Global Missions

There are some words that John Newton wrote a long time ago. He was a man who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.

! He said, I never want to cease to be amazed that a wretch such as myself was not only spared the wrath of God, but also reserved a place of honor in declaring the gospel that saved me.

And I really want you to know that I treasure that. I'm really thankful to be here with you today.

That God wouldn't only just save me and spare my soul, but He would give me the opportunity to declare the good news to other people.

And so as Nathan stated, we've been taking a break off of Romans 10 and discussing local and global mission.

And my task today is to discuss the global part.

And so what I want to begin with first is, as we've discussed in previous weeks, there's a lot of definitions and misconceptions about what missions actually can be.

Sometimes, usually in the church, you have images of people going overseas and going to different places in the world with people who speak different languages.

And that's what tends to come to mind when you hear the word missions.

And that certainly is a part of missions.

But, however, like mission is not a biblical word like covenant or justification or gospel.

And so we don't have necessarily like a clear definition in Scripture for what missions means.

And in the church, that could be broadly interpreted.

If you were to say, what is the mission of the church?

You could say, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

You could say a lot of different things about what is the mission of the church.

So it depends on what we actually mean by the word mission.

And it could be defined dozens of ways.

But a simple, I mean, if you just want to break it down to the most simple way to define mission in the Latin, where we get the word from, it just means to, like, being sent or to send.

And secondly, and they're not different definitions, being given a task, sent to do something.

Sent to do something, but not everything.

Going to do something specific in particular in where you go.

So, but we are very, very clear that God has given a mission to the church to go and declare the gospel to all nations.

So, I have three questions for us to look at today.

And underneath these, there's going to be a lot of other little bullets and asides.

But they're underneath these three questions.

But the first one is, what is the message we bring in our mission?

And what is the message we bring in our mission?

So, the gospel, the word evangelion means, in Greek, it means good news, glad tithings.

And it means a victory in a battle.

And those of you who know, I really like ancient history a lot.

And in ancient Greece, like when city-states, such as Corinth or Thebes or Sparta or Athens were at war with each other,

they would then really ride horses at that point.

So, they did everything by running.

They had runners that took news everywhere.

And the picture is like a city would be waiting to hear what happened at a battle.

And it would all just be like on their, you know, just on the walls, on the towers of the city,

just waiting for news to reach them as to what happened at the battle.

And then they would see a guy, you know, running over the hill, you know, and he would get there.

And they usually could tell by the expressions on his face, whether it was good news or bad news.

But if he had a joyful look and his face was smiling and he was just beaming with joy,

he would cry out, you know, evangelion, good news of victory.

We all know where to get the word, you know, Nike from the shoe that was from Pheidippides.

He ran, you know, from the Battle of Marathon.

And he cried out, victory, and then he died when he got to Athens.

And it's the same picture of what this has meant.

So if that's what gospel is, good news, glad tithings of victory, what is the Christian gospel?

And so throughout the ages, man has faced a greater foe than anything in the world has known.

It's something much greater, and that is our own sin.

And sin brings about suffering, agony of the soul, and eventually spiritual death.

Internal separation from God.

There's no greater enemy than our own sin.

And the power of sin and death among the nations is very, very great.

That only a sovereign God could conquer it.

And so we ask ourselves, where is the Christian gospel?

Turn through Isaiah 52.

Isaiah 52, verse 7.

Isaiah 52:7

So understand, over the centuries, people have waited in darkness and waited in bondage of sin.

And it's very cool that Nathan read, refer back to our text in Romans 10,

because Paul actually quotes from this passage in Isaiah.

Around roughly 722 or so B.C., the prophet Isaiah foretold of a greater victory that was to come.

And in verse 7 of chapter 52, he says,

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation, who says to Zion,

Your God reigns.

The voice of your watchmen, they lift up their voice.

Together they sing for joy.

Waste places of Jerusalem.

Together they will sing for joy.

For eye to eye they have seen, see the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem.

For the Lord has commanded his people.

He has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has barred his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations.

And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

And so in this, we see the good news of the gospel prophesied about 700 years or so

before Christ actually came on the scene.

If you see some of the languages there,

the feet upon the mountains that brings the good news,

and the watchmen and everybody else,

they're crying out for joy because news of victory has come.

