What Do They Pay This Guy For, Anyway?!

Even I knew at the time that the Bible would transform people’s lives. It already had transformed mine!

I can still remember my first years as a Christian, and the feelings easily return. It was so exciting to know God personally! It seemed like I couldn’t get enough of the Bible, and meeting with other Christians to worship and pray about everything in life! One of the best parts, though scary at times, was learning to tell others about Jesus Christ!

Finding a Church was Exhausting

Trying to find a church was much harder than I had expected.  The town I was living in at the time was saturated with evangelical churches. The problem in many of them was the preaching.

I didn’t know anything about preaching at the time, having only been a Christian for three years. I thought preaching was about teaching people the Bible, so they could become Christians and know God in Christ more truly and deeply. But I was in for a surprise.

They were Preaching Many Other Things

In many churches I visited, one didn’t even need a Bible. This was not because they provided them, or published the verses in a bulletin or projected them on the screen, but because Bibles weren’t even used. Go figure!

Some sermons didn’t even mention Jesus, except maybe at the very end, believe it or not. So many focused on personal moral issues or current political issues, harping on them week after week. Way too many sermons were way too cute or clever to be true, at least I knew they couldn’t be from the Bible. A few talked about theological concepts at levels that were beyond me, and from looking around the room, beyond most people. Some preachers obviously enjoyed their illustrations too much, and some congregations did as well.

The list of unimpressive preaching examples could go on and on. But, honestly, for most of the sermons I heard, I could have stayed home and learned more from the Bible on my own, if that were the only reason to go to church. It was so depressing.

Why didn’t pastors preach the Word of God? This was so confusing to me. All I wanted was the Bible, nothing fancy.

What was so Hard about Just Doing the Job?!

I had a hard time figuring out what some of those pastors must do all week, if that was all they could come up with on a Sunday morning. I knew the pastor had to run the church and care for people in need. But, after sampling so many churches, I was beginning to wonder what they even paid this guy for? He was not even doing his main job, for crying out loud!

Maybe I was wrong, but if the primary responsibility of the pastor is preaching the Word of God, then it seemed to me that it should be given primary attention by the pastor. These were the verses I knew at the time, and maybe a few others:

Acts 20:27 ESV “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” 

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” 

2 Timothy 3:16–4:5 ESV “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Eventually, the Lord led me to a church that preached the Word very clearly, simply yet deeply. Over the next two years, I came to know God much better, love Him more and serve Him as a new believer under spiritual transformation in Christ.

That was what I was thinking in 1988, anyway. I have grown much since that time, but this adventure of mine as a young Christian trying to find a church that taught the Bible has forever shaped my view of preaching, and pastors.

Spiritual Eloquence

Spiritual eloquence is not the same thing as being good at public speaking, being original with cultural insights, or being able to affect hearts with healing words.

It might include such things, but these are not necessary for spiritual eloquence and should not be confused as such, as often as they are.

Apollos: Better Than Most

God has given especially gifted individuals to His Church and for this we are especially thankful and blessed. But, there are only a few like Apollos. However, all of us are needed not just the giants.

Acts 18:24–28 ESV “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

Some of us might hesitate to speak because we are not as gifted, or mimic the greats hoping to be somebody someday.  Apollos is a good example for those extra-gifted and those who look up to them. His humility stands out in being willing to be corrected by those less gifted, ordinarily gifted, and see himself as just one of the group, not really any better a Christian. Many mighty would-be Apollos types have fallen in recent years because of arrogance.

Apollos shows us the way to spiritual eloquence by his example of becoming competent and well-taught in the Scriptures and then speaking boldly out of a faith-filled fervent spirit.

Jesus: The Spirit for All of Us

But, many protest they don’t know what to say or how to say it, that they don’t know enough, and that they fear arguments they cannot answer. These reasonings reveal a decided identification with human preparations and standards of eloquence. It is not spiritual thinking.

Luke 21:13–15 ESV “This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” 

Acts 4:13 ESV “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Acts 6:10 ESV “But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

Jesus Himself provides His followers with the wisdom needed at the time it is needed through His Spirit that indwells them. Spending time with Jesus Christ is what fills up our minds with wisdom and grants a fuller measure of His Spirit. 

Spiritual eloquence comes from Jesus Christ. Be with Jesus a lot, even more than that. And then get out and try it. Rely on the Spirit of Jesus and prove His promise true.

