Why Missions? (5 Reasons)

Good morning everyone, it is so great to see you all this morning. You know this last week we went and visited Beth’s family in Tennessee and it was a great time to get to see her family that we have not seen in a couple of years. However, it is also a great time to be back and get to be here with you all in person this morning. I joined you virtually last week, but it’s just not the same as when you are here in person. You know like Ive said before, I am so grateful for the technology that allows us to join in when we are out of town, or ill, but it is definitely not the same as being here in person and connecting with your family and worshipping together in person.

With that said, welcome those of you that are joining us online, we are honored that you have taken the time to invite us into your life this week. Whether you are joining us live, or watching later in the week I want to thank you for the opportunity to share God’s word with you and I hope you are encouraged through the Scriptures today. As always, if you are in the area and do not have a church home already, then I want to personally invite you to join us, we have our live in person worship every Sunday morning at 9:30 with coffee and an opportunity to personally connect with both old and new friends.

Hey, this morning we are looking at a brand new series…now this will be a short 2 week series that we are starting this week and ending next week with a bit of a treat. Next week we will actually have a guest that will be joining us, so that will be somewhat exciting and you will not want to miss that. Now, last time I was hear a couple of weeks ago we finished a series on Jonah. We had the opportunity to look into the life of Jonah and actually saw a bit of Jonah’s idolatry and sinfulness as a messenger of God. However, it is amazing becuase even in the middle of him rejecting God’s calling in his life, God was able to both use him for his glory, as well as teach and grow Jonah as a believer. If you remember we didn’t get to see the end of Jonah’s story and we didn’t get to see what Jonah did becuase God left us with the opportunity to acknowledge him in our lives and not simply follow what Jonah did or said. So all of the ground work was laid in Jonah’s life, and then we were left with the question of what would we do in our own lives.

But you know, we didn’t take a long time looking at the actually calling of God in Jonah’s life, and that was a pretty important calling, don’t you think? I mean, Jonah was called to take the Word of the Lord to a group of people that were known as evil and had a high likely hood of killing him on the spot. You know, that actually reminds me a little of a modern story about a particular person, really a group of people that pretty much did the same thing. You see, back in the 1050’s there was a man named Jim Elliot. Jim and his friends, Ed, Roger, Pete and Nate, along with their families lived in Ecuador and felt compelled by their love for the Lord to reach a particular tribe called the Huaorani, also known as the Auca tribe, which is literally translated as savage. You see, Jim and his friends felt called to go reach a tribe that not only had never heard of the Gospel of Jesus, but who also has the reputation as being savages. Frankly, much like the Ninevites in the book of Jonah. Just like those in Nineveh, the Aucans have a reputation of killing anyone that would come into their community. Much like the Ninevites, the Aucans would likely not only cause the death of these men entering their community, but they would do so in a way that would scare off others from even thinking about coming into their community. The thing is, there are some similarities, but there are some major differences between these two stories. You see, while Jonah ran from the idea of going to Nineveh, Jim Elliot (and others) ran towards the idea of telling a new group of people about Christ.

So what causes this difference between these two stories? Well, that is what we are going to talk about for the next couple of weeks. Why Missions? Why do people risk their livelihoods, or many times even their lives in order to go into what we would call the mission field? What is the mission field? Is there a difference between missions in another city, state, or country? What is the point of missions and mission work? That is the general types of questions that I hope we will be able to see the answer to over the next couple of weeks. Then next week we will have a special guest to close out our time in this series and share with us their heart for going into missions, and what they will be doing when they go over seas themselves. So plan right now on joining us for this whole series, it’s only two weeks and we will end with a meal together next week as we enjoy the company of our newest missionary family, Brad and Rachel Wells.

This morning as we look at the idea of missions and begin to try and answer the question Why Missions I hope to share with you 5 statements Paul would share in response to the question....Why Missions. We will start by looking at Scripture, and I am going to ask you to join me by looking at

Romans 10:11–17 ESV

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Now in this particular section Paul address the distinction between the Jew and the Gentile. For those that may not be aware, a Gentile is basically anyone who is not Jewish. So, this is a distinction that Jonah did not necessarily understand which is why he was upset that God did in fact relent against the destruction of Nineveh. No, Jonah saw a clear distinction between the Israelites and the Ninevites. However, in this passage Paul is telling us that there is in fact no distinction between the Jewish person and the non Jewish person. You see, nationality, doesn't matter when it comes to salvation.