And he's saying,

So what would be the response of the good news that was brought to those cities?

It would be singing, it would be laughter, it would be joy.

And he's saying that all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God

and that this is for the nations.

And so the apostle Paul actually was allowed to see this prophecy come to pass

in the person of Christ who won the victory over sin, death, and Satan.

And so we look at verse 10 in Isaiah 52,

and we see that this good news is not just for Americans or for the West or for the Bible Belt.

It's meant for the nations, all people groups,

all the people scattered throughout the ends of the earth.

Every language is meant for them.

And Paul has many ways of describing the gospel or the good news.

In Romans, he says,

It's the good news of his son.

Romans 15, the good news of God.

1 Corinthians 9, the good news of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4, the glorious good news.

Ephesians 6, the good news of peace.

Revelation 14, the everlasting gospel,

or the everlasting good news.

And we all know that before Jesus actually gave the Great Commission to his disciples,

it says that they worshipped him.

They fell down and they worshipped him.

And it's almost, I want you to keep your hand there in Isaiah,

but turn to Daniel 7 really fast.

We'll look at another picture of a prophecy that Christ brought to pass.

Daniel chapter 7, verse 13.

Daniel 7:13

Daniel is seeing these visions,

and he has a picture of Christ,

the Christ who was to come.

Daniel 7, verse 13.

Daniel 7:13

I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven,

there came one like the Son of Man.

And he came to the Ancient of Days,

and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom

that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away.

And his kingdom,

one that shall not be destroyed.

It's as if Jesus could actually say to his disciples,

rightly do you worship me.

I am the one that Daniel spoke about,

that came before the Ancient of Days,

and was told that the nations would worship me and serve me.

Awesome picture of who Christ is.

He rightly deserves the worship and praise of the nations,

because he is God.

And a long time ago,

David Livingston,

a missionary to Africa from Scotland,

he told his wife,

I know that you wish,

as ardently as I,

that the whole world will be filled with the glory of God.

And that's what,

exactly the heartbeat of what

Daniel actually saw here,

was that all the nations would give glory to this king,

who would have an everlasting dominion.

So this is,

that's the first question.

The gospel,

the good news of Christ,

and how God himself has sought man out to reconcile him,

in a way that,

if we come to Christ,

we may live a life that glorifies God once again,

and have relationship with God once again.

And so missions is about that.

It's about declaring the good news,

that God has come in Christ to save sinners,

and to bring them back to himself.

So this is,

that's the first question.

The second question,

we're looking at,

and it may sound a little bit strange,

but the second question,

am I being called to global mission?

Am I being called to global mission?

And,

with the most respect I can say,

I want to say that really,

this is a no brain question for any follower of Christ.

when people come to me,

and they say,

I have a heart for missions,

I want to say,

I certainly hope so.

That's kind of,

in my mind,

kind of,

duh,

you know.

And I think,

again,

that question comes,

because,

of misconceptions,

of how we've portrayed missions,

and missionaries.

But we just do it to everything too.

We do it to pastors,

we do it to,

awesome authors,

that we look up to,

we do it to everybody.

So,

it's not just,

that term,

missionaries.

But,

to be a follower of Christ,

is to understand,

that missions,

is a part of the heartbeat,

of God.

It's not,

it's not something,

just for a few people,

to take on.

Very,

one of my favorite,

and shortest quotes,

by John Piper,

is if John Piper,

has any short quotes.

He says,

in terms of missions,

go,

send,

or disobey.

So,

we are,

to be involved in the going,

the sending,

or both,

at times,

or,

we're in disobedience,

we're in utter sin.

So,

I've done my best,

to really think this through.

And,

this will probably be,

a little bit different,

of a sermon,

than you've heard,

on missions.

I want this a lot,

mostly to be practical,

help,

and wisdom,

for those who are evaluating,

in what capacity,

would God have me,

be a part of his global cause?

So,

it's not,

what,

but,

should I be a part of God's global cause,

but how should I,

be a part of God's global cause?

So,

underneath this same question,

I'm being called,

to global mission,

I have several things,

that,

that I've seen as,

in my own life,

in,

in the lives of others,

what are wrong,

motivations,

in seeking global missions?

What are wrong motivations,

in seeking global missions?

