GOD’S CALL TO MISSIONS
A. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”- Matthew 28:19-20.
1. This is what is known as the GREAT COMMISSION, a commission not only for the original disciples but for the church today.
2. The third line of our PURPOSE STATEMENT
is: “Planting the gospel seed at home and abroad.”
COMMENT:
Supporting Corey and his family’s MINISTRY in Japan is only one way that we are trying to fulfill our PURPOSE—the GREAT COMMISSION that God has given to us.
3. It is AMAZING to learn how God uses people to CARRY on His MISSION.
ILLUSTRATION:
Lamak was born into a wealthy, powerful Muslim family in South Asia. His family’s reputation put pressure on him to live like a Muslim. Everything changed when Lamak turned his life over to Jesus Christ while working in Singapore.
When he returned home four years later, he accepted the risks of living out his faith. Despite the danger, Lamak shared Jesus with his family.
His father-in-law reacted violently. He strapped Lamak to a chair and pumped volts of electricity into his arms. He tried to force Lamak to denounce his faith in Christ. Lamak refused.
Though scars remain on Lamak’s arms as a result of this torture, he uses his wounds to share his testimony with others. He now works with short-term MISSION WORKERS and has helped plant 32 churches and has baptized 500 Muslim believers.
COMMENT:
But Lamak would never have had the opportunity to do so much for Christ had he never HEARD the Gospel and TURNED his LIFE over to Jesus Christ.
B. Romans 10:8-15 (READ)
COMMENT:
In these verses Paul asks a series of RHETORICAL QUESTIONS to EMPHASIZE to his readers their RESPONSIBILITY in getting the GOSPEL MESSAGE to people whom have not heard of Jesus. Let’s CONSIDER these questions.
MESSAGE:
I. HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE?
A. Paul asks, “How can people turn to Jesus for salvation if they don’t BELIEVE?”
1. John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
COMMENT:
This verse reveals to us how much God LOVES the PEOPLE on this earth. He sent His only Son to die a CRUEL death upon the CROSS so that every human being can LIVE with Him forever. A SINNER may go to hell UNSAVED, but he will not go to hell UNLOVED.
2. God PLEADS for man-kind to BELIEVE in His Son so they can be SAVED.
a. Yet, we have already seen pictures this morning of people steeped in a RELIGION without Jesus Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:
This is why Corey and his team of MISSIONARIES are in Japan. These are people whom God LOVES, as he does all MAN-KIND. He sent His Son to DIE for them. Yet, the people of Japan can tell you all about Buddha, but the majority knows hardly anything about Jesus Christ.
b. This is true of many people in FOREIGN NATIONS today.
3. What’s even more STARTLING, there are many CHILDREN growing up in this COUNTRY who really do not know who Jesus is.
ILLUSTRATION:
Although I didn’t see this MOVIE, I was told that in the recent movie called “Super-Size Me”, which is about the FAST-FOOD INDUSTRY, a random group of children were shown a picture of MICKEY MOUSE. MOST of them were able to recognize the most prominent of
Walt Disney’s cartoon characters.
Then they were shown a picture of RONALD MCDONALD. ALL the children knew who he was.
Last, they were shown the typical picture of “JESUS” that hangs in most Sunday school rooms across the country. NONE of them RECOGNIZED who that PICTURE represented.
COMMENT:
Friends, a SILLY CLOWN advertising HAMBURGERS and a CARTOON MOUSE are not going to SAVE US—they are not going to SAVE our KIDS. Jesus is the ANSWER.
Your KIDS know all about Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald. What do they KNOW about Jesus? What does your GRANDCHILDREN know about Jesus?
B. Believing in Jesus is much more than just merely recognizing an ARTIST’S depiction of him.
1. However, I think you will be SADDENED to realize how many people you know personally who do not have a CLEAR understanding of who Jesus is.
COMMENT:
Oh, people can tell you that there is a CONNECTION with Jesus and Christmas. They can tell you about the BABY born in a MANGER, but they know very little about the MAN who HUNG on the CROSS.
2. So Paul asks, “How then can they call on the One they have not believed in?”
II. HOW CAN THEY HEAR?
A. They can’t if we don’t SPEAK UP!
1. Romans 10:17- “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
(HOLD UP BIBLE! --THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR!)
