Call of missionaries

The call to all God’s people

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See also ; ;

Missionaries in the OT

Those sent to their own people

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.”

See also Noah; Jeremiah’s ministry extended further but was primarily to his own people, Judah; Ezekiel

Those sent to other peoples

A priest from Samaria returns to teach the resettled population about the Lord.

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

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Amos, from Judah, is sent to the northern kingdom of Israel.

Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh:

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Missionaries in the NT

John the Baptist

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.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

Jesus Christ’s disciples

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

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

Other believers

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.

See also Philip; Apollos; Paul

Receiving the missionary call

The call given by God

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 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 ;