And,

the first one is,

seeking adventure.

Seeking adventure.

Many people,

are kind of wired this way,

I kind of am,

to some degree.

You're always looking for thrills,

you're looking to,

to do the difficult,

what you want to challenge,

in life,

and,

the thrill,

the unknown,

just excites you,

and,

you're attracted by,

mysterious places in the world,

and,

strange peoples in the world,

and you kind of want to go,

and,

and dive into that.

So,

you like to go on,

like an exotic,

adventurous vacation,

and attach,

attach the name,

mission trip,

to it,

often.

And,

you're there more for the place,

and for the thrill,

than for the broken people,

that are there.

And,

you're the kind of person,

to say,

I love trying new things,

dangerous things,

I want to be radical,

I want to be sold out,

I want people to,

the,

the,

the recognition,

comes from doing something,

totally different,

than what most people do.

And,

and often,

if you're not careful,

those people can think,

God needs me,

like,

I'm the person for this job,

I have this,

together.

And,

if that's,

in your heart at all,

I pray this,

I pray that you would,

you would ask God,

help me realize,

that you don't need me,

for anything,

and that carrying the cross,

leaves me nothing,

to both sin.

Help me to fall in love with you,

and break my heart,

for the lost people,

and direct me where I am,

to minister there.

So,

that is,

that is one,

false motivation,

for seeking,

global mission.

A second one,

following a movement,

following a movement.

And so,

there's always dangers,

of following a movement,

rather than,

the message of that movement.

In our case,

we're quick to dive,

into a movement,

and forget the man,

of that movement,

which is Christ.

And,

we,

when we go to conferences,

and we hear messages,

and we read books,

and,

we hear testimonies,

and there's all this excitement,

and,

and clamor,

and energy,

that's going on.

It's very easy,

just to kind of go,

right into it,

just dive,

right into that.

And,

everyone,

wants to belong,

to something.

They want to say,

I was a part,

of this thing,

that took place.

When I was growing up,

I always thought,

it would be awesome,

to say,

I took,

when I heard,

some of the men,

the older men,

in my shirt say,

you know,

I stormed,

the beaches of Normandy,

or I,

I landed in Market Garden,

in Holland,

in the second world war,

I thought,

man,

that must have been,

an awesome,

thing to be a part of.

You know,

I would,

I would think that way.

Everybody wants,

to belong to something.

And so,

we always want to be a part,

of something big,

and new,

and,

awesome,

that is out there.

And for example,

in the church,

there's a resurgence,

of,

of Reformation theology,

the way that,

the reformers,

looked at the scripture,

about,

how scripture is our only authority,

and how all things are,

by grace,

through faith,

in Christ alone,

and all to the glory,

of God alone.

Those are really,

really good things,

but I know people,

that are caught,

in that movement,

and they forget,

the heart of what,

is actually going on.

The heart of what,

scripture is trying to tell us,

and they,

begin to identify themselves,

as I'm a part of this camp,

or that camp,

rather than,

I just fully want to,

belong to Christ,

and Christ alone.

And so,

it's the same thing,

with,

with missions,

quite often.

And then,

in the church,

particularly,

among the younger generations,

it's becoming,

the cool,

popular,

trendy thing to do.

It's like,

let's go on missions together.

And,

they,

there's even,

kind of like,

to some degree,

a generational arrogance,

kind of like,

we're the generation.

We're the generation,

God's going to use,

to fix the problems,

of the world.

And we seek,

to kind of,

almost separate ourselves,

from,

the faithful people,

who have,

lived,

and died,

and served,

in God's global cause,

before us.

People like,

my grandmother,

who have taught,

ESOL,

for,

almost 30,

40 years.

And,

with the Georgia Baptist,

going around the world,

declaring the gospel,

in the form of,

teaching them English.

You know?

And,

so we spit on,

that generation,

and we think that,

we're the awesome generation,

that God's going to use,

to get this done.

And,

I was in that camp too,

I was like,

sign me up,

I want to be a part of this,

cool generation,

years ago.

But,

this is not,

the case.

A lot of times,

and you're a part of a movement,

or you're going to do something that way,

and you go,

and you actually get to,

some dark place in the world,

reality,

will set in.

