When James Cook returned to England from his voyage through the South Seas, his journals were published. As well as inspiring significant scientific advances, they also stirred up the Christian missionary movement. A shoemaker in Northamptonshire, William Carey devoured the Endeavour journals. They fanned into flame his passion for the good news about Jesus to be brought to all the unconverted people of the world. His essay, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens, led to the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society. Carey himself went to India, where he translated the Bible into Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit.
But what about us? What do Christians like you and me have to do with missions? Are we missionaries? What part does the local church have in missionary work?
We read from Matthew 9-10 that there is a plentiful harvest ready to be brought in, and that we are to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. But is that it? Is our share in missionary work done when we have prayed for missionaries?
So, we need to turn to God’s Word. Here in Acts 14:19-28, we see:
- Missionaries are Sent Ones (v26)
- Missionaries Do God’s Mission (v19-26)
- Are We Supporting, Sending, & Being Biblical Missionaries? (v27-28)
Sunday 7th April 2019
Review questions:
- ____________________ sent ___________ who sent ______ (Luke 4:43 & 24:47).
- Just as it was necessary for Jesus to suffer, die, and rise, so ______________ & _______________ must be ___________ to _____________________ (Luke 24:47)
- What is God’s mission? New ________, new ______________ & new __________.
- Where is the mission field?
- Why did Paul & Barnabas return (v21-24)?
- What do we need to live a Christian life (v22-23)?
- A church must have __________ (v23).
- Our church does mission: True/False
- How can I be a missionary?
- A question I have:
- A truth to share:
- Something to pray about:
- How I should live:
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