FHBC Sermon Notes

The history of Baptists is full of missions. It is arguably the founding idea of the denomination. It continues this day with movements like "The Great Commission Resurgence".  But missions is more than a denominational mission. It is the mission of the whole body of Christ, and that work begins not at the level of association or conventions, but at the local church. 

If we just let the mission board do the work. If we are just sending money with no other commitment, then we are missing the point. The genuine church of Jesus Christ is in totality a missionary church. We must until the return of our savior, be ourselves missionaries in heart and deed.

So in this series we will outline a comprehensive theology of missions in the life of the local church. There are two aims: To encourage us where we are doing well, but to lead us to repentance for where we are not good.

First Question: Why are we engaged in the missionary effort? What is the need for which we go out? 

The word mission means to "be sent". We must first answer the question for what, what have we been sent for?

1. The church on mission recognizes the spiritual need of all people. (9:36)
At this juncture in book of Matthew, we have been reading the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, in the context of healings and miracles by Jesus throughout all the people.  As Jesus is in the midst of the people, v.36 tells us that Jesus had compassion on them. The people are described as harassed and helpless. This word to be harassed had come to mean to be bullied, battered, abused, bruised, exhausted.  They are also described as helpless.  It is to be thrown down on the ground, with no hope, no way to rise. They are beaten beyond hope, with no way of self-rescue. They are called sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are in need of a shepherd, for they have no way of self-protection. Their wandering leads them often to danger. In the absence of a shepherd they are completely vulnerable.

But this condition is not a physical problem, it isn't the abundance of sickness that bothers him, but the futile nature of the spiritual state.  This statement of Jesus isn't a dissertation on the nature on why suffering exist, but addresses the state of things, and ultimately the only remedy and hope for all people.

Jesus is seeing us for who we really are, rebels, wanderers who wandered from the protection of God. In this age, we are told that everyone has potential, that we are all progressing to a better way. We preach the message of selfism so loudly to try and convince ourselves of an idea that in our heart we know is not true.

We will not engage in the missionary act we do not see the truth. We have no hope.  All people have no hope. Things will not get better. The world isn't progressing to better and better.

2. The church on mission offers the gospel of Jesus Christ as remedy for man's need. (9:35)

To be a church on mission we must be truly believe that not only is the world hopeless, but also that we hold the solution. To know that the good news, the gospel, that Jesus has redeemed us from our sins, that is the remedy of our need. He shows compassion, mercy and pity on all those that have need. God was doing this even before Christ, and in love he sent Jesus, His Son, to be that sacrifice that clears our sins. It is a question then of response. Deliverance will come about through proclamation of the work of God, not from a pep rally of self reliance. Jesus offers us a new relationship with God.

Jesus came to show us God's compassion for the sin-sick soul, for the spiritually dead. We were fallen and could not give up. As the church we must proclaim this, for by God's grace only do we stand again spiritually before the throne of God.

3. The church on mission prays for more laborers for the missionary task. (9:37-38)
As Jesus is revealing the need for salvation, he begins by first telling them to pray for laborers.  Following this chapter we see the sending that Christ commanded. We might ask, why in this moment of need was Jesus not telling the people, you've heard, now go, go, go!!  The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. There is a desperate need for more and more people. "Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest".  Jesus is making it clear that the responsibility is given to the Lord of the harvest.  Yet we are also told what is needed. Laborers. As we pray we are praying that God will move our hearts closer to his.  We must see the field the way that Jesus sees it, with the compassion of the eyes of God. Not the eyes of those that only seek a physical remedy. "God heal the sick, bring world peace, etc." This is the command of Jesus, "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

We see the same thing in the sending of Paul and Barnabas to the gentiles in Acts. They were praying and fasting and God set them aside it says. The Spirit changed their hearts, the Spirit "sent them".  On mission indeed.

Will we be a gospel-centered church? We have the remedy, for we have experienced the remedy.  Let us pray for these laborers. Amen.