And,

you'll be sitting there,

dealing with silence,

and depression,

and hardship.

When all the clamor is gone,

you're just sitting there,

dealing with actually,

what's going on.

All the,

romantic glamour,

will kind of fall off.

And,

so in a movement,

we can be very careful,

to forget the whole purpose,

behind what we're doing.

And,

some of you have heard of,

you know,

the Taj Mahal,

and India,

it's a,

a beautiful place,

but the king that built that,

a long time ago,

built it,

to honor his third wife,

which was his favorite wife,

who were born,

I think,

13 children.

And,

he built this,

awesome,

beautiful,

place for his wife,

in honor of his wife.

And,

it took him almost,

20 something years,

to build it.

But,

there was multiple times,

where they actually like,

lost her coffin.

They didn't know where,

her coffin went.

Like,

why are we doing this?

And,

so,

they got so caught up,

in what they were doing,

they lost her,

the whole point,

of the thing.

And,

I know that,

we can get caught up,

in movements,

when we do that.

We forget,

this is about Christ,

not about me,

not about other,

people necessarily.

Really,

this is about,

Christ and his glory,

and about declaring his name,

among the lost.

So,

I say that,

if you're in that camp,

I want you to pray,

God,

help me,

not to be enamored,

by the coolness,

and glamour,

of a movement.

Rather,

help me to fall in love,

with you,

and find who I am,

and you alone.

That's the focus,

you should have.

A third reason,

third wrong motivation,

is a distaste,

for American culture.

A distaste,

for American culture.

Many people,

seek foreign missions,

because they have,

developed a contempt,

almost a hatred,

for the people,

in America.

The culture,

the societal norms,

the prosperity,

and they make,

harsh generalizations,

like,

Americans are rich,

and stuck up,

as if there's not,

other people,

in other nations,

that are,

that struggle with pride.

Pride is at the heart,

of all sin.

No matter,

where you go.

Americans are so lazy,

as if,

there's not lazy people,

in the world.

And they characterize,

just everything American,

is sinful.

And,

if that's how Americans think,

they just must be wrong.

And,

they develop,

some sort of bitterness,

in their heart,

because of that.

And often,

those people,

are seeking to find,

their identity,

in some other culture,

some other nation.

They,

they like that,

and they want to go there.

And,

but,

a huge tragedy,

in this camp,

is that,

people who,

this is the kind of people,

who talk about foreign mission,

all the time,

but they won't,

go,

and share the same Christ,

with the people,

at their workplace,

in their neighborhood,

at their school,

they won't do it.

They have,

this is such a contempt,

for Americans,

but they're all about,

going to share the gospel,

with the lost,

around the world.

And,

I say that,

that's,

a twisted heart,

and a divided heart.

If God truly,

is burning in you,

a desire for the nations,

he will first burn,

a desire for you,

for the people,

that you're surrounded with,

right now.

And people that I see,

that I know,

that are genuinely,

supposed to be,

a part of God's global purpose,

they are pouring their lives,

out here,

like they're meeting with people,

all the time,

like praying for people,

sharing the gospel,

with the lost,

discipling.

I can say with confidence,

that if they say,

hey I'm,

I think I might be,

the Lord might be leading me,

to this area of the world,

I'm like,

man,

you know,

sweet.

But,

that's sin,

and there's bitterness in the heart,

if you think that way.

God loves the people,

the lost and dying,

in this world,

or in our nation,

just as much as anywhere else.

Don't start to rank people,

because,

there's fewer Christians here,

that God loves them more,

and not the people here.

So,

we can't do that.

So,

we need to pray,

God help me to love all people,

including those,

who are here in America,

and break my heart for them.

Help me be faithful,

where I am,

and glorify you,

where I am first.

That's what the focus should be.

And,

fourthly,

I just had two more,

fourth reason,

fourth wrong motivation,

for a global mission,

running from sin.

Running from sin,

and I've done this myself.

So,

many people,

who run to the nations,

they're seeking escape,

from some,

sinful habit,

that they struggle with.

Or,

some pain,

or some fear they have,

or some insecurity they have,

here in America.

I know,

guys that have gone,

and done,

global mission,

because they were struggling,

with,

with greed,

or,

materialism,

or,

sexual sin.