Now, let me just take a moment right here and speak about something that is incredibly harmful to the Gospel, and is being used by the Devil to drive a wedge between both Christians and Non-Christians. This is Critical Race Theory…You see, this has been something that has been talked about and attempted to be taught over the last few years, however, it was ignored. Then this last year all over the world there has been a renewed conversation about race, and that’s a good thing. We need to, as beleivers, make sure that we are treating everyone the same, and not treat people differently becuase of the color of their skin. I will tell you, that racism is evil. I tell you that as someone who spent a good part of my preChrist life being slowly filled with a dislike and ultimately hatred of others based on the color of their skin. This is sinful and this is evil. If you are in any way treating people differently because of the color of their skin, then you need to repent of that immediately.

However, CRT is actually doing the exact same thing, but it is being done in a way to push what used to be called “reverse racism”, and is now called “antiracism” which of course is still just a repackaged form of racism. When any decision is made based on the color of ones skin, that is racism and that flies in the face of the Gospel that we are actively proclaiming as Christians. We are called to see others with the eyes of the Lord, not through the eyes of race. As a matter of fact, there was a conversation a few years ago about the need to create a new translation of the Bible using critical race theory. I am grateful that was not done (at least not yet), as it would be a perversion of the Gospel. Not because it is a new translation, but becuase there is one Gospel, and that does not change based on the color of ones skin.

Paul was a bit of a pioneer when it comes to mission work. He wasn’t the first person to travel and tell others about Christ, but he is credited with starting churches and spreading the Gospel all over known world at that time. This is something that Paul is pretty passionate about, and frankly he also doesn’t really care if he places his own life and well being at risk in order to spread the knowledge of the Gospel. Paul’s focus is to share the Gospel with the world, both Jews and Gentiles, no matter what. Actually, let me share with you a passage where Paul tells about some of what he has experienced as he is spreading the Gospel, becuase he knows that there is no difference between the Jew or the Gentile. Turn with me to

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 (ESV)

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

So Paul was prepared to risk his own life in order to share the Gospel with those that do not know for a very specific reason. You see, Paul is pretty level headed in realizing that no one can believe in a God that they do not know. This is a frankly a pretty common sense statement if you think about it. You see, Paul is claiming that they cannot know to call out to a God, or worship a God that they do not believe in. I mean, I am not going to call out to or worship the sun god Ra, becuase I do not believe that is the true God, right....that is what Paul is saying. Look, all of these other people are worshiping false Gods, and Paul knows that if they continue to worship a false God then they will not be able to experience salvation.

There is however, another piece that is pretty critical. You see, Paul also realizes that no one can believe in what they have never even heard of. I mean, there is no possible way to come to a life changing belief in something if you have no idea what that thing even is, right? For instance, Im going to allow you all to see my lack of knowledge for a moment…

So, when I was a kid a pretty common statement I would hear was something to the effect of “all the way to Timbuktu” or some variety of that statement. Basically the idea is that something is very far away, so far that it is unlikely to ever be found or visited. Well, another phrase that I heard alot was the same concept, but instead of Timbuktu, the location was Kalamazoo. Ok, so now is where I share with you how smart I am. I grew up hearing phrases like this so often that I did not believe that they were real location. Now, it’s not something I thought about until I started working at an apartment complex in Northern Indiana and I was being sent to a conference at the home office in Kalamazoo…Well, naturally I questioned the reality of this conference and I told them that I was not going to fall for some wild goose chase driving all over Michigan trying to find the fictional city of Kalamazoo…Yeah, I didn’t believe this was a real place because I was so used to it being used in a hyperbolic way, and so naturally I thought it was a made up word. I didn’t think it was real conference becuase I didn’t believe Kalamazoo was a real place, becuase no one had ever told me. Well, that is until I made a complete fool of myself in a group of coworkers in my mid 20’s…

