SEMESTER 5
372 – The Articles of Faith Concerning Missions
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY V LESSON # 72
CHURCH COVENANT AND ARTICLES OF FAITH – CONCERNING MISSIONS
Read: Mat. 28:18-20
, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, Joh. 20:21, and Acts 1:8
INTRODUCTION:
1. The modern word missions is used over-inclusively.
2. Many things are called missions that are not missions.
3. Perhaps some things are missions that are not called missions.
4. Let us seek to identify and consider proper mission work.
I. A PROPER DEFINITION OF MISSION WORK
1. It is sending out (away) to preach Christ. (Acts 13:3)
2. It is a “beyond the congregation” effort. (Gen. 49:22)
3. A church must think in terms of reaching out, not just counting noses and nickels.
II. THE UNMISTAKABLE RESPONSIBILITY OF MISSION WORK
1. We should never need to say “Missionary” Baptist.
2. A Non-missionary group is neither Baptist nor a Church.
3. Missions is not an optional effort, but a mandate of God.
III. THE SINGULAR NATURE OF MISSION WORK
1. It is always the preaching of the Gospel.
2. The word teach never implies any less than I Corinthians 1:17 and 23.
3. Every passage involves witnessing to Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
4. It does not involve as mission work, digging wells and planting crops.
IV. THE PROPER RESULT OF PROPER MISSION WORK
1. It is not to promote churches, colleges or fellowships.
III: By common statement: “Not a sound church in all this area of the country.”
2. Proper result is indigenous churches of like faith and order.
3. The purpose of a mission is only to guide it to maturity.
4. A network of “Bethel Missions” is not a good goal at all.
V. LOCAL CHURCH FORMAT FOR PROPER MISSION WORK
1. The commission was given to the church.
2. No other institution has the right to usurp this office or work.
3. No church has a right to delegate it to any other institution.
4. We can cooperate in it, but only with other true churches.
5. No church has the right to cooperate with a “non-church.”
III: This is evidenced by the horrible mess in Philippines.
6. Let us seek to do God’s work, God’s way.
7. The Philistines could move the ark on a cart. Israel must not.
8. Nor may we do God’s work after the world’s pattern.