Paul: Not Often Out of His League

We might still find ourselves in situations that way beyond our abilities, humanly speaking. The level of sophistication from the opposition is intimidating, and so even going in the Spirit we tremble. 

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

This is all the more reason to stay close to the clear message of Christ, and rely on His strength, His Spirit and His purposes with that audience. This is spiritual eloquence.

Besides, who and what are we really going after? Isn’t it the salvation and maturity of those He has prepared, not trying to conquer the fierce opposition with our intellect or creativity?

Being afraid to speak for Christ and the Gospel is a matter of spiritual warfare, the evil one assaulting the spiritual gifts Christ has given to the Church. The devil and our flesh induce us to measure with human standards and encourage our rising doubts and fears. 

Spiritual eloquence is not about speaking exceptionally well, impressing others or moving people emotionally. It is simply speaking in the power of the Holy Spirit, which comes from time spent with Christ and in His Word.

Maybe you just need to speak and see what happens.

Plead With God For Men, Plead With Men For God

Is the controlling passion and vision of our lives to fulfill Jesus’ plan of reaching the world with the Gospel?

If it is, we will not hold grandiose dreams of future service to the Lord without a present reality.  We will never become great soldiers of the faith somewhere down the road unless we actively evangelize and disciple now.  If we cannot do it now, then we will not do it later.  

Charles H. Spurgeon once described the Christian life as “pleading with God for men, and pleading with men for God.”

Our Daily Prayers

First, this means that our day should begin with prayer, entreating God for the salvation of people through us, the Lord’s humble servants.  The Apostle Paul expressed his intense concern for the salvation of his fellow Jews in his letter to the Romans 10:1 ESV, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

Paul asked God for their salvation because salvation is only God’s to grant, just as our Lord Christ taught in John 6:44 ESV, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.  And I will raise him up on the last day.”  And so, a desire for people’s salvation should lead us to fervent prayer, knowing that only God can cause people to be born again.

Growing in our desire and concern for people’s salvation is interactive with praying for their salvation.  Paul’s prayer intensified according to his concern for people, and the concern grew during, and as a result of, his prayers.  Without both prayer and personal concern in our hearts and lives, we will not plead for men.

Our Daily Conversations

Second, as the spiritual battle rages during the day, this desire and concern for people’s salvation should continue to be our inward prayer as we assault, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the work of the evil one who blinds the eyes of the unbelieving, by begging people to be reconciled to God.  We will plead with men for God.

The Apostle Paul entreats men and women everywhere, along with all our fellow ambassadors in 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”.  The Lord will accept all those who come to Him, for He Himself declared in John 6:37 ESV “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”  God’s success is guaranteed!

If God’s success is guaranteed, then why do we at times seem to resign from our ambassadorship?  It seems to be some fear that overtakes us:  fear of looking, feeling and being thought of as foolish; fear of not knowing what to say or how to answer questions; fear of losing friendships; fear of personal injury or loss of earthly security; fear or confrontation and discomfort; fear of personal involvement; fear of ridicule; or fear or whatever.  

But, it is in going forth with the results entrusted to God that God’s glory is put on display.  Observe Paul relying on the Spirit:

2 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV “For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.”

If we do not speak can we truly say that we are convinced that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation?  How can we then assure ourselves that we are truly concerned for people’s needs and faithfully loving them?  Without first pleading with God for men, we will not be able to trust the Lord when we plead with men for God.

Our Life’s Labors

The work does not end with fruits of evangelism, rather the process of perfection just begins.  Disciples must be established, equipped and built up to continue the work of Christ in saving and perfecting the saints.  This is the mission of the church and the final goal is nothing less than perfection in Christ.  

Our Apostle Paul defined his ministry in this manner, in Colossians 1:28–29 ESV “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

May our lives be lived for Christ, and not for ourselves, by pleading with God for men, then pleading with men for God!

Acts 20:24–27 ESV “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. . . . Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

Preaching That Doesn’t Spiritualize Idolatry

The majority of the world worships idols—the real kind, made of wood, stone and even plastic.

While it is also helpful to talk about the “idols” of materialism, power, relationships, and whatever replaces God and takes first place in our minds and hearts, we need to talk less about this and more about the other kind of idolatry.

