Why Do Missions at All?

Over the next 4 weeks or so, we want to look at a lot of scripture, and a lot of practical reasons to do consider the question: why do we take part in missions?

One thing I read this week was very helpful to me, and it answered that question in a practical way. And that is this: we are involved in missions because it reflects the character of God.

Three general things that scripture reveals, in both the Old and New Testaments, that fuel our desire to be involved in missions.

God’s love for all the peoples of the eart.

God’s passion for those people to be in right fellowship with Him.

God’s desire to use His children to fulfill that purpose.

God’s “Missionary” heart.

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

What does God promise in the calling of Abraham?

What does God’s calling of Abraham show about his desire concerning the whole world?

The story of God’s people in the Old Testament is a story of God revealing how his ways are truly the way for all the earth to be blessed. And the intention was never just for one family or even one nation to experience that blessing and that joy, but for people from every nation to see God’s glory, to revel in His righteousness and Beauty, and to come to know and worship and serve Him.

We see this ultimately in the person of Jesus. In one sense, Jesus came to redeem his own people, Israel, but he also came to seek and save all who are lost, and in His coming He purposefully renewed a missionary zeal in his followers. We see that in a lot of ways, but we see it specifically in the end of his ministry in the passages that entail what is often called “the great commission.”

Mission and commission go together. Mission is an effort - to define missions simply, we could say that missions is a concentrated effort to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unreached and make disciples who follow and worship Him.

Christian Missions is a concentrated effort to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unreached and make disciples who follow and worship Him.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”

What does Jesus base this “commission” or this sending on?

What are Jesus’ followers commanded to do in this commission?

What is a disciple?

What is Jesus’ promise to his followers as they seek to obey this commission?

Mark 16:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Where are Jesus’ disciples commanded to go in following this command?

Luke 24:45–49 ESV

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

What does Jesus do for his followers in this passage?

How does Jesus summarize what the Disciples are to understand?

In whose name are “repentance and forgiveness of sins” to be proclaimed?

What is the promise that is given to His followers as they seek to obey this command?

John 20:19–21 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

What condition did Jesus find His disciples in?

What reaction did they have when they saw the risen Lord?

What did Jesus say he was doing with His disciples?

Acts 1:6–8 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What were Jesus’ followers going to be empowered to do?

What are some of the common elements in all of these passages?

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”