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The need for Missionary work and Missionaries!!!
Part One in the series:
Titled: Are we Really Missionary Baptists?
Amos 8:11-13
Somewhere around three to four years ago I came out here to preach in your Bible Conference. I preached a message on “Are we Really Missionary Baptists?” I was challenged when I studied and prepared for that message. It seems the older I get and the further along in the ministry I plod along the questions keeps nagging at my heart and soul. While I know that God is in control of all things I can’t help but wonder what will happen if the Lord does not come back in t the next five to fifteen yrs? We hear about Churches that not all that long ago were strong doctrinally, financially and in membership are now on the verge of shutting their doors for one reason or the other. Then we hear about Pastors fleeing the ministry and even forsaking their families for any number of reasons.
What’s the problem? Is it a lack of concern? Is it a lack of time? I believe the problem goes much deeper than that. It is a combination of many things. It is a lack of knowledge and love for our Saviour (Hosea 4:6).
Let’s get an idea of some info that will help us along.
I. General Info and Statistics. Now I have taken my info from four different Independent Baptist Directories on the web that we would recognize. Obviously there will be some churches listed that we would not fellowship with and there are probably some that for whatever reason we would not recognize as a Church. I have not had the time to go through and research each Church listed. Obviously there will be several sound Churches not listed but this gives kind of a general idea.
From these directories I have found listed anywhere from 177 to 432 Churches in the USA. That sounds pretty good does it not? Well let’s break it down a little more.
There are 28 states with 5 or fewer Landmark Sovereign Grace BC in them. Out of those 28 states 15 have no Church holding to these doctrines at all (that we know of).
The areas of the greatest neglect would be the New England states, the Midwest and the Rocky Mountain Northwest.
Just for kicks and giggles let’s run some more numbers. Let’s run two sets of numbers here. Let’s say there is only 177 churches in the USA and you divide by the population of the USA which is 304,301,848 that gives us one church per 1,719,219 people!!!!
Now let’s look at this by using the same formula and insert 432 churches now that number would be. 704,402 people per Church. Now it will not hurt my feelings if someone will double check my numbers and if for some reason I am wrong I am certain the numbers are still astronomical!!!!
One last set of numbers I want to crunch. By running the high end of number churches found in California which one directory listed 12 churches and the population is 36,553,215 you divide these numbers and you get one Church per 3,046,101 people!!!!!
Kentucky has a population of 4,041,769 the high end found on one directory showed 80 Churches listed. So using the same formula the numbers come out to One Church per 50,522 people in the state of KY.
Our first reaction may be that's not bad in KY. Just think that is 50,000+ that each Church would have to reach. Quite sobering!!!!! Then you look at California, 3,000,000+ per church....WOW!!!!!!
II. Why has this happened?
I will state emphatically that most of what I am getting ready to say is observations and opinion.
A. Many Churches have been started years ago and for whatever reason they have closed their doors. I certainly believe the Lord in His providence raises Churches up where He wants them and I also believe He can allow them to shut down when their work that He had them to do is finished in a particular location.
B. Over the years we have neglected the work of home missions. You read Baptist History works about the 1700’s, 1800’s and into the 1900’s and you read about the works started by Godly people desiring to worship in spirit and in truth and they would start Churches for the honor and glory of God.
C. We have lost one generation and are in grave danger of losing the next. My generation has been influenced by worldliness and the wisdom of this world they no longer desire to serve the God of heaven but rather the god mammon or self.
III. What Can we do about this?
A. Take care of business at home.
1) Make sure our kids are in Church and taught the great truths of God’s Word.
2) Live it before them.
3) Teach them doctrinal truths
B. Take Care of Business at Church
1) Teach sound Biblical doctrinal
2) Practice sound Biblical doctrine
3) Know why you believe and practice these doctrines
a. The day in which we live no one cares what you or your pastor thinks, they want sound basis for the “hope that lieth in you.”
Title: The Biblical Outline for Missionary Work
Acts 1:8
Intro: Give the setting of Acts 1 and give background before his ascension. God has an order in the government, home and the Church. Paul said let things be done decently and in order. If the gov’t gets out of order anarchy tyranny runs rampant. If the home gets out of order then chaos will rule. If the Church gets out of order then it ceases to give God glory as it should and will eventually lose its candlestick. It is the same with Missionary work. Tonight we are going to look at what the Scriptures teach about where to go.
I. Jerusalem
A. This would be considered the home area of where one is located.
B. This should be our first priority. Why is that?
1) This is where God told us to start.
C. What makes up our Jerusalem?
1) The town, community and County we live.
D. Who makes up our Jerusalem?
1) Family, friends and neighbors
II. Judea
A. This application could be made to our state.
1) California
B. Why should we be concerned about our state?
1) People have never heard the gospel
2) Children entering eternity with hearing the gospel.
III. Samaria
A. This could be applied to this great nation.
1) This is the work you are supporting with us in Nancy, KY
B. Some other Samaria’s
1) Montana
2) Northern MI
3) Hawaii
4) New England States
IV. Uttermost parts of the world
A. Everywhere else
1) China
2) Papua New Guinea
3) Australia
Conclusion:
When we do the work the way God tells us to then we see his blessings.
Title: The Work of the Missionary
I. What is a Missionary?
A. The word missionary is not found in the Scriptures but, the principle is.
B. The word evangelist is found three times in our KJV.
evangelist (2), evangelists (1)
Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
2 Tim 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
C. The meaning of evangelist in the Greek.
2099 åὐáããåëéóôÞò [euaggelistes /yoo•ang•ghel•is•tace/] n m. From 2097; TDNT 2:736; TDNTA 267; GK 2296; Three occurrences; AV translates as “evangelist” three times. 1 a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist. 2 the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles.
II. The work of the Missionary?
A. Preach the Gospel!!!!
1) This was Paul’s all consuming desire
Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Rom 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
Rom 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
B. Baptize Converts!!!!
1) Matthew 28:16-20
C. Catechize the Converts!!!!!
1) 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
D. Leave good strong Churches behind.