An Opportunity Missed

So often when we in America preach on Bible passages that discuss idolatry we move way too quickly to application.  It is common to hear a preacher describe the background of the text in just a few sentences and then move on to talk about the “idols” of our society and the those things that usurp God’s rightful place as the object of our worship and affections.

We talk as though worshippers of physical idols are from a bygone primitive era.  Anyone who would actually worship a real idol must be ignorant or isolated from the modern world.  But this is not the case.

To move right to this application usually misses the main point, the obvious point, of the text in order to find some spiritual principle that will be immediately personally applicable, or culturally appropriate for us.  We fail to be faithful to the text when we spiritualize idolatry.

Idolatry, real idolatry, has a powerful grip on over 3 billion people in the world today.  They live in remote areas and in urban centers; they are poor and rich, and some are even highly educated.  Idolatry, with all its relics and rituals, is the fabric of many societies, being the key to blessing and safety, and even the conduit for various immoralities.

An Opportunity Reclaimed

In our hasty application we miss an opportunity to talk about the greatest application of our Gospel mission from God in the world.  These idolatry passages offer us an opportunity to understand our world better, to describe the religious nature of man, to feel the burden of the lostness of so many souls, and to burn with jealousy for God’s glory alone!

Acts 17:16–17 ESV “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.”

And when we proclaim the Gospel, people will turn “to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

Instead of using the idolatry sections of Scripture to address ourselves and our own needs first, we could use them to open our eyes to the greatest need of the world!  In fact, these passages viewed and preached in such a manner will become refreshingly new texts for us on world evangelization and mission!

Shepherding As A Team

How can one single pastor effectively pray and care for a whole church?  Or, how can one ministry leader by himself or herself do the same for those in his or her ministry?

Pray Weekly, Touch Monthly

We elders put together a list of the families in our congregation and divided up that list among ourselves.   A list of 10-20 families each would be manageable.  An elder would easily be able to pray for each family weekly, and be able to have some level of personal “touch” or conversation monthly.  Each one of us would stay connected with those on our list, pray for them and with them.

Assignments were based on our existing relationships, depending on which of us knew certain people well.  If the family was not well known, we selected by stage of life or patterns of involvement at church, so that hopefully our paths would cross naturally.  And we would keep the lists current.

We worked hard not to make this system burdensome on ourselves, nor seem intrusive to those we loved.

1 Peter 5:2a ESV “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you.”

This was a more casual, even natural, approach to pastoral care.  It was not our only system of pastoral care, but an added level that become meaningful to our church, and helped us to lead and care better.

Taking a Team Approach

Shepherding as a team became enjoyable, and turned out to be much more effective than we even imagined.  We would devote the beginning portion of our elders meetings for shepherding concerns and prayer.  We could quickly go over our lists of family units and bring up items and pray without having to have lengthy discussions because we trusted one another to minister well and take care of matters.

As a pastor, I learned a lot by this team approach.  Obviously, it was a great help in carrying the load, but more importantly I learned that others have even greater gifts of shepherding and that there are a variety of ways to serve the needs of a congregation.  I gained new perspectives on people, problems, possible solutions and how best to pray for the church.

Together we did a much better job of staying in touch and fulfilling our responsibility to “pay careful attention . . . to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 ESV)

Many people felt doubly cared for as a result of us taking this assertional informal approach.  And as a church grows in size such a team approach can be implemented at each level of ministry with its leader and leadership team, so that everyone feels connected to and cared for by their spiritual leaders.

Spiritual Maturity Is Not Just For Elders

How should churches use these lists?  How would you advise new churches on the mission field?

The lists of Elder qualifications, (which can be found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), are not just for those aspiring to the church office.  These lists contain indicators of spiritual maturity that give definition to every Christian’s personal goal.  Elders must be examples of each of these indicators in their personal relationships, character and family management.  How so?

