you find people can do each of these things and be a missionary. I have said it over and over again, your lunch table is your mission field. So if you want to know how to be a missionary to your lunch table be an ambassador for Christ, not yourself, build up a community of trust in the people around you, and be willing to serve them when opportunities arise.