That actually bring us to the other thing that Paul was convinced of. Paul was convinced no one would never hear, in order to believe, if no one ever took the time to tell them. There is a story I love, and I want to briefly share this story with you. There is a time when Paul was traveling around and he came to a place called the Areopagus. Now, this is the place right outside of Athens where court was held. Actually this is where many judicial courts were held as well as meetings of kings advisors and other important conversations. Later, when Rome took over the Greek world, this was known as Mars Hill and it continued with the same basic function. Anyway, Paul was traveling and sharing the Gospel, and he came upon this area and began to speak with the men that were holding court. Listen to what he said here, turn over to

Acts 17:22–27 (ESV)

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Now the reason that I wanted to share that story with you is becuase what Paul knew is that people cannot call out to, or worship what they do not believe in, and that they cannot believe in what they have never heard of, and that they can never hear of unless someone takes the time to tell them. That is what Paul knew to be true, and that is why Paul engaged in so many conversations with individuals, and that is why Paul spent time preaching and teaching. The thing is, Paul didn’t want anyone to be able to say, if I’d only known, I would have lived my life differently…

How many lives have been lost due to ignorance of standard safety measures. Actually if we are honest, sometimes I wonder how previous generations ever survived…I mean for instance, I used to climb on top of elevators in elementary school and then I would climb on top of the roof of high rise buildings in downtown Dallas and drop things off of the roof. The highest roof I ever climbed on top of was something like 45 stories high. Some friends and I would sneak out and go exploring and we found ourselves on top of a building across the street from the church I grew up attending. Now days there is a warning on plastic bags telling you not to attempt to breathe through it, right. The thing is that the company that makes the plastic bags doesn’t want to someone to be injured or killed becuase of ignorance, just like Paul did not want there to be any reason for someone to ignore the Gospel. Paul did not want there to be any reason for someone to not even know about the Gospel, at least as far as it depended on him.

Now there was a reason that this was so important to Paul. That is becuase Paul knew that no one will go and tell others, unless they are sent, just like he was. Turn over to

Acts 9:15 (ESV)

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

You see, God had chosen Paul specifically to go and tell others, both Gentiles and Jews…that is why it was so important for him to take every opportunity to share the Gospel with everyone he came into contact with, no matter what their nationality was, no matter what potential harm he might experience as a result.

So that is why Paul did what Paul did…but what about you? Why do you do what you do? You see, all of these things are true of Paul’s life, and they are all true of our lives as well. For instance, I would not be here today unless I was sent. Honestly, I never realized how much I would enjoy the relaxed life of rural America. Clearly God knows more than I do. However, I had to be sent in order to come. So, again, I ask, what about you? Everyone here or joining us online is living a different life and has a different view of life, and a different calling on your life. However, there are some things that are universal to all of our lives. Turn over with me to

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is the final command that was given by Jesus to his disciples on Earth before going up to be with the Father and sending down the Spirit. So, does this passage simply apply to those that have gone before us, namely the 12 men that walked with Jesus for 3 years, or is this a command that applies to each and every believer? If you said that this applies to all beleivers, then you are completely right. now, let me be very clear for a moment. This passage is not saying that ever single person has been called to go across the globe and make disciples of every nation, right? No, although many have, this passage is telling us as believers that we are sent to tell others so that they can hear, so that they can believe, so that they can worship, so that they can be saved. There is no distinction between Jew of Gentile , there is no distinction between American or immigrant, there is no distinction between coworker and friend…there is only the Gospel. Do you know what is amazing about this country that we live in? There are literally people from every single nation on Earth, or close to it, that has moved to this country so that we no longer even have to GO across the nations to tell others, becuase they are coming and moving into the US, or into Illinois, or maybe even Ogle County. So today, the command of go and tell others consist of going to work to tell others, or going across the street to tell others. It is literally missions to tell your neighbor about Christ. However, there is a question that you, and only you, must answer....How will I respond to being sent?

—Prayer—

Now this morning we are going to move into a time of communion as a family. Today as the Elders walk around and give you the elements of communion I want to ask you to look around and think about those around you that may not know the Lord. Use this opportunity of receiving communion as an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to those around you…Treat this as the first opportunity that you are being sent to proclaim the Gospel to those around you.

—music/pass out elements—

Now that everyone has the elements allow me the opportunity to read the Scripture that gives us guidance on what exactly we are doing...

But first let’s ask Dan Drodz to pray over the bread...

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

(Take the bread)

Now I will ask Steve Wells to pray over the juice...

1 Corinthians 11:24–26 ESV

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

(Take the juice)

—pray to close—