Sermon Central
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Commissioned For Missions
Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 14, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Commissioning Service: This message explores a significant ministry, as it looks at the "missionary call." To be discussed is the role played by God, and also the commitment required of the home church in the missionary’s support.
The church should also show its willingness to support the missionary both prayerfully and financially. In reference again to the laying on of hands, over in Acts 14:26 we learn that the laying on of hands symbolizes commending the missionary to the grace of God. The missionary is in God’s hands once we send him out. We have to learn to rely on God for the missionary’s safety, and the best way we can show our reliance upon God and our support for the missionary is to pray for him on a daily basis.
Secondly, the missionary is bound to the church. He is bound by being held accountable to the church. Over in Acts 14:27 we see that both Paul and Barnabas returned to the church in Antioch and gave a report of what had happened on their journey. You had better believe that when our missionaries return home, giving a report will be no problem. They will be so excited about how the Lord has used them that no one will be able to keep them quiet, and hopefully no one will try.
Charge to the Missionary and the Church
To our (FILL IN THE BLANK) Missionaries: We, the body of Christ at (BLANK) Baptist Church, recognize that you have been active in ministry in our church and community, and seeking the will of the Lord through prayer. We also recognize that you have received a sovereign call from the Holy Spirit to go out to (FILL IN THE BLANK). Right now, we release you to God’s calling and lift you up in faith, knowing that God has chosen you to be a part of His work of evangelizing all the nations.
To the Congregation: We enter a covenant agreement before God to faithfully support our missionaries in prayer while they are on their assignment. We do so from a sincere desire to pray for them and not because we feel obligated, pressured, or made to feel guilty. Let’s remember that we are entering into a covenant before God, so we need to be certain to be faithful and pray for them regularly.
NOTES
(1) David Zimmerman, “The Force of Missions,” a sermon found on the Internet January 2001 at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/5487/Miss982.html. This introduction is taken from Zimmerman, along with much of the sermon outline.
(2) A quote from “Called to Missions,” from Sermon Seeds. Taken from the Internet January 2001 at http://www.alltel.net/~jpeters/a38.html.
(3) Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998), p. 374.
(4) “Commission,” Dictinary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commission (Accessed May 28, 2012).
(5) Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville: Holman, 1998), p. 210.
(6) Fernando, p. 377.
