1st Century Missiological Principles for a 21st Century World Ministry Or Missions? Do Terms Really Matter? 1st Century Missiological Principles for a 21st Century World

What is missions and the missionary task? Terminology Matters What is ministry? What is missions and the missionary task? What does the Bible say?

Ministry So what do we mean by Ministry? Ministry: a service rendered to people or God

What does the Bible say? Care for orphans: James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Feed the hungry: Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink;” Heal the sick: Matthew 14:14 “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”

Ministry It is the task of the church to minister to those in need with sincere compassion, following Christ’s example. However, Christ’s compassion did not merely touch the physical needs of people, but also their spiritual needs.

What did Jesus do? Mark 1:38 “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Jesus performed 36 miracles and spoke 39 parables John 10:25,38 Miracles revealed who Jesus was, the Messiah Matthew 13:11,13 Revealed spiritual truth to those with ears to hear and eyes to see Matthew 13:34; Mark 4:34 “…and He did not speak to them without a parable.”

Helping Hurting People We can feed all who are hungry, we can clothe all who are naked, we can build homes for the homeless, we can heal the sick, and visit those in captivity, but if we do not find a way to lead lost individuals into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, when they die each one will still spend eternity in hell!

Ministry and Missions It is virtually impossible to participate in the missionary task without incorporating biblically based Christian ministry. However, participation in effective biblically based Christian ministry can be provided without ever crossing the line into missions.

Missions What do we mean by “Missions?” Missions: following biblical models for church planting

The terms “Missions” and “Missionary” are not found in Scripture. What does the Bible Say? The terms “Missions” and “Missionary” are not found in Scripture. Matthew 28:18 - 20 The only command given here is to “make disciples of all nations”. Acts 1:8 Witnesses: Greek term that we derive “martyr” from Witnesses: no one is exempt Witnesses: going into all the world Acts 13:1 - 3 Called Set apart Sent out

The New Testament Pattern What does the Bible Say? The New Testament Pattern Proclaiming the Gospel to the lost - Mark 16:15; Luke 24:38-46 Discipling new believers - Matthew 28:18 - 20 Sending out church planters - John 20:21: Acts 1:8 Developing and training leaders - 2 Timothy 2:2

The New Testament Pattern - Churches Planting Churches What does the Bible Say? The New Testament Pattern - Churches Planting Churches Acts 9:31 - 32 Then the churches… were multiplied or increased Acts 11:19 - 27 Men of Cyprus and Cyrene began a new work in Antioch Acts 13:1 - 3 Paul and Barnabas were sent out and planted new churches

The New Testament Pattern - Churches Planting Churches What does the Bible Say? The New Testament Pattern - Churches Planting Churches Acts 13 - 28 In virtually every location where the Gospel was proclaimed, and embraced, the results were reproducing evangelism, reproducing discipleship, and reproducing churches. Over 40 different cities are named in the book of Acts, all with churches. Acts 8:1 We know Acts 1:8, but in Acts 8:1 church planting is taking place as persecuted believers scattered, proclaiming the Gospel.

Dr. Elmer Towns “The Great Commission implies that church planting is the primary method to evangelize the world. To reach lost people in every culture of the world, a church must be established in every culture to communicate the gospel and nurture those who are saved. In a simplistic observation, one of the reasons why so much foreign missions work is fruitless is because great effort is spent on winning people to Christ apart from identifying them with a New Testament church.” Church Growth: State of the Art 1988 Chapter 14 The Great Commission and Church Planting page 143

Missions REPRODUCING EVANGELISM REPRODUCING DISCIPLES Intentional strategies and activities that result in . . . REPRODUCING EVANGELISM REPRODUCING DISCIPLES REPRODUCING CHURCHES

Is there ministry and missions when . . . . . . a volunteer team travels overseas to help make building repairs to an orphanage and to pass out gifts and money to children in need?

Is there ministry and missions when . . . . . . a local church sends their youth group to an inner-city shelter to serve a hot meal to homeless persons in that area?

Is there ministry and missions when . . . … a volunteer medical / dental team travels to help meet the medical needs of those who have little to no access to basic care?

Paul’s Missionary Prayers “praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,” Col. 4:3 Colossians 4:3 For open doors in order to speak the mysteries of Christ Ephesians 6:19 For the right words to speak with boldness 2 Thessalonians 3:1 - 2 Rapid spread of the Gospel and protection from perverse and evil men “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,” Eph. 6:19 “pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.” II Thes. 3:1-2

Where do we need to focus? Going to the edges of lostness engaging in missions that incorporate ministries to see: REPRODUCING EVANGELISM REPRODUCING DISCIPLES REPRODUCING CHURCHES