485 – The Beginning of Missionary Outreach

SEMESTER 6

485 – The Beginning of Missionary Outreach

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 85
THE BEGINNING OF MISSIONARY OUTREACH

Read Acts 12:24 through Acts 14:28.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Acts 13 does not record the first instance of men “sent out” by the Lord’s church. (Acts 8:14 and Acts 11:22)
2. However, these men were sent to certain places to minister to present needs of disciples.
3. The sending of Barnabas and Saul was quite different, in that they were sent into general evangelism, wherever they might be led.
4. This seems to be the proper Bible pattern for mission work today, in that it perfectly fits our Lord’s commission. (Matt. 28:19-20)

I. THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHURCH AND MISSIONARIES

1. Saul and Barnabas had become well established at Antioch. (Acts 11:22-30 and Acts 12:24 through Acts 13:1)
2. The modern practice of missionaries seeking a strange sending church is unknown in Scriptures.
3. The practice of a church accepting and sending a strange or unknown missionary is foreign to Scripture.

II. THE UNIFIED LEADERSHIP OF THE SPIRIT

1. The Holy Ghost had called Barnabas to do this foreign evange­lism. (Acts 13:2)
2. He also spoke to the church confirming his call of them and comman­ding the church accordingly. (Acts 13:2)
3. A church should not send without such leadership.
4. A missionary should not assume the right to go unless a sending church has been so directed.

IIIs. by agreements between pastors and missionaries.

III. THEY WERE SENT OUT BY THE CHURCH (ACTS 13:1-4)

1. Modern “Mission Boards” and “Clearing Houses” are supra-scriptural and should not exist.
2. The church at Jerusalem with the apostles was a perfect setting for such an entity but they did not build it.
3. The church at Antioch sent them, without any outside consultation.
4. Whatever their financial needs were, they were provided through that church.
5. They went with one purpose and one consistent program. They preached the word of God.

IV. THEY CONSIDERED THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR SENDING CHURCH

1. They were recommended to, and commended to the grace of God by the church at Antioch. (Acts 14:25-26)
2. They returned to, and reported to that church.
3. This accountability is incumbent upon the missionary in all things.

IIIs. when a missionary thinks of his ministry as greater than that of his church.

4. These missionaries remained in, and fellowshipped with, their home church. (Acts 14:28)
5. There is no indication that Saul or Barnabas ever felt the need or right to change sponsoring churches.
6. A minister’s right relationship with God will be manifest by a right relationship with his church.