Thoughtful Service | Acts 2:44–45

We give because Christ gave to us.

Biblical Missions Exists when True Community Exists (v. 44)

Missions begins with community. The Church is to be a community of believers committed to doing life together and making disciples who make disciples. This is the most basic definition of church.

Biblical Missions Exists when True Needs are Felt (v. 45)

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

2 Corinthians 8:14 ESV

your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

Biblical Missions Exists when True Discipleship Occurs (v. 42-43)

True Missions does not exist where discipleship does not. When we don't belong to Christ, and have Christ as our Lord, missions becomes simply a way to assuage our guilt, or to make ourselves feel better.

Luke 14:33 ESV

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

In that case missions is simply Selfish Therapy for a guilty soul and becomes nothing more than paganism and idolatry. I do these things to make myself not guilty before God.

Biblical Missions Exists when Heaven Becomes Our Home (46-47)

Hebrews 10:34 ESV

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

True Missions is God Centered, not Me-Centered. True missions is focused on making much of Christ, and not me. The reason the church grew was because the early Christians understood the Gospel and were committed to reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.