Why The Missions Course?

I am excited that we are viewing mission work (that’s what Luke calls it: Acts 14:26) as an integral activity of the local church rather than something which is outsourced to missionary agencies. The Mission Course will remind us that the church sends missionaries, and we are the church. There is no church without members like you and me. Which means that you and I actively participate in sending or going. I, along with others, might one day send you. Or you, along with others, might one day send me. And if neither of us goes, maybe we should find someone else that we can raise up and send. Together we send and go. I believe that the Missions Course will help us better grasp that we have work to do and we do not want to outsource our responsibility and amazing privilege.

I think we had the privilege this last Sunday to hear a message from Acts which illustrates exactly how the church does this work. We learn in Acts 13:2 that the church in Antioch, while worshipping and fasting, was led by the Holy Spirit to set apart Paul and Barnabas for this work of missions. And just this last Sunday we learned how after going from city to city planting churches, they returned to Antioch in Acts 14:17 to give a report of what God had done through them. Paul and Barnabas were their missionaries. I think this sermon illustrates how a church participates in Jesus’s instruction to Go and Make Disciples.

I am excited that I get to digest this material alongside the members of my church. Since missions is something for the church collective, then I want to process this information alongside others in my church. I look forward to their input and perspectives. Also, I hope that this facilitates discussions that might not otherwise occur, and I am excited to hear about how others are contemplating missions or participating in missions in ways that I was unawares. Lastly, I think this course will provide reminders that I need. It can be so easy for me to acknowledge the significance of the Great Commission and yet on account of subtle distractions and worldly cares fail to actually participate.

As a word for others, when it comes to going, I would encourage each of us to ask the question “why not me?” instead of “why me?”. It can be easy to assemble a list of reasons (or maybe excuses) why I as an individual shouldn’t go. But maybe we start in a better place by considering that the Great Commission is given to the church. The reality is that some of us will go. I think it is unbeneficial for us to begin by assuming that someone else will be the one to go. Instead, we might begin by asking whether there is a door open to go.