And they think that,

if they just go here,

it won't follow them.

And,

they fail to recognize,

that their enemy is within.

It's not,

something without,

it's something that will follow them,

no matter where they go.

And,

are the people,

who are running from,

from fear,

or insecurity,

or pain,

that they've experienced,

they've experienced,

a broken heart,

through,

a broken relationship,

with,

family,

or,

the opposite sex.

Are they seeking approval,

at work,

or a certain group of people,

they want to be,

accepted by.

And they find themselves,

going overseas,

hoping that that's not going,

to follow them,

and they can find,

somewhere else.

But,

all the time,

usually,

the vast majority,

of people who do this,

their sin,

or their fears,

their insecurities,

only escalate,

when they go,

to places.

It doesn't help.

It usually makes things worse.

Because they're not dealing,

with the problem,

first.

And their,

their enemy is within.

It's a sinful,

broken heart,

not the environment,

that they're in.

So,

I pray that you would see,

that there's no physical,

sanctuary,

away from your sin,

and your fear.

Only in God's presence,

alone is that found.

And so,

pray that,

God help me,

to see there's no,

sanctuary for my sin,

in place of healing,

for my broken heart,

other than in you.

Your presence,

alone,

in your presence,

alone,

there's fullness,

of joy,

and peace.

Steve,

Colbert,

who wrote the book,

you know,

When Helping Hurts,

the book that I've,

I borrowed,

and read a lot,

but I had to give back.

He said,

until we recognize,

our mutual brokenness,

our work with others,

especially with those,

who are materially poor,

will do more harm,

than good.

We have to realize,

how broken we are,

first,

and,

and how much we need to save,

before we go,

and help others.

So,

so that's running from sin,

or fear,

wrong motivation.

Fifth,

this was,

again,

I've lived in this camp,

and this is the last one,

wrong motivation,

guilt,

and penitence.

Guilt,

and penitence.

Those who feel,

the weight of their sin,

and their guilt,

often can seek,

to repay God,

for his kindness to them.

And I've done this,

it's often called,

the debtor's ethic.

God did this for me,

so I have to do this for him.

I have to pay him back somehow.

And I need to sell,

everything I have,

and I need to go to the hardest place,

to live on the earth,

and just give my life,

just doing,

missions,

so he'll see how serious I am,

and that he,

made a good investment,

when he saved me.

You feel like,

so unworthy,

so broken,

and you're motivated by guilt,

and unworthiness,

and not the love,

and gratitude,

that should come,

from knowing Christ.

So we seek to repay God,

and all that he's done,

in us.

And I've lived in that camp,

and so I pray that,

if that's where you are,

you pray God,

help me to see,

that you love me,

and save me,

not because,

of what I could do for you,

but simply because,

you chose to.

Help me to see,

that I'm completely loved,

and accepted by you,

and help me to do all,

out of love,

thankfulness,

and gratitude,

and for all you've done for me.

That's,

that should be our focus.

And so,

those are some wrong motivations,

that I've seen in myself,

and the lives of others,

for why they seek,

to go and do global mission.

So,

moving on,

I have a few reasons,

for what are pure,

and right motives,

behind global mission.

And,

kind of starting here,

like I said a second ago,

the first one,

is a deep love,

and gratitude for God.

You're aware,

of your own sin,

and you're aware,

of the depths,

that God has picked you out of,

and that,

it makes your heart joyful,

and so,

thankful,

for what he's done,

that you just want to know him,

walk with him,

live for him,

and die for him.

And you don't care how.

You don't care,

what he does.

If he says,

stay here,

and do the most,

back behind the scene task,

or if he's like,

go,

and stand,

and preach before,

thousands of people,

or he's like,

go to this nation,

and preach the gospel,

you really don't care.

You just want to know Christ,

to walk with him,

and to make him known.

That's,

kind of where you are.

So,

all that you've,

are doing,

is motivated,

by the love,

and gratitude,

you have for God.

You were,

you recognize,

that you were not with him,

at one point,

and he sought you,

and he wrapped you,

in his splendor,

and he called you,

his own.

And,

the result is,

you just hunger,

and thirst for God.

Turn to Jeremiah 20,

really fast.

Jeremiah 20,

Jeremiah 20:9

verse 9.

