A Biblical Theology of Missions
March 3, 2002 Northwest Bible Church
A Biblical Theology of Missions
INTRO
I. A WORKING DEFINITION
We seek to glorify God by promoting and encouraging the work of missions by which the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ is spread around the world for the establishing and strengthening of churches in the reformed faith. The success of any missionary effort is dependent entirely on the sovereign work of God who alone causes the growth of His church (1 Cor. 3:6).
II. THE GREAT COMMISSION
A. The biblical statement. Mt. 28:18-20.
1) The task is to __________________.
2) The means of doing this are indicated by three participles:
1)
2)
3)
3) The extent of the task is _____________________.
4) The power for the task is _________________________.
B. How it is accomplished -_____________________________.
1) Evangelize.
2) Organize.
3) Revitalize.
a) strengthening and encouraging the disciples (14:22).
b) appointed elders for each church (14:23).
c) additional visits to strenthen the disciples (15:36, 41).
GREAT COMMISSION is not just evangelism but church planting.
C. A current example. Our church supports Roger and Caraleen Bynum. See www.Stormloader.com/lacm/ Latin American Christian Ministries.
- late 50’s
- reformed believers.
- Irapuato. Mexico.
- Their ministry. There their activities included:
preaching; evangelism on the streets, in the city jail, from house to house, encouraging, building relationships, counseling
Currently, they are doing outreach in Silao, a city of 100,000 about 20 minutes from their home in Irapuato. Their hopes are to plant a new church in that city. They are: offering English classes, marriage and family counseling, in home Bible studies. All these are means of teaching God’s word, even the English classes use the gospels for their text (Gospel of Mark).
During all this, Caraleen has been receiving treatments for lymphoma cancer.
III. WHAT WE CAN DO.
1)
2)
3)
Conclusion