Call of missionaries

THEME; WITNESSING BEYOND BORDERS

God calls and sends out his people into the world. All believers are called to share the good news of the gospel, though some are specially commissioned by God, confirmed by the church and compelled by the gospel message to missionary service.

opening hymn

Missionaries in the OT

OPENING PRAYER

Isaiah 6:8–10 NASB95

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

DIALOGUE

Jim, an elder at a church, was to oversee the evangelism of new people that moved into the area. Sun Lee and his family were Vietnamese refugees who had recently been moved into the area. They had no possessions, knew no one, needed help in every way. Jim began by helping them to get food and then spent much time finding Sun Lee a good job. Jim wanted so much to tell Sun Lee about Jesus Christ, but he didn’t know Vietnamese and the refugees knew very little English. Both men sought to learn the other’s language so that they could become better friends. One day, Jim felt that he knew enough now to tell Sun Lee about Jesus. Jim began to explain about God and Jesus to Sun Lee, but the more he talked, the more confusing it seemed to get. Sun Lee would repeat in Vietnamese a little of what Jim said in English. Finally, Jim was so frustrated that he decided to give up trying to communicate until he had learned more Vietnamese. Sun Lee at this point blurted out, “Is your God like you? If he is, I want to know him.” Jim explained that Jesus Christ was greater than he was, far greater. Yet Sun Lee wanted to know more about Jesus Christ if he was like Jim! Jim had thought for all these months that he was not communicating the gospel. But he was, with the greatest form of communication a person can use—the example of a life filled with Jesus Christ.

One day, Jim felt that he knew enough now to tell Sun Lee about Jesus. Jim began to explain about God and Jesus to Sun Lee, but the more he talked, the more confusing it seemed to get. Sun Lee would repeat in Vietnamese a little of what Jim said in English. Finally, Jim was so frustrated that he decided to give up trying to communicate until he had learned more Vietnamese. Sun Lee at this point blurted out, “Is your God like you? If he is, I want to know him.” Jim explained that Jesus Christ was greater than he was, far greater. Yet Sun Lee wanted to know more about Jesus Christ if he was like Jim! Jim had thought for all these months that he was not communicating the gospel. But he was, with the greatest form of communication a person can use—the example of a life filled with Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR SHARING

Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh:

;

DISCERNMENT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 5:29–32 NASB95

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

ACTs 5:29-

KEY PHRASE; AND WE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS

UNBROKEN CHAIN OF WITNESSING FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES,

John 1:6–7 NASB95

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

JEWS..GENTILES.... AND REST OF THE WORLD.

; ; ; ; ;

Reflection

The 12 Apostles witnessed Christ beyond borders.

Healing and deliverance accompanies preaching as part of the disciples’ mission.

How are we witnessing christ today?

Are we limiting ourselves within the church or familiar people only?

can we go beyond this borders by getting involved with

the current issues of the nation?

See also During Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry the disciples’ mission was limited to Israel; ;

Other believers

Deeds

deeds

In every group or nation, there is an ever-increasing number of men and women who are aware that they themselves are the artisans and oriby

Christopher Denny. A Realist's Church: Essays in Honor of Joseph A.Komonchak (p. 221). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition. ginators of the culture of their community. Throughout the world a sense of both autonomy and responsibility is constantly growing that is of the greatest importance for the spiritual and moral maturity of the human race. This becomes clearer if we consider how the world is becoming more

Christopher Denny. A Realist's Church: Essays in Honor of Joseph A.Komonchak (p. 221). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition.

both

Acts 11:19–20 NASB95

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

In every group or nation, there is an ever-increasing number of men and women who are aware that they themselves are the artisans and originators of the culture of their community. Throughout the world a sense of both autonomy and responsibility is constantly growing that is of the greatest importance for the spiritual and moral maturity of the human race. This becomes clearer if we consider how the world is becoming more unified and how we have the duty to build a better world in truth and righteousness. In this way we are witnessing the birth of a new humanism, one in which man is defined first of all by his responsibility toward his brothers and sister toward history. (GS 55)

Christopher Denny. A Realist's Church: Essays in Honor of Joseph A.Komonchak (p. 221). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition.

See also Philip; Apollos; Paul

concluding prayer

Receiving the missionary call

The call given by God

closing hymn

Jeremiah 1:4–10 NASB95

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 have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that 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 stretched 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 appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

See also Peter and Andrew; Philip; Paul

The prophecy in Isaiah is not merely that the Servant’s mission of salvation will include Gentiles but, much more, that in the course of including Gentiles the mission will extend “to the end of the earth.” As it is taken up in Acts 13:47, the prophecy retains the same double motif, Gentile inclusion and earth-wide extension. In Acts 1:8 the abbreviated form, “to the end of the earth,” has only geographical connotations7 even if there are secondary implications for the inclusion of Gentiles. Therefore, it cannot be equated with the risen Jesus’ commission in Matt 28:19 to “go and make disciples of all nations,” that is, to go to the Gentiles

The call confirmed by the church

Acts 13:2–3 NASB95

While they were ministering to 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, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

See also ; ; Paul’s call to be a missionary to the Gentiles is communicated through Ananias; Paul’s mission to the Gentiles is recognised by the other apostles.

The call through circumstances

Persecution drove the early church to wider mission.

See also Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt; Daniel among those taken into exile in Babylon; Priscilla and Aquila left Rome because of persecution.

Missionaries compelled by the message

Acts 4:18–20 NASB95

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

See also ;