COLLEGE CHURCH, NORTHAMPTON, MA March 20, 1999

I.             Agnes and Arthur

A.   Ignoring me as I try to use them to help communicate.

B.   Importance of recognizing the gifts each one has and the role together in the process.

II.           Andrew decides to go on a short term mission.

A.   I’ll go. What sort of length of service is required?

B.   Weekend available? No? How about a week? Can I get some days off for touring?

C.   Where can I go?
I need to think about it. India? Taj Mahal. Nepal? Hiking in the mountains.

D.   What can I do?
I want to make a difference.

What are you doing here?

Nothing, really. But I’m sure if I get out there I can do something great. Maybe be a terrific evangelist! Or I can go to Mexico and build buildings for the Mexicans (while the Mexicans come here and harvest crops for the Americans)—one brings home money for his family. The other brings home pictures for his family.

If you are not doing anything here you do anything there!

So I won’t be different there?

No. You’ll still have you. But there’s good news; you’ll still have me.

This is good news??

Come on, Andrew, think allegorically!

E.   Okay. Well the key question then. Is it safe?

No.

III.          Andrew’s questions—your questions?

A.   Is it safe?

1.    No. Is there any place that is?

a)    Autys, humor as they prepared to go to Lebanon. Seriousness later. Now preparing to return.

b)   Family in air crash returning to Nepal.

c)    But where’s my real agony there?

d)   And then there’s the City of New Orleans and the teen on a cell phone who hit a mother and her children. Is it safe? No!

e)    So do we fear? Remember

Romans 8:32 (NIV)

32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

J. I. Packer: “We could dwell on the thought that ‘all things’ means all the good, not that we can think of, but that God can think of, as infinite wisdom and power guide his generosity.”

B.   The assumption that I’ll be better on the field than here.

1.    My own imagination of what I would be doing on the mission field. (from picture of book)

2.    The actuality of the broken pump, the monkey with the nightgown, and the maggots dropping on my wife.

C.   Fitting in missions service when it’s convenient? Want 5 or 6 possibilities so I can choose from them. When I can tour?

1.    Some people eager for service in outreach long for going overseas. What about locally?

D.   Wanting to DO something significant.

1.    Being of help does not mean accomplishing your goals but helping someone else accomplish their goals.

2.    More important: What are to going to BE and to BECOME.

a)    The Y2B crisis

b)   The issue is more than DO, it’s actually WHO. Who are you becoming and WHO will you be on the field?

Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.