A Biblical Philosophy of Missions
Missions is God’s Idea, not Man’s Idea
Creation GOD
Old Testament
New Testament
Israel
Church
Consummation GOD His People
Fall
Time and Space - History
Judgment
Missions is God’s Idea, not Man’s Idea
Missions is motivated by God’s glory
Philippians 2:52:5-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“[William] Carey and thousands like him have been moved by the vision of a great and triumphant God. That vision must come first. Savoring it in worship precedes spreading it in missions. All of history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and His Son among all the peoples of the earth. Missions is not that goal. It is the means…Worship is the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish.” John Piper – Let the Nations be Glad
Missions is God’s Idea, not Man’s Idea Missions is motivated by God’s glory Missions is reflective of God’s nature Missions is central to God’s story (the Bible)
Missions Begins in the Garden and Continues Throughout Human History
God is on a search and rescue mission
Genesis 3:83:8-9 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
Missions Begins in the Garden and Continues Throughout Human History God is on a search and rescue mission Israel was intended to draw people to God
Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. Isaiah 49:6 "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Missions Begins in the Garden and Continues Throughout Human History God is on a search and rescue mission Israel was intended to draw people to God The church is intended to take God to the people
Acts 1:8 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.
New Testament Missions Has a Specific Purpose and Objective
There is overlap between evangelism/discipleship and missions
Matthew 28:1928:19-20 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."
New Testament Missions Has a Specific Purpose and Objective There is overlap between evangelism/discipleship and missions There are distinctions between evangelism/discipleship and missions
Romans 15:1815:18-20, 23 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation…But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
Missions is the purposeful transfer of responsibility for the gospel to those who do not yet bear that responsibility. Missions is not just about reaching people for Christ, it is about enabling them to reach their own people for Christ. Missions is primarily about starting. The church is primarily about continuing. Missions is a temporary necessity. The church is an enduring community.
S A T U R A T I O N
MISSIONS MISSIONS MISSIONS
S A T U R A T I O N
New Testament Missions Has a Specific Purpose and Objective
The primary outcome of missionary endeavor is local churches
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
New Testament Missions Has a Specific Purpose and Objective The primary outcome of missionary endeavor is local churches The primary activity of missionary endeavor is discipleship
Acts 14:2114:21-22 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Principle 1 – God’s Glory in Missions (Missions is God Centered More than Man Centered)
Principle 2 – God’s Means in Missions (Emphasis on Local Church)
Principle 3 – God’s Commitment in Missions (Stewardship of Relationships and Resources)
Principle 4 – The Power of God’s Word in Missions (Primacy of Proclamation)
Principle 5 – God’s Cross‐Cultural Reach in Missions (Contextualized Christianity)