The Role of the Local Church in Missions

If they have a church they have a chance. - Noah Wilkerson - Mark Coffey

Personal

this is highly important: kept me up. I want to persuade you. Missions agencies don’t just ignore the importance of sending churches they just give up trying to get them engaged. As one group says “we do missions on behalf of the local church”

God brought strong conviction upon my life. Psalm 108:1-3 God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, Even with my glory. 2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 3 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: And I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

I have struggled with my heart for missions. I have allowed myself to get focused on lesser things.

I have told myself that I need to focus on the health of the church. The mission will come later.

A heart that is fixed will lead to feet pointed to the nations.

A healthy church is a sending church. Not only a sending church but a sustaining church.

Our missionaries need a dedicated, sending church; and our church benefits from a specialized, professional missions agency.

What does it mean?

Loving What Christ Loves

If we love Christ, then we will love his bride. Such is the legacy of the man whom Jesus himself said there was none greater—John the Baptist. Joy for Jesus meant joy for John.

John 3:27–29 (KJV 1900)

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

He was delighted to see Jesus get his glory, come into his kingdom, and receive his bride. With a posture only possible by the Spirit upon him, John concluded humbly,

John 3:30 (KJV 1900)

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Simply put, a humble posture loves what Christ loves.

Acts 20:28 (KJV 1900)

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

When Peter was asked by our Lord if he loved him as an expression of that love he was asked to feed His sheep.

John 21:17 (KJV 1900)

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

What I noticed from reading

Much of what we do concerning a sending church is by tradition and context, doesn’t mean it is wrong. Just isn’t outlined for us in Scripture.

Though I cannot provide you a pattern for a relationship with your home church. We can certainly see some replicable principles.

There should be a discussion about a closeness between missionary and “sustaining churches”

This intertwining of church and field in Paul’s life can be seen in at least four ways.

As he was converted and affirmed alongside churches (Damascus, Jerusalem, and Tarsus), he was also called and formed into an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9). Rough start Acts 9:26-29 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

As he co-pastored the church at Antioch (Acts 11), he was also commissioned to be sent on his first missionary journey (Acts 13).

After planting new churches on that first journey (Acts 13–14), he settled back into his sending church for a while (Acts 14:24–28).

Acts 14:24–28 (KJV 1900)

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Then, fast forward to when he wrote a letter to the church in Rome while spending time with the church in Corinth. He expressed his need for support in getting to where Christ was not yet known: Spain (Rom. 15).

Romans 15:31-33 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Being refreshed by his supporting and sending churches was part of his missionary strategy

Jeremy Rowland said instead of asking “how many you running” we should ask “where you running and how can I help”

Six important relationships between the missionary and the local church:

The missionary is trained in the local church Acts 13:1 “1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

The missionary is known by the local church Acts 13:1, They can from suspicions to sending him out. That takes a relationship.

The missionary is called through the local church Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

The missionary is sent by the local church Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The missionary is accountable to the local church Acts 14:27-28 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

The missionary is to reproduce a local church. Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The missionary is trained in the local church Acts 13:1

Paul received the truth from Christ Galatians 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The local church was the training ground in which their spiritual gifts were exercised and proven before they were sent forth as missionaries Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Although the Lord took Paul into the desert and personally taught him, He still deemed it necessary for Paul to minister in the church at Antioch to gain the wisdom that comes only from practical experience before sending him on his missionary journeys.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (13:1)

The diversity in the backgrounds of the leaders of the church at Antioch shows the cosmopolitan nature of the church. Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus (4:36). Simeon was also a Jew, but his Latin nickname Niger not only indicates he was of dark complexion but also that he moved in Roman circles. He could be the Simon of Cyrene who carried Christ’s cross (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21), but this is highly debatable. Lucius was from Cyrene in North Africa (cf. Acts 11:20). Manaen had high contacts for he had been reared with Herod the tetrarch, actually Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist and who treated the Lord so shamefully at His trial (see the chart on the Herod family at Luke 1:5). One in that court (Manaen) became a disciple; the other (Herod) an antagonist! At the end of the list, for he was last on this scene, was Saul, a Jew trained in Rabbinical schools. Despite their variegated backgrounds, these men functioned as one.

The missionary is known by the local church Acts 13:1

Real friendships were developed. In writing to the Christians at Rome, Paul mentioned 28 friends there whom he knew from past experiences, though he had never visited Rome.

Paul and Barnabas had strong ties with the local church, and, at the end of their first missionary journey, they returned there where “they spent a long time with the disciples” Acts 14:28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.  

His initiating affection for churches was written all over his missionary identity (Phil. 1:4; Eph. 1:16).

He penned heartfelt letters to them (2 Cor. 2:4) in which he agonized over their growth (Gal. 4:19–20), prayed for them constantly (1 Thess. 1:2), was delighted to spend time with them (Rom. 15:23–24), avoided being a financial burden to them (2 Thess. 3:7–8), rejoiced over them (1 Thess. 2:17–20), and wept with them (Acts 20:36–38).

The missionary is called through the local church Acts 13:2

The call to mission work in Acts 13 was not addressed to Paul and Barnabas, but to the church. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Their call was not affirmed, nor did they put it into effect, until God also called the local church to send them out.

The missionary is sent by the local church Acts 13:3

Through the laying on of hands, the church identified itself with their ministry.

In the New Testament Epistles, as we begin to see what is normative in the church today.

All the way back in Numbers 27:18 we see this ceremonial type of laying on of hands as we have tonight. Moses lays on on Joshua and he is set aside for a work.

We see it in Acts 6 with Deacons and in Acts 13 with Barnabas and Paul.

This is a formal commission performed in public, with the collective request for God’s blessing on it.

From studying all the instances of this practice in the Bible, one sees it was done when invoking a blessing (Genesis 48:17), when commissioning or imparting authority (Numbers 27:23, Acts 6:6), when identifying with someone or something (II Chronicles 29:23, Leviticus 8:14), and when imparting some special gift such as wisdom or the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 34:9, Acts 19:6).  With the exception of the latter, probably all of these were involved in the church’s action – blessing, identifying with, commissioning, and authorizing them for the work which they were to do

The missionary is accountable to the local church Acts 14:27-28

After completing each missionary journey, Paul returned home where the entire church gathered to hear his report Acts 14:27, 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

The sending church was involved in helping settle doctrinal issues of the missionary on the field.

Acts 15:19–20 (KJV 1900)

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

As a result of this theological discussion James set forth a practical decision. It was his considered judgment that the church should not make it difficult (parenochlein, “to annoy”; used only here in the NT) for the Gentiles.

Instead (alla, “but,” a strong adversative conjunction) James suggested they draft a letter affirming an ethic which would not offend those steeped in the Old Testament. (this is the birth of missions policy)

The missionary is to reproduce a local church. Acts 16:5

Acts 16:5 (KJV 1900)

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The combination of “go” and “baptize” necessitates the planting of churches.

No other organization on the planet exists to baptize new believers, teach them to obey all the things Jesus commanded—or make disciples of Jesus. So Jesus could only have been talking about one thing—the Church!

Citations

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Woodrow, C. (2021, December 3). The Missionary and the Local Church. Grace Missions Ministries. Retrieved March 31, 2022, from https://gracemissionsministries.org/2021/12/03/the-missionary-and-the-local-church/

Bell, B. (2015). The Sending Church Defined. Upstream.

Bell, B. (2019, August 8). The missionary and the local church. IMB. Retrieved March 31, 2022, from https://www.imb.org/2018/08/14/the-missionary-and-the-local-church/