Seven Notes on Using the Lists

1. These spiritual maturity indicators are not to be ignored, or gone over lightly, in order to be expedient in a selection process. Laying on hands hastily can end up being a costly and damaging mistake for a congregation.
2. They are not to be used in a manner that imposes additional standards (often by means of unusual definitions) that are not really in Scripture. The list is not to be redefined in terms so that only an elite few pass the test.
3. Be careful of personality preferences. We can rationalize a man’s qualification because we are partial to his personality. We can likewise exclude a man from qualification because we are prejudicial against his personality. Stick to the list.
4. Remember that the lists are there to guide observation of how a man stands at present, not in his past. People change--sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Take time to focus consideration on the present.
5. Take note that these qualification are going to be somewhat relative to a church’s maturity. Think of the hundreds of new church plants of the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys and his practice of establishing leadership early on in them (Acts 14:23). And yet, as churches matured the standards likely increased, not only in spirituality but in quality of leadership. 
6. Realize that these lists are not exhaustive lists of spirituality. Together the lists contain selected items that deserved special attention, and are still deserving of special attention. Think through all of Scripture when thinking about spiritual maturity.
7. Be gracious.  Elders need not be perfect; nor will they ever even be near perfect. But they do need to be examples of each of these items even while they are still growing in them. Thank God for the gifted leaders He has given to His churches!

More than Maturity is Required

It is important to note that this list is not all that is required to be an Elder.  These are basics and specifics necessary in the realm of spiritual maturity.  Again every Christian ought to, indeed many Christians do, attain to this level of spiritual maturity.

Just because a man is spiritually mature doesn’t mean he should be made an Elder.  He also must be gifted for leadership and teaching.  As an Overseer he needs to “lead well with diligence” (Romans 12:8) and “be able to instruct in sound doctrine and rebuke.” (Titus 1:9)  These cannot be overlooked or only given a cursory assessment either.  

Leadership and leadership structure is vital to the spiritual health and success of every church.  It will effect direction and vision for the long-term; and it will effect quality of ministry and quality of life for many people.  

Being involved in mission work often leads to involvement in church leadership issues.  Sometimes this is direct and hands-on, while at other times it takes the forms of coaching or advising.  Encourage a wise and spiritual use of the lists as intended by God.

Leaders Go First

Some time ago I was asking a question from a biblical and theological conviction, but with little idea where it would lead.  

I asked the simple question of my mission expert friend, “How do we plant churches in our community and at the end of the world?”  And then, “Where do we start, here or there?”  My main concern was that people really do evangelism and that church multiplication is intentional.

His quick answer was to tell me to start overseas.  “Why?”  Because there is better transferability in this direction.  Also, the unreached are a higher priority.  The results will be more immediate and observable, which is most inspiring for vision building.  

Besides he said, “where you start, and what you start doing, is where and what you will end up with.”  In other words, if we started here first we might never get overseas.  And if we started by doing service projects we might never get to evangelism and church planting.  So, we followed his advice and started with evangelism and church planting overseas.

Wanting to Do What Paul Did

Acts 14:21–23 ESV “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Romans 15:20–21 ESV “and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.””

The Moment of Decision 

It was not a normal Elders meeting.  We knew God had not taught us all about His Mission for nothing.  We had spent over a year studying the Pauline missionary journeys in the Book of Acts, reading a few books on missions, consulting with mission leaders, and exploring options God was putting before us as a congregation.

Also, we been enjoying doctrines of grace, feasting on Scripture, not yet seeing Mission implications.  It dawned on us that if we are true Calvinists then we have nothing to fear, and God’ glory and success are guaranteed, so we said, “Calvinists especially should be doing crazy things like Missions.”

We had a decision to make to go forward on a church planting mission expedition and just get started.  As David Livingstone once said, “I don’t care which way we go let’s just go forward!”

A Faith Adventure with God 

So, we picked the most adventuresome place available to us at the time.  We announced the plan to the congregation and a few others joined us.  This was a big step of faith into the unknown for us with key people and a lot of money!

We committed to go first as leaders, because this is what leaders do--they lead courageously and decisively.  By going first not only were we able to set an example, but we were able to think strategically about our future mission involvement from a shared experience.  We were able to tell stories and share a new vision with passion and one voice.

We learned how important it is to ask the big questions, the visionary ones, the ones we know are good biblically and theologically, even though we can’t see how they could be accomplished practically . . . at least not yet.

God supplied and made the path plain as we moved forward.  We learned that we could only figure out God’s plan for us in His Mission in the actual doing of it, over there.  We must go, count the cost and spend money.  

That is how we got started as a small local church in God’s big mission in the world.  We learned that living be faith can be a lot of fun, especially as we observe His faithfulness to His own glory through us.

Giving Away My First $100

Without a real job and any savings to show, God told me to go ahead and give away $100.  That was most of my paycheck back then.  Plus I had never given away that much money before.

