The Mission of the Church Class 1: The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few The Bible as a missions story Class 2: Every Christian is a world Christian (going, praying, sending, welcoming, mobilizing) Class 3: A closer look at mobilizing The Pauling Cycle

Intro -You were made to bear fruit- Matthew 13:23- whether 30, 60, or 100 fold, you will bear fruit! -Where are your affections when it comes to those who are living in sin, not glorifying God? -Our only motivation for mission is the gospel of Jesus.

The Harvest is Plentiful… All “nations” -eth'-nos a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

The Harvest is Plentiful

There are over 3.6 billion unreached people in the world today Of those 3.6 billion people, 88% live in or near the 10/40 window Only 2.17% of these unreached people live in North and South America combined! In the 10/40 window alone there are 724 million Muslims, 787 million Hindus, and 240 million Buddhists.

The Laborers are Few It is estimated that only 4% of foreign missionaries today are working to reach these unreached people. Of all the money designated for "missions" in the U.S., only 5.4% is used for foreign missions, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia. Of that 5.4%, only 0.37% is used to take the gospel to unreached people who don't have access to the gospel.

Total Distribution of Laborers There are 430,000 missionaries from all branches of Christendom. Only between 2 and 3% of these missionaries work among unreached peoples. 74% Among Nominal Christians, 3% Among Buddhists, 8% Among Tribal Peoples, 2% Among Hindus, 6% Among Muslims, 2% Among Chinese Folk Religions, 4% Among Atheist or Non- Religious Peoples, 1% Among Jewish Peoples

The Bible as a Missions Story Introduction: Genesis 1-11 Plot: Genesis 12 - Jude Conclusion: Revelation.

Fill the Earth Genesis 1:28 "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth…“ Genesis 9:1 "Then God blessed Noah and his sons saying to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.“ Genesis 11 "Now the whole world had one language and a common speech” Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'" (Gen 11:1-4).

Nations Created Genesis 11:7-8 "'Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'

Missionary Nation Established Genesis 12:1-3 "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you...I will bless you...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'“ Genesis 26:4 "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.“ Genesis 28:14"Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."

Missional Theme of the Old Testament The 10 Commandments were given by God to Moses and the people for a missional purpose. They are commanded to obey the commands in Deuteronomy 4:5-6 and "Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations.“ Joshua 2:9-10, Rahab exclaimed, "I [Rahab] know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us...we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt..."

Missional Theme of the Old Testament "Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom" 1 Kings 4:34. "Therefore, I [Nebuchadnezzar] decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces... for no other God can save in this way.“ Daniel 3:29 Daniel 6:26 "I [Darius] issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel..."

Missional Theme of the New Testament “reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area designated for the Gentiles to worship and found people buying and selling there. He drove them out, saying, "Is it not written; 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'?" Mark 11:15-17 Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" "...they tried to keep him from leaving them but He said, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.'" Luke 4:42-43

Missional Theme of the New Testament "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15). Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“ Romans 15:20 “I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ is not yet known, so that I wouldn’t build on another man’s foundation.”

Conclusion "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...“ Revelation 7:9 WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MISSIONS THEME OF GOD'S STORY & THE RESPONSIBILITY BELIEVERS HAVE IN REACHING NATIONS? WHAT ARE SOME QUESTIONS YOU HAVE CONCERNING MISSIONS?