What we know of as the church today was very different from the Tabernacle of the Old Testament. While the purpose is still the same, disseminating God’s Truth shared from Holy men of the highest calling selected by God for this service, today’s church goes beyond the confines of a Tabernacle and overflows into society, often far from the church location.
This transition was propelled by the commands of Christ through His Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. No longer was all “religious” activity to take place at one location, but now those touched by the message and work of the Lord and His Spirit were to share the Good News with everyone everywhere. That is the essence of Missions.
This new concept brings a pattern which can be applied two thousand years after its inception in Acts. It is not complicated – The Gospel is Preached, Someone Believes and is Discipled, They are Equipped to Share their Faith, They are Sent Out by the Church. That’s what happened in Acts and it is still happening today.
It is interesting to note that it doesn’t say in the New Testament that only those called into “Full time Ministry” were equipped and sent out. While there were some in this category, the Great Commission was given to All Christ Followers. The key word here is “Multiplication”. We are all commissioned to be “On Mission” with Christ. (Thank you Mr. Blackaby)
In a church plant, if the new Pastor is the only one sharing the Gospel message and inviting others to the church, growth and development of that new church will be slow, at best. Contrast that with what took place in the early church in Acts and it paints a much different picture. A favorite verse of mine is Acts 2:11 where it speaks of people speaking and hearing (the gospel message) in their own language. …”the wonderful works of God”. No doubt those sharing with others were simply conveying what they had seen and been a part of when Jesus was nearby not too long before.
I teach a Here2There session on how Missions is the DNA of the church. Everything the church does is “MIssions”. “Missions” IS the great “Mobilizer” of the church as every member is equipped, resourced, and sent out to carry out the Great Commission at home and abroad. “Missions isn’t just about someone who crosses the sea, it’s about anyone who Sees the Cross.”
Church plants grow as Members see themselves as Missionaries and Go Tell Others.
