The Case for Home Missions, Part 4

The Call of Isaiah

No foreign missionary slide presentation would be complete without this verse,

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

While many missionaries use this verse to call people out to a foreign field, we forget – Isaiah never went anywhere. After seeing this vision, Isaiah did not pack his bags and head for the first donkey out of Judea. No, instead he stayed and prophesied among his own people. In fact, this is the over-whelming theme of the Old Testament. The Bible here focuses most attention on the people of Israel. We do not see an all-compassing, sweeping missionary zeal presented. As some have suggested if the theme of the New Testament is go and tell, the theme of the Old Testament is come and see. This is one more sign God has not only a purpose for home missions, but a passion for it.

The Case for Home Missions part 3

The Missionary Travels of Paul

If there were one missionary in the New Testament, it was the Apostle Paul. It was Paul who took it as his personal goal to take the gospel to those who have never heard it and not to work on anyone else’s foundation. However, a closer look reveals some very astonishing facts.

Paul was a home missionary! By our modern standards, I do not believe Paul could be labeled a foreign missionary. Why? First of all, Paul traveled to lands that were under the Roman Empire. They all had a common culture or Greco-Roman traditions and backgrounds. While each land did undoubtedly have its own particularities, they all spoke the same language, lived under the Pax Romana, and paid tribute to Cesar. Distance and culture-wise these lands visited by Paul could probably be compared to our modern day United States.

Also remember, as Paul visited these foreign yet familiar lands, where did he begin? Did he not start each evangelistic effort in the local synagogue? Did he not preach to the Jew first and then to the Gentile? He always began with his own people!

Finally, any follower of Paul knows that he always had a heart for those left behind back home. In fact, that’s why we see Paul taking up an offering for persecuted brothers back in Jerusalem. Paul never forgot the importance of home missions.

The Case for Home Missions, Part 2

The Great Commission

The Great Commission is the foundation and command on which all our evangelistic endeavors rest. Does the Great Commission make a division between home and foreign missions? Let’s take a look.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – Mark 16:15

First, The Lord told us to go into all the world. Surely He did not intend to limit the scope of evangelism to a certain area or country. He wanted all parts of the world to hear the good news of salvation. He does not place importance upon one geographical region over another.

At this point, there are no arguments. We all agree. Yet, we have forgotten something, almost over-looking it. World not only includes the deep jungles of Africa, but also stretches out far enough to reach our next-door-neighbor.

In a very real sense, there is no such thing as foreign missions. In God’s eyes, every land is foreign. America is not God’s country or basis of operation. America is also included in the scope of “all the world.” No distinction is made. Every land is a missions field. Every nation is a part of God’s scope of evangelism. There are no lands that deserve or need the gospel more than any other land. When God said world, he meant just that.

Let’s look again at our verse.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – Mark 16:15

Not only are we to reach all over globe, but more specifically to every creature. Again, God makes no distinctions here. Every creature needs to hear the gospel. There is not an unsaved person who deserves the gospel message more or needs it more than any other person. The soul of the third world, jungle native and the soul of the Wall Street business tycoon are of equal importance in God’s eyes. Both of these men are wicked sinners.

Some may ask about those who have never heard a gospel presentation. Surely it is more important to witness to them than it is to witness to one who has rejected the gospel over and over again. To this I can only reply that both men are wicked sinners and have rejected the light God has given them. Romans chapter one tells us that all men are without excuse. As sinners, they stand in the same boat with the same destiny set before them. Again, the Great Commission makes no distinction.

Before we leave the Great Commission, let us look quickly at one more verse.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” – Act 1:8

In this version of the Great Commission, a sort of strategy is laid out before us. The Apostles were not to merely go forth and preach the gospel in “foreign lands,” but they were to begin right at home. This was not due to importance or value, but to geography. While they would eventually go out into all the ends of the earth, they could not forsake their home. God values home missions. God values foreign missions. God values all missions work on an equal basis.

The Case for Home Missions, Part 1

What can be more glorious than the man who leaves behind all familiar comforts and sets out, sight unseen, for a land millions of miles away? There he takes the gospel of God’s grace to a heathen people whose response will be anything but predictable. Perhaps he will become a martyr. Perhaps he will witness a great revival. Welcome to the world of foreign missions.
However, picture the simple country preacher laboring away with his small congregation here in the United States. He preaches God’s Word faithfully every Sunday and struggles to build up the church God has given him. Perhaps this picture is not quite as glorious. In fact, it is all too familiar for us. Maybe we attend such a church. Yet when compared to foreign missionary, the suburban pastor loses much us his appeal.

There seems to be a rift emerging as the Church seeks to fulfill the Great Commission. Foreign missionary candidates travel across our country struggling and labor feverishly to raise support. It is by no means an easy task. Some on deputation may spend many years raising funds. However, the home missionary desiring to plant churches right here in our land, has an even more daunting challenge. Many churches refuse to see men like him. Why?

The growing mindset seems to indicate a changing mood in God’s people. Some have trouble equating home missions on the same level as foreign missions. Bold challenges claim real missions must involve leaving home and traveling to far off lands. Home missions, while important in regards to evangelism, must not be considered true missionary work.

This concept is a great shame. The ugly monster of pride has once again crept into God’s church. Good men seeking to glorify God and wins souls for His honor have been divided up in unbiblical, man-made ranks of importance. We must once again renew our focus of God’s picture of evangelism – one that makes no division of foreign and home. There is but one cause and one mission and we all work together to realize it.

It is my goal here is show you, the reader, the Biblical case for unified evangelism. In other words, I would like to show you why I believe home missions is just as important, crucial, and glorious as foreign missions.

March 18, 2006 Broadcast

March 18, 2006
(mp3 format, right click and choose “save as”)

Song -
“All Creatures of Our God and King”
Mac and Beth Lynch – Thanks be to God
Sermon -
“The Message of the Church”
Earl Jessup – Baptist Church Planting Ministry
Sermon -
“Where Will You be in 100 Years?”
Don Woodard, Candlestick Revival Ministries
Links -
Tri-State Baptist Church – Thompson, CT
Heritage Baptist Church – Norwood, MA

Heritage Baptist Church

Last night I finished up a week of preaching at Heritage Baptist Church in Norwood, MA. The pastor there is Steven Hathaway, whom I consider to be a great preacher, man of God, and a trusted friend. Pastor Hathaway was preaching done in PA this week and asked me to fill the pulpit. Barely over a year old, Heritage Baptist Church is growing rapidly and I always enjoy my time there.
Here are the messages I preached this week:

Sunday School – A Study of I Corinthians 15
Sunday AM – Let this Mind Be in You
Sunday PM – The Four Demintional Love of God
Wednesday PM – The Beattitudes

Please pray for Pastor Hathay as he is traveling, and also pray for his family's health needs.

http://www.heritagebaptistonline.org

First Program in March

March 4, 2006
(mp3 format, right click and choose “save as”)

Song -
“Think on These Things” by The SoundForth Singers and Orchestra, Think in These Things
Sermon -
“The God You Can Trust” by Evangelist Steve Pettit
Links-
Steve Pettit Evangelistic Ministries
Trinity Baptist Church – Concord, NH
SoundForth Music