So,

our hearts,

should be so filled,

with love,

and gratitude,

that,

we naturally,

talk about,

what we love the most.

It comes out of us.

And,

I want to declare,

declare Christ.

And so,

our affections,

compel us,

to preach the gospel.

Jeremiah 20,

Jeremiah 20:9

verse 9.

If I say,

I will not mention him,

or speak any more,

in his name,

there is in my heart,

as it were,

a burning fire,

shut up in my bones,

and I am weary,

with holding it in,

and I cannot.

That is like,

how you feel,

if you truly,

have encountered Christ.

You must,

talk about him.

You must,

declare him.

It must come out of you.

Like Peter and John,

who stood before,

the religious leaders,

and they say,

we cannot help,

but speak of what we have seen,

and heard.

Or like,

the demon possessed man,

who was healed,

and he told Jesus,

I will follow you,

and do whatever you want me to do.

And he said,

go,

and declare what God has done for you.

He joyfully went,

and declared like,

what God had done for him.

And,

and deep down,

we say,

as Paul did in 1 Corinthians,

woe to me,

if I do not,

preach the gospel.

It has to,

it has to come out of us.

So first of all,

get to start there.

If you have just such a,

a love and gratitude,

for what God has done in your own life.

Secondly,

a love for the lost world.

And again,

I've already kind of touched on this.

Our hearts should break for the lost,

all over the world,

not just,

a particular,

certain people.

Not just lost people.

Not just in Asia,

Africa,

or Europe,

but our neighborhoods,

your schools,

the people you encounter,

your family,

places of work,

here in America.

America.

This is a very healthy indication

that God could be

expanding your vision

to go and do something globally.

You have to be faithful

where you are first.

That's a biblical principle.

It's just,

it's just there.

You can't escape it.

God wants to be faithful

where you are.

Then he will lead you

further

to where you are to go.

And,

we should go

to whatever extreme necessary

to reach the lost.

And God has given us

the privilege

of being his messengers

to rescue those

who are being taken away

to death

and hold back

those who are stumbling

to slaughter.

And then,

thirdly,

a holy desire

for going to the nations.

Many of you will find God

as you're being faithful

where you are,

pulling you

and directing

your heart

to a specific nation,

people group,

or region

of the world.

and you'll have

no romantic ideas

about it.

You'll be like,

I could go.

I could suffer a lot

while I'm there.

I could experience loneliness.

I could be persecuted.

Not a lot could happen

even if I go.

Even if I go and live there,

I might not even see

anyone converted.

You understand

the realities

of what's there.

You have no romantic ideas

about it.

But God is nonetheless

pulling you

and developing

a broken heart

for a particular group.

people in darkness,

a dark spiritual condition.

And you see God

opening and closing doors

as you begin to pray about

and seek this out

to see if this is

something He would have you

actually go and do.

So,

all this,

I've just said,

are wrong motivations

and right motivations

for global mission.

And you might have

just a mixture

of a lot of those.

I don't want you

to section them all off.

I've experienced

most of those.

And this is

the third part

and probably

one of the largest parts.

How can we

as a church

be active

in God's global purpose?

How can we

as a body here

be active

in God's global purpose?

And the first one

is

praying and counseling.

Okay?

We desire to help

direct people

to where God

is leading them

regardless of

wherever

that may be.

And we understand

that God

has uniquely

crafted you

and gifted you

for different things.

Those of you

who have children

know that your goal

is not to

force your child

into a mold

that you want

or just like yours,

but recognize

that God's going

to have them

as individuals.

He's going to have them

grow up to be unique

in a lot of ways

and that that's

going to play

into who they're

going to be

and what they'll

be doing one day.

And so we do the same.

So our goal,

most radicals

in the church,

they will make you

feel weight

and guiltiness

that you need

to do exactly

what they're doing.

I've seen

pastors

and missionaries

over,

foreign missionaries

alike do this.

They will come

and they'll preach

a message on

local mission.

They'll be like,

don't you dare

go anywhere else.

You need to stay here

and you need to

do local mission.

And then I've heard

the opposite of guys

say,

you know,

like,

how dare you not

go to the nations?

And there's a sign-up

sheet and everybody's

name's on the sign-up

sheet at the end,

like sign me up,

I'm going.

