Matthew 28:18-20 – Missions
The first time I
gave a lesson that caused a lot of trouble was in Landmark Baptist Church of
O’Fallon, Missouri. I used this
text and taught that God did not necessarily want our money; he wanted us.
He wanted us to talk to people everywhere we go, not just send our money
overseas. Churches in the USA are
drying up (Foreign churches do not sent missionaries to all the world, - they
stay in their on locality.)
Josh Rogers preached
on missions:
His preaching was
not what I expected, but it was indeed the truth.
I do not like it
when a missionary comes and tells us what the country produces (sheep, coal, so
forth), population of cities, shows pictures of people working, so forth, shows
the various kinds of food people eat, and the general economy.
I want him to tell how God has dealt with him about going to that
particular place and people.
Things I do not like
about the modern missions movement:
Missions must be
personal, not collective.
Individual church members must see lost people going to hell without Christ, and
personally go to them, not wait on some missionary or pastor to come along and
speak to them about Christ.
Paul:
Not a shallow “Come to church services”, but a dedicated instruction of the
gospel.
Acts 17:1-3 –
reasoned – opening/alleging.
Acts 18:4,5 –
reasoned, persuaded, testified.
Acts 18:11 –
teaching
Acts 18:19 –
Reasoned.
Acts 18:23 –
Strengthening
Acts 18:26 –
Expounded to Apollos.
Acts 19:26 –
persuaded