Project Description

2015/07

What is a

Missionary Minded Church

A common expression used among evangelical Christians is “missionary-minded”. But what does it mean? Who or what is a Christian, or a congregation, that is deemed “missionary minded”?

Proverbs 23:7 reminds us “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” How we think controls what we are! As a man thinks or as a church thinks, so they will be! I would wish it to be said that the Free Presbyterian Church, and the individual Christians within it, are missionary- minded – but what, in practice, does that mean?

To help us define what a “missionary-minded church” is, I want to consider the church at Antioch in Acts 13:1-3. The centre of the church in Syria was located in that city, the third largest in the Roman Empire. And if we can learn from that congregation, it will be to the good of the church at home and abroad.

A Missionary Minded Church is a Scripture-Teaching Church, v 1
What an impressive list is given here of those who taught the Word at Antioch, a wonderful example of ethnic diversity and spiritual unity!
Barnabas was a Levite, and of Cyprus, who sold his land and brought the money to the apostles. He had been first sent to Antioch by the mother church at Jerusalem when it heard that many had believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21-23)

The leadership of the church in Antioch had a missionary mind which filtered down into the membership!  Simeon that was called Niger (black) worked alongside Lucius of Cyrene, who was probably of the synagogue of the Cyrenians, and one of the men who went abroad upon the persecution initiated at the death of Stephen (Acts 8). There was Manaen, thought to have been the boyhood companion of Herod, and Saul, who was about to be launched out on the greatest missionary trips in the history of the Christian Church.

One cannot fail to be impressed that this was a church of prophets and teachers, a Scripture-teaching church. The great missionary churches are those who keep with the Scriptures of truth. Churches that do not stick with the Scriptures at home will not keep with them on the field!

A Missionary Minded Church is a Serving Church, v 1-2
Believers who do not serve the Lord in their own local church are not very suitable candidates for the mission field. And yet there are those who talk enthusiastically about the mission field, but who know nothing about serving the Lord in their own congregation: this ought not to be!
Believer, get involved! Whoever and wherever you are, there is a ministry you can fulfil in helping to sow the seed of truth and thus advance the kingdom of God.

A Missionary Minded Church is a Spirit-Speaking Church, v 2
It is a blessing to be in church where God the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word – and this is how he speaks, through the faithful proclamation of the Scriptures He has inspired. Do you know the inquiry of the hymn writer?

“I am listening Lord to Thee
What hast thou to say to me?”

A Missionary Minded Church is a Sending Church, v 2-3
These men, Saul and Barnabas, were sent by the sovereign Spirit who had called them to the work of missions. We ought ever to give prominence to what the Spirit of God has to say to us as a local church. When the Holy Spirit calls us to give of our best young men and women for the mission field – how shall we, parents and church members, answer?

But notice that they were also sent by the local church at Antioch, cf v 3b. It was the church which sent forth these men. Today there are those who want to by-pass the church, but New Testament practice lends no support to that mindset – the regulating principle was that the church, led and guided by the Holy Spirit, sent forth the first missionaries.

Paul and Barnabas recognised that they were answerable to the church at Antioch, for as Acts 14:26-28 shows, they reported back to the fellowship at the end of their first missionary journey.

May the Holy Spirit move again in our churches! May He separate young men and women to the work of the Gospel! And may we be ready to acquiesce to the perfect will of God!

A Missionary Minded Church is a Supplicating Church, v 3
These believers were on praying ground. They prayed before the missionaries left, and they prayed after they were gone. Carey’s old analogy is as telling as ever – before he left for India he asked those at home to “hold on to the ropes”. How we need believers to hold on to the ropes for those who are serving God at home and abroad! Do you pray regularly and intelligently for those who have gone to the uttermost parts of the earth?

A Missionary Minded Church is a Supporting Church, v 3
When the Church sent Paul and Barnabas away, I do not believe it sent them empty-handed. Provision would have been made for their journey and support for their labours.

We do not just say to our missionaries on the field – we are praying for you. No! We say also, we will support you financially. And not only will we support you financially, but we will also support your ministry. (Cf Acts 11:26-30)

How missionary-minded are we really as a church? How do we square up to the Biblical model of Acts 13:1-3? May the Lord make us truly missionary-minded Christians and congregations!

This article is adapted from a message preached by Mission Board Chairman Rev Ian Harris, himself a former missionary, serving for some years in Kenya.