And it's almost

like they've been

burdened or guilted

into a certain

direction.

But we want to

sit down with you

and we want to

listen,

to pray,

to discuss,

to look at scripture

and help draw out

of you what God

is doing inside of you

and then direct you

where we think

that would be

or where you think

that would be.

We recognize that

about you.

We want to aid you

in encouraging you

in seeking that out,

whatever it is,

whatever it is.

And that includes

going to the nations

and that's awesome.

We want to encourage

that,

not to convince you

to be a goer or a sender,

but to figure out

where you should be

and to walk through

that journey with you.

It's our privilege

to do that.

I'm so thankful

for men and women

who are in the nations

now that I've had

a chance to be

friends with

and to encourage

and train

and send out

and that leads us

to the next thing.

Our church can be

involved in training

and discipleship.

We desire,

in general,

to help people

grow in their walks

with Christ,

to teach them

to know God

and to love God,

to follow Him

and obey Him.

We want to give them

a firm biblical,

theological foundation

for their life

and what they do.

Things that every believer

should know.

So you may think

theology,

scholarship,

intellectualism,

what does that have

to do with mission?

It has a lot

to do with mission.

Did you know that

John Calvin's

seminary in Geneva

was called

the School of Death?

And you no doubt,

I bet if you went there,

you would get some

hardcore theology

while you were there,

you would be learning

out the wazoo,

like information

about what the Scripture says.

But do you know

that a huge majority

of men that came there

from all over Europe,

they were so burdened

by what they heard,

they're like,

we can't stay here.

We have to go back

to our people

and teach them

these things.

And like,

huge numbers of them

were martyred

as they went back

to their home countries

from this seminary

to declare

the truth of the Gospel

to the people

they heard

and to translate

the Scripture

into their own languages.

So we want that

to be that.

We want to be that.

We want to train you

in our knowledge

of the truth

so that you will go out

and have a firm foundation.

There was a girl

who was a part

of our congregation

several years ago

who's graduated

and moved on.

But while she was here,

she took place

in a short-term

mission trip

to Moldova.

And there,

she was actually

attacked by

some of the,

kind of like the mob

that's there

in Moldova.

Actually,

and she came back

and told us,

you know,

when she returned,

your teachings

that I've learned

from you guys

about how God

is in control

of all things

that He is sovereign

gave me such peace

and joy

while I was

being threatened

with death there.

And like,

that's what we want

to have.

We want to give you

a firm biblical training

and discipleship

before you go anywhere.

We want you

to feel this burden

and go.

So,

also,

we want to be able

to serve

long-term goers,

long-term people

who are being called

to foreign mission.

We want to aid them

in any way we can.

and we want

to have,

like even groups

of people

in our congregation

adopt certain people

that are out there

to pray for them

constantly,

to fund them

financially,

to stay in touch

with them

and to encourage them

and to report

on what they're doing

here.

We want to see

that happen.

And

we're in the works

of trying to do

a lot of stuff

like that now.

and we want

to be connected

to these long-term

people who are there

and to inform you

here what's going on

in their areas

of the world.

That's important.

We need to be doing that.

And then,

also,

I try to be very careful

when I'm thinking

through this.

Also,

be involved

as a church

in wise,

short-term

missions.

missions.

And

we do desire

to engage

in some

short-term missions

as a congregation,

but we don't want

to betray

a short,

exciting,

exotic vacation

that you can attach

mission trip onto.

We never want that

to be the focus.

Not so you can just go

and experience

different peoples

and cultures,

and we want

to carefully examine

like cultural values,

economic situations,

and the broken

relationships of people

in those places

that we're actually

thinking about.

And I want to be wise

in the planning,

the implementing,

and the evaluation

of what we do.

Scripture is very clear

that the only way

to wage war

is to do it wisely.

It says in Proverbs 15,

without counsel,

plans fail.

But with many advisors,

they succeed.

In Proverbs 20,

plans are established

by counsel.

By wise guidance,

wage war.

So we want to be

careful about

where we send money

and who we send

to go and do

specific things

in different places

of the world.

In the book,

Helping Hurts,

Steve Carbert said,

by definition,

short-term missions

have only a short time

in which to show

a profit,

to achieve,

predefined goals.

