Connecting Your Church to Missions

Connecting Your Church to Missions 1. Evaluate the environment. Galatians 6:12 Change the environment video. (More videos at https://vimeo.com/ cmvideos)

Culture trumps systems. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Galatians 6:12 Establish the members with a proper world view. Matthew 9:38 Moved with compassion when he sees the field. We will not pray for the harvest if we do no properly understand the field. John 3:18 condemned already

An understanding of the need with a lack of understanding concerning our identity in Christ will make for a paralyzed church. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Equip everyone possible to be disciple-makers. 2 Timothy 2:2-4 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

“Withness” is necessary for multiplication. Mark 3:14

Encourage and honor the Aquila and Priscilla in your church for their important role in the process of preparing future missionaries. Acts 18, Romans 16:3-4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Export people of your “own company” as soon as possible. Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Be ready to send your best and make those you will send the best they can be. Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

The church is the earthly sending agent for missionaries. Acts 13:1-3

5. Encourage your church to be “fellow-helpers” of the truth. 3 John 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Selection is necessary and an important aspect of strategic partnerships.

Create an atmosphere of mutual accountability. (weekly prayer letter)

Some practical ideas. Think through the process in your church from visitor card to prayer card. Communicate this to your church. Choose an area of the world and study it and share it with your church. Missionaries are not the only Christians who should know geography. Have missions services and conferences that require high commitment and sacrifice to execute. Taking the easy way our sends the wrong message about the importance of missions. Attend of create events that allow your church members to spend meaningful, informal time with missionaries. Establish a “Yoke-Fellow” type ministry in your church where members take on the responsibility of being advocates for missionaries. Look for ways to incorporate missions into your services. - A card that gets passed around during Sunday School to sign. - Members giving updates on their missionary. - Special midweek service dedicated to missions. (Goer & Sender Coalition) - Travel to see a missionary’s Send Off Service. - When telling stories to illustrate a point consider using a missions story.