The Gospels provide us a glimpse into Jesus’ Model for Missionary Work, as Christ came into the world in the way we should go unto the nations.
1. SENT BY GOD
32 times in the gospel of John Jesus indicates God the Father sent him.
- “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” – John 9:4
- “he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” – John 5:24
- “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” – John 6:44
Long and short-term missionaries are “sent ones” – not those who desire adventure, new experiences or an alternative to summer vacation. God sent His son into the world. Jesus sent the twelve and then seventy on missionary journeys. But Jesus did not stop sending once he ascended to heaven
Acts 1:8-9 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”
He continues to send men and women to the nations with the gospel.
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” – John 20:21
A good mission trip participant sees themself as being sent!
2. ACTED VOLUNTARILY
Although Jesus was sent by God the Father, He did it voluntarily. He wasn’t compelled, manipulated or forced to come to earth and die for our sins.
John 10:17-18 – “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
And because he voluntarily left behind heaven to serve those on earth, he could identify with those He came to serve in a genuine way. No one should be compelled to go on a mission trip. The only thing that should be compelling someone to go on a trip is Christ’s love.
2 Cor. 5:14-15 – “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
And because a mission trip is a voluntary act participants can identify with Christ and those we go to serve in a genuine way.
So mission trip participants should see themselves as being sent, act voluntarily…
3. MOVED WITH COMPASSION
Jesus’ identification with people produced real sympathy and compassion.
Matt 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
His compassion moved him to: heal the sick, teach truth, feed the hungry, give sight to the blind, and comfort the grieving. Without compassion missionary work is just work, and can honestly be akin to someone riding a rusty old bike: painful to ride, painful to watch, and not very productive.
Mission trip participants should see themselves as being sent, act voluntarily, be moved with compassion…
4. COMPELLED TO COMMUNICATE
The central activity of missions is the communication of the gospel.
Mark 8:36 – “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
Jesus healed, cast out demons, raised the dead and fed the hungry; however, all these were secondary. In fact, communication was so central to Jesus’ mission trip that one of his key names was “the Word.”
John 1:1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Eric Wright says it well in A Practical Theology of Missions when he states,
“Missionary activity that fails to focus on the proclamation of the gospel fails to be missionary. Philanthropy, perhaps; missions, no. However, as sinners grow in grace they increasingly manifest both love for God and love for their neighbors. Works of concern and compassion spring up as believers see neighbors in need. Evangelism precedes and produces, social action.”
With Jesus as their example, mission trip participants should see themselves as being sent by God, be acting voluntarily, be moved with compassion, and feel compelled to communicate.
Click here to support EA’s dual ministry TO visiting groups and THROUGH visiting groups by donating toward our Operations Budget.
