Spread the Word

Introduction: The 1980 Miracle Whip Commercial

Me and my best friend Bill Gibson

A sandwich just isn’t a sandwich without Miracle Whip Salad Dressing The Bread Spread from Kraft.

Ask to define “spread”

Miracle Whip is a Sandwich Spread.

You don’t take your miracle whip and dap a little on the bottom left corner then a little on the top right corner. That’s not spreading it.

But sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking of missions like that.

We have an “Us & Them” Attitude concerning missions

We fall into a trap of making to clean of a break between local church and missions.

Matthew 28:16-20

Here and There instead of from Here to There.

Thesis: Biblical Missions means Spreading the Gospel.

Spreading the Gospel means beginning where you are and working your way out from there.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 NASB95

8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

Has “GONE FORTH” Exerchomai: to issue, come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad, to circulate (go out).

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in all knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

Southwood Baptist Church Covenant

They need to hear the Gospel

Romans 10:14–15 LSB

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”

Hear without “a preacher?”

κηρύσσω - Kay-roose-so - One who announces or a herald or a proclaimer.

and how “will they preach” - same word

Paul goes on to add,

Romans 10:17 LSB

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

The conclusion is that saving faith comes by hearing (that is, by hearing the gospel message), and this hearing of the gospel message comes about through the preaching of Christ. The implication seems to be that without hearing the preaching of the gospel of Christ, no one can be saved.2

Wayne Grudem

We have been given “The Great Commission”

According to Mark

Mark 16:15–20 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

According to Matthew

Matthew 28:16–20 NKJV

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

According to Luke

Acts 1:8 LSB

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.”

How was this interpreted by other churches?

1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Macedonian, Achaia and every place = Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and uttermost parts of the earth.

Paul: Started in Damascus where he was converted. Moved to Antioch. Sent out from Antioch to First to the regions of Galatia, Second on to Macedonia, Achaia then into Asia Minor. He went on three Missions Trips. His last mission trip was that of Confirming the churches which is similar to what experienced missionaries do as missions directors.

For us: Beech Grove, Marion County, Indiana, United States and all Foreign Countries.

I’ve seen some churches with a sign above the exit which said:

You are now entering the mission field.

Anywhere between here and there that we can effectively spread and preach the gospel is a part of the Great Commission for you and I.

This can be through specialized ministries by:

Church Planters

Bible Printers

Inner City Works

Bible Colleges

Missions Agencies

or by you :

Sharing the Gospel

Leaving a Gospel Tract

Inviting Someone to Church to hear the Gospel

Every life without Christ is a mission field; every life with Christ is a missionary.

Anonymous

But Why is this Important?

Because:

There is known Opposition to the Spread of the Gospel

Remember Satan is Spreading his Gospel

1 John 4:1 LSB

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Satan does not want the Gospel to Spread

He will use any means he can

1. Determined Opposition – Such as is going on in Nigeria

2. Dilatory Opposition – Complacency (negligent) (Literally, Slow to Act)

3. Deceitful Opposition – (False) Classifications

Satan does far more harm as an angel of light than as a roaring lion.

Vance Houston Havner

4. Direct Opposition – Carnality (if we didn’t give to missions…we could…)

The Early Disciples also Faced Opposition

Acts 4:17 LSB

17 “But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”

John 15:18 LSB

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

Matthew 5:11–12 NASB95

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We have a Responsibility as the Local Church

We are called to support missions from the individual to the local church, to local missions, to state missions, to Nort American Missions, to International Missions.

3 John (Written to a man named Gaius possible of Ephesus , Acts 19, or Corinth or Derbe)

3 John 3–8 LSB

3 For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever work you do for the brothers, and are doing this though they are strangers; 6 and they bore witness to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, receiving nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Philippians 4:15–20 LSB

15 And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church fellowshipped with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fulfill all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion: Our Attitude Towards Missions

We should be content but not satisfied.

Content – Knowledge that we are doing the best that is possible. We are were we should be “today.”

Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Satisfied – Filled, complete, no need for more.

Ps 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

We cannot be satisfied as long as there is one more soul to be saved or one more missionary that needs support.

We ought always have a desire to advance our outreach; to do better than we have done before.

The Illustration of the 9 y/o girl and the Scottish Coach see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIrdZ9PWahc

Every great athletes strives to run faster, jump higher, hit harder.

We should do no less.