The Opportunity

My friend had just received news of his acceptance on a mission project.  He was so thrilled for this special opportunity.  I was excited for him, and for the Gospel being told to more people who would come into the Kingdom of God.

How could I share in his opportunity?  How could I express my own happiness?  After praying and thinking about it God put a strong impression upon my soul about what to do.  I made a special trip to the bank to acquire a new crisp $100 bill.

Little did I realize at the time, being so new in my faith, that I was following the Apostle Paul’s instruction and example in Acts 20:35 ESV “. . . remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’””

The Handover

When should I make the presentation?  Anticipation was building up.  My plan was starting to show on my face.  So when he came down the stairs for dinner at our dorm house I just decided to give it to him.

My friend was shocked.  He didn’t expect such a gift from me, nor at that time, nor in that manner.  He was visibly blessed.  And even more of a surprise to me, so was I.

God exceeded my expectations.  That was the day I learned that giving to the work of the Lord is like taking a reckless joyride.  And this event from early in my Christian life still brings me joy, now 26 years later.

The Grace of Giving is Like That

Pray about it and pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Participating in this way in the Mission of God is one of the highest privileges we enjoy.

There is a story in 2 Corinthians 8-9 about this.  Here is an excerpt:

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” 

2 Corinthians 9:7–8,10–11 ESV “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. . . . He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

For me the joyride began with giving away my first $100.  How does your story begin?

Where Might Acts 1:8 Take You?

Much is made about being a good and effective gospel witness in the believer’s own “Jerusalem” first, before attempting to reach one’s “Judea and Samaria,” and then again before attempting to reach “the ends of the earth.”  We need to reconsider this popular interpretation and application of Acts 1:8.

Usually, Jerusalem is defined as one’s nearest geographical region and close natural relationships. The next ring includes those who share similarities, but with marked cultural or social differences, perhaps even a little farther away geographically. Additional effort is needed to build these relationships. The third ring is the true cross-cultural experience, or the “foreign mission” field. As churches, we often aim to develop ministries to each of the sectors in a similarly progressive manner, eventually completing our development with a balanced portfolio, or a comprehensive approach. 

The Traditional Application of Acts 1:8

Is the implementation of this concentric ring paradigm what Luke had in mind for his readers when he compiled the Book of Acts? Probably not. Luke presents a much more compelling vision for missions than the typical evangelical interpretation grasps. The standard use of the text is not only inaccurate, but prevents us from fully living and loving the Great Commission.  We need to change our mission paradigm and move further away from an individualistic application of this verse to a more corporate one.

Mission strategies for churches are built upon this concentric ring idea, but in reality, it is a construction we have imposed upon the Biblical text. Our intentions are good, and this model seems to work well for us. It is compellingly motivational, moving many to the mission field. It also makes the passage easy to preach and immediately applicable. These purposes are understandably appealing. 

However, the model obscures the truest application regarding the mission of the Church. There are even greater accomplishments to be attained. We search the Bible to extract the buried treasure of practical models, but we often end up pragmatically using the Bible rather than learning and following its wisdom. 

Four Regrettable Outcomes

First, the standard viewpoint tends to create and sustain a bias to stay put, when Jesus said, “go.” We end up focusing intensely upon local outreach efforts because we believe God has called us to minister where he has placed us. We become thoroughly absorbed (almost exclusively) in the needs around us. Then, often the “remotest part of the earth” gets the leftovers of our energies and resources, rather than the best. We re-define the Church’s mission in purely local terms for ourselves and our esteem. 

A second regrettable outcome of the old paradigm is that we feel so overwhelmed by the first two mission categories that we pay little attention to the third. The gospel ministry is hard work. We work wholeheartedly and prayerfully to figure out how we might reach others with the truth and love of Christ. In our struggle with local outreach efforts, we may no longer feel competent enough to engage people cross-culturally and actually accomplish ministry. We never get to the ends of the earth because our faithful witness at home seems to be ever faltering. Simply put, we feel we can’t make a difference over there.

A third outcome of the typical interpretation of Acts 1:8 is that we can quickly and easily lose perspective and vision. We no longer see what we are supposed to be seeing. This is because we are actually missing the very point of the text, and even the book itself:  to give first-priority to frontier mission--to plant churches among the unreached peoples of the world. 