And this can

attack our American

idols of speed,

of

comparatualization,

that's a big word,

money,

achievement,

and success.

Projects become

more important

than people.

That's often how

we can be in America.

We don't want to

put in something

so we can get

a quick response

or a quick profit back.

We've got to be

prepared to deal

with the long

haul in certain

things.

So there's a few

principles here

as to how we can

help make the most

out of short-term

missions.

And one is

engage with

the locals

and long-term

people that are

in certain countries

and ask them

to be a part

of the planning

and the implementing

and the evaluation

of what's going on.

And we want to do

what they think

is best for

the communities

that they're ministering

in and not what

we want to do

or what we think

is best.

Because

at the end of the day

it's not about us,

it's about

the loss

and reaching the loss.

So if that means

like

the money

that we would use

to actually spend

to get to the location

would be more

beneficial

just to give

to the people

that are there

long-term

so they can use it

and spend it

which way they think

best,

we'll do that.

But if they say

hey we really

could use some help,

we could use

some faithful people

to come and help us

for this period of time

and doing this

and teaching English

or training

or there's multiple things,

serving,

building,

we want to be able

to be a part of that.

And we want to even

help train

and prepare people

before they go

on these trips.

And so

also

in this book

I recommend

this book

by the way

when helping hurts.

I haven't read

the whole thing

but it's been

very good

practically

in learning

how to apply

missions

but

he has

three things

I think

would be helpful

for you to write down.

General principles

for helping

without hurting

and

there's three kinds

of things out there.

One is relief.

Okay,

we want

there's

a crisis

in the world

and we go

and we provide

relief.

And that means

there's an urgent need

and we need to go

now

and stop

the bleeding

of whatever

is going on.

That's relief.

The second one

rehabilitation

and that starts

when the bleeding

stops

and you help

people get back

to a pre-crisis

condition.

And then

thirdly

development

which is

an ongoing

effort

to help

people

and come

into a right

relationship

with God

and help

establish them

where they are.

So that's the things

we wanted to see

but

in the book

he says

one of the biggest

mistakes

is that

North American

churches make

by far

is in applying

relief

in situations

in which

rehabilitation

or development

is appropriate.

So

we're quick

to kind of

go and

provide the

wrong kind

of help

when this

is more

needed

than

what we're

trying to

give them.

So we want

to be very

careful

thought out

prayerful

seek out

wisdom

from those

who are

in those

countries

and the

long term

missionaries

that are there

and ask

them how

best can

we help

and Nathan

and I

or Wes

and Chris

run the

process of

putting together

you know

people that are

in different

continents

different nations

that we know

and we have

connections with

we want to

be able to

love and support

them in any

way that we

can.

But at the

end of the

day this

is all

about

declaring

the gospel

and the

glory of

God to

the ends

of the

earth.

So in

closing turn

to Acts

Acts 26 · chapter mention

chapter 26.

Acts 26

and go down

to verse

17.

Paul

he declares

that this

was the

mission that

God sent

him to

do

and

he says

go to

the

Gentiles

to who

I'm sending

you

verse 18

to open

their eyes

so that they

may turn

from darkness

to light

and from the

power of

Satan

to God

that they

may receive

forgiveness

of sins

and a

place

among those

who are being

sanctified by

faith in

me.

This is

our aim.

This is our

mission,

our goal.

We want

people to be

set free from

sin so they

can know the

God that

created them

and walk with

them in a way

that will honor

him and glorify

him.

And at the

end of all

things,

one day a lot

of us in here

who know Christ

and have him

in our lives

will be

standing before

the throne of

God in

eternity,

praising him,

giving him

glory,

worshiping the

lamb who

was slain.

I watched

the opening

ceremonies in

the Olympics,

like probably a

lot of us

did,

and such a

beautiful,

cool picture

of what

eternity

could be.

All the

nations coming

together for

a particular

purpose and

coming in

with their

flags and

their languages

and all of

that,

as beautiful

as that is,

you know,

there's one day

we're all going

to come together

and we're going

to lay down

those flags

and we're all

going to take

on a new

identity,

have a new

name.

There won't

be any

barrier of

race or

culture or

any kind of

hatred between

us at all.

Christ will be

our all in

all and we'll

worship him for