A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR MISSIONS

1. THE MISSION OF MISSIONS IS PRIMARILY SPIRITUAL

2. THE MISSION BELONGS TO GOD, FOR HIS GLORY, ON HIS TERMS

3. GLOBAL MISSIONS IS PRIMARILY THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH

• The local church makes clear who is and who is not a disciple through
  baptism and membership in the body (Acts 2:41).
• The local church is where most discipling naturally takes place (Heb.
  10:24–25).
• The local church sends out missionaries (Acts 13:3) and cares for
  missionaries after they are sent (Phil. 4:15–16; 3 John 1–8).
• And healthy, reproducing local churches are normally the aim and end of our
  missionary effort (Acts 15:41; Titus 1:5).

4. THE BIBLE SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH MISSIONS

• The Bible tells us what the mission is: the church’s mission is to display the
  glory of God by declaring the gospel to all peoples, by gathering churches in
  every place, and by filling them with disciples who obey God and will praise
  him forever for his grace (Isaiah 56; Matt. 28:18–20; Rom. 15:7–13; Eph.
  3:8–11; Rev. 7:9–10).
• The Bible tells us how the mission will go forward: through prayerful
  dependence, gospel proclamation, biblical discipling, and church planting (Ex.
  6:5–8; Rom. 10:17; Col. 4:2–4; 1 Thess. 5:11).
• The Bible tells us what kind of missionaries we should support: biblically
  faithful, methodologically patient, gospel-proclaiming, church-loving
  missionaries (Acts 16:1–3; Rom. 10:14–15; 2 Cor. 8:23; 2 Tim. 4:1–5; 3 John
  1–8).
• The Bible tells us what the end goal of missions should be: transformed
  individuals in biblical churches who will ultimately join a heavenly multitude
  praising the Lamb of God forever (Rom. 8:1–11; Heb. 10:19–25; Rev. 7:9–10). ________________________

5. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

• The “good news” announcement of what God has accomplished in Jesus’ death
  and resurrection for sin, and in consequence, will accomplish in the New Heaven
  and New Earth.

6. WHAT DO “MISSIONS” AND “MISSIONARY” MEAN?

• Missions: the unique, deliberate gospel mission of the church to make disciples of all the nations. Evangelism that takes the gospel across ethnic, linguistic, and geographic boundaries, that gathers churches, and teaches them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
• Missionary: someone identified and sent out by local churches to make the
  gospel known and to gather, serve, and strengthen local churches across
  ethnic, linguistic, or geographic divides.

SENDING AND SUPPORTING WELL

7. BASIC PRINCIPLES FROM 3 JOHN 1–8

• Concern for missions and missionaries is normal (vv. 3, 5, 8).
• Cooperation among local churches is encouraged (vv. 3, 7).
• Knowing whom we ought to support is crucial (vv. 6–8).
• Support should be abundant (v. 6).
• The motivation is love for the glory of Christ (vv. 7–8).

8. ASSESSING WOULD-BE MISSIONARIES

• Assess Character
• Assess Fruitfulness
• Assess Bible Knowledge

9. EQUIPPING WOULD-BE MISSIONARIES

• Meaningful Membership
• Specific Training
• International Experiences
• Local Engagement with International

10. MAINTAINING LOCAL CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY

• Regular Communication
• Pastoral Visits
• Sending Short-Term Help
• Providing Additional Teammates