The final regrettable outcome of the common understanding of Acts 1:8, is that we miss the corporate calling. As North American evangelicals, we tend to speak too much about the individual and the personal, and not enough about the Church as a whole, and even the local church as a community. 

Shifting to a Truly Biblical Model

First, rather than perpetuating a bias to stay put, what if our churches worked to create and sustain a bias to “go?” Most will end up staying to live for Christ at home, and will further the mission by sending out and supporting their brothers and sisters who go. But assuming that we should go, rather than assuming that we should stay would change almost everything in the life of our churches. We would find that this is really a huge shift and that it would lead to many being called and sent out from our churches. 

Isn’t this what we are already hoping and praying for, anyway? We would find ourselves thinking, talking, organizing, and strategizing quite differently. People would talk about positioning themselves to be able to go, thinking along the lines of how it might be possible and not why it never could be. We would find new energy and renewed perspective for local ministry. The sacrifices demanded would also greatly increase, but God’s supply of our needs from his inexhaustible resources of grace would remain.  

Second, rather than being overwhelmed by the first two circles of mission, what if the last part of Acts 1:8b actually energized our mission endeavors? That is what has happened in our congregation. (For the story see the complete article “To the Ends of the Earth,” Evangelical Missions Quarterly 42:4 (October 2006), 434-439.) Focusing on the unreached peoples of the world has provided the courageous faith and motivation needed for local and nearby missions. 

Third, rather than losing perspective and vision, what if our churches rediscovered Luke's original emphasis? The emphasis of the verse is not on the “Jerusalem,” but upon the “remotest part of the earth.”  

The Book of Acts was written by Luke as the second part of his Gospel account to show the advance of the gospel of Christ’s Kingdom by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and the Church. Jerusalem is impacted first, by the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the subsequent preaching and witness in the city by the Apostle Peter and the church. Then, the “Samaritan mission” in Acts 8 was the gospel’s first great advance after Pentecost. The Gentile mission begins here. Luke then shows us further movement through the conversions of the Ethiopian proselyte, and Cornelius the God-fearing Gentile. The full-on ministry to Gentiles begins in chapter 11 with the ministry of the Antioch church, and the Pauline mission flowing out of this and continuing the progression. We, as the Church, are to follow the arrow and continue the mission until the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Acts 1:8b is not about everyone’s three different realms of witness (Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria, and remote), but about these actual historical transitions, which are now over. The Apostles and the early Church completed the first two and started on the third. What remains is the really exciting part--the relentless drive to the mission’s end! Acts 1:8b is meant to rivet our attention on the “remotest part of the earth” section. Our mission ever since the beginnings of New Testament Christianity, is to go to the ends of the earth and hasten the coming of that day of worship by those Jesus purchased with his blood, “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) 

Fourth, rather than following our inclination to apply the biblical text to ourselves individually, what if we considered its meaning for the global Church first? Replace the question “What does this mean for me?” with the question "What does this mean for us?" Turn the focus from the individual to the Church globally and locally. What if we saw our churches as local teams, not as a collection of individuals trying to accomplish the Great Commission? Understand Acts 1:8b as being not so much about a personal mission, as it is about the group’s mission. 

Individually, we cannot complete the Great Commission, nor do many of us do very well in that which we do accomplish by ourselves. This group approach actually inspires and accomplishes much more in the personal realm in our churches as we all work together to increase our own spiritual health and maturity and usefulness in the mission of planting churches that reproduce. We expand our vision and look at the bigger picture outside of ourselves. We can focus on a specific area in the world and are start to ask longer range questions about how we can even better utilize all of our people and ministry resources.

We live in perhaps the most thrilling time in the history of redemption, when the gospel is actually reaching the very ends of the earth, and God is calling out for himself a people to worship him forever. Convinced that we live to serve the Lord God and his Gospel, may we be willing to take great risks for his glory among all peoples, and let us yearn to see their full enjoyment of him. Let us follow the arrow and go to the very ends of the earth!

Let's Allow Everyone To Learn By Doing

There is often too cautious a reception to hearing the amazing stories being told of God’s glorious workings in the world.  After suspicious listening come the probing questions to determine whether or not huge mistakes are being made.  

Christians excited about the Gospel can be made to feel like they are undergoing a medical examination, tax audit, or answering the supreme inquisitor:  “Have you done this?