Missionary work, as an essential aspect of Christian ministry, is deeply rooted in the biblical mandate to spread the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. This divine command is evident throughout Scripture, where ministers are called to actively engage in the work of evangelism and the establishment of the Church across the globe.

The Great Commission

The foundational command for missionary work is found in the Great Commission, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, instructed His disciples with these words: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). This directive underscores the universal scope of the Gospel and the responsibility of ministers to reach beyond their immediate communities.

The Apostolic Example

The Book of Acts provides numerous examples of missionary work carried out by the apostles, who were the early ministers of the Church. The Apostle Paul, in particular, exemplifies the missionary zeal commanded by Christ. In Acts 13:2-3, the Holy Spirit instructs the church at Antioch: "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." This calling led to Paul's extensive missionary journeys, during which he established churches and spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is crucial for effective missionary work. Jesus promised His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This promise highlights the necessity of the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength in fulfilling the missionary mandate.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Missionary work is also framed within the context of the ministry of reconciliation. The Apostle Paul writes, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). Ministers are thus called to be ambassadors for Christ, imploring others to be reconciled to God through the message of the Gospel.

The Call to Preach

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of preaching in the missionary endeavor: "How, then, can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?" (Romans 10:14). This rhetorical sequence underscores the necessity of ministers actively proclaiming the Gospel so that others may come to faith.

The Urgency of the Task

The urgency of missionary work is further highlighted by Jesus' words in the Gospel of John: "As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4). This sense of urgency compels ministers to prioritize the spread of the Gospel, recognizing the limited time available to fulfill this divine command.

Conclusion

Missionary work by ministers is a clear and compelling command found throughout Scripture. It is a task that requires obedience to Christ's commission, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to preaching the Gospel to all nations. Through the examples of the apostles and the teachings of the New Testament, ministers are called to dedicate themselves to this vital aspect of Christian ministry.Matthew 28:19
Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 16:15
And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Black and Wesley.
... Two years later the British Wesleyan Missionary Committee requested ... and the
consciousness that his active work was done ... that he wrote to the ministers at the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/v black and wesley.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1836 to the ...
... some of our oldest and most useful ministers, without, at ... year 1803, he was sent
as a missionary to Lower ... these infirmities he persevered in his work with his ...
/.../chapter 14 from the close.htm

The Preacher as a Man.
... won or lost.[43] The great difficulty of missionary work is that ... me to observe how
easily ministers' wives in ... family lends an immense assistance to his work. ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture vi the preacher as.htm

Answers to Prayer
... on till we met the advance guard, who commanded us to ... Winter of 1872 I spent in
missionary work, carrying the ... Urged by ministers and laymen in high standing to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/answers to prayer.htm

The Holy Catholic Church.
... Paul and S. Barnabas from their first missionary journey: "They ... of the third order
of Ministers"the Deacons ... in the more distinctly spiritual work of preaching ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter ix the holy catholic.htm

Laboring under Difficulties
... to Asia at the close of his second missionary journey ... knew that those who neglect
physical work soon become ... He desired to teach young ministers that by working ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 33 laboring under difficulties.htm

The Message Heeded
... From Ephesus Paul set forth on another missionary tour, during ... who also hath made
us able ministers of the ... He feels the importance of his work, realizing that ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 31 the message heeded.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1820 to the Beginning ...
... of the Lord; so that our missionary friends will ... to our conference, our superintendents,
our ministers, and members ... by which he has performed the mighty work! ...
/.../chapter 6 from the close.htm

On Being Filled with the Spirit
... Of the missionary stations, if I recollect right, he ... vain for a minister to try to
work over your ... Ministers often groan and struggle, and wear themselves out ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture vii on being filled.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... inquired whether there were any young ministers who were ... to devote themselves to
this work " to brave ... privations and sacrifices of a missionary among those ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

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Mission: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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