COMMENT:
It’s through the Word of God that people learn about the SACRIFICE that God made by sending His Son Jesus to the CROSS to DIE for them. It’s through the Word of God that people learn what they must do to be SAVED. To HEAR about the CRUCIFIXION of Jesus and His RESURRECTION, to BELIEVE in Him, to REPENT of their sins, to CONFESS Jesus as Lord and Savior, and be cleansed by His BLOOD in BAPTISM.
2. Although the GOSPEL of Christ is the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION, it has no IMPACT whatsoever unless people HEAR it.
ILLUSTRATION:
A story has been told that Jesus went back to heaven and was greeted by the angels. They rejoice and praise Him for His victory over sin and Satan. And then they asked, “Now what, Lord? Who will bring the message of your grace to the world?”
Jesus proceeded to tell them about a small group of common men and women – tax collectors, fishermen, farmers, widows, some poor and homeless. He said, “I’ve appointed these to spread the gospel to others who would spread it to still others.”
The angels began to talk about this among themselves. Then one, with a worried look, turned to Jesus, and said, “Lord, what if they fail? What’s your backup plan?” Jesus simply smiled and said, “I have no other plan.”
B. WE’RE IT!
1. Jesus has ENTRUSTED us—His CHURCH—to get the GOSPEL MESSAGE out to the LOST.
2. It’s up to you and me, people whom have been TRANSFORMED by the GOOD NEWS of Christ, to let the WORLD know about Jesus.
3. It’s only by telling our FAMILY, our FRIENDS, our NEIGHBORS, our CO-WORKERS . . . the WORLD about JESUS that people will be SAVED.
COMMENT:
You can LIVE a GOOD Christian LIFE before people all that you want to and still not BRING anybody to Christ. They have to HEAR why you have chosen to LIVE such a LIFE in order for them to be SAVED.
III. HOW CAN THEY PREACH?
A. Paul, a MISSIONARY himself, knows the importance of getting the GOSPEL MESSAGE out to people who might not otherwise ever HEAR the MESSAGE.
1. Paul traveled on three MISSIONARY JOURNEYS and established many churches.
COMMENT:
He had a PASSION for the LOST. He often wrote about himself being the “Worst of Sinners” and how God showed MERCY on him.
2. I Timothy 1:12-17 (READ and COMMENT)
COMMENT:
Paul wanted people to have the same CHANCE that he had to HEAR the GOOD NEWS of Christ and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
B. So Paul asks: “And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”
1. There has to be someone WILLING to GO
COMMENT:
Thank God for MISSIONARIES like Corey and his family who are willing to LEAVE the COMFORT and FAMILIARITY of their HOME—their COUNTRY—to leave FAMILY and go to a strange land among people they don’t know and a culture that is so foreign to them, to bring HOPE and SALVATION through the MESSAGE of Christ.
It takes a special kind of people to UPROOT their FAMILY and live in a FOREIGN country for the sake of Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:
I spent two months on a MISSION FIELD in Eastern Europe without my FAMILY, and it was TOUGH to do. I can’t imagine making it my PERMANENT HOME. Thank God for Corey for willing to do just that.
2. They have to be SENT.
COMMENT:
Paul knows there are people who are LOST because they haven’t HEARD the Gospel Message. His concern is not whether people will OBEY the GOSPEL, but SENDING someone there to TEACH them.
3. They have to be SUPPORTED
a. The apostle John commended Gaius for SUPPORTING traveling MISSIONARIES- III John 5-8 (READ and COMMENT)
b. Those that SUPPORT missionaries become PARTNERS with them in their MISSION.
ILLUSTRATION:
That’s why the Rossville Church of Christ and others have SENT Corey and his family to Japan with our FINANCIAL SUPPORT. We know that it COSTS money for Corey to remain there sharing the GOOD NEWS to the people of Japan. By SUPPORTING Corey and his family, we become PARTNERS with them—we are PART of that MISSION.
That’s one reason why your GIVING to this church is vitally IMPORTANT, so that not only Corey’s MISSION but other MISSIONS that this church is involved with—both at HOME and ABROAD—can CONTINUE.
COMMENT:
We should also SUPPORT Corey through our PRAYERS, our LETTERS of ENCOURAGEMENT, and by LIFTING UP Corey’s parents Mike and Patty while their SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, and GRANDSON are so FAR AWAY.
CONCLUSION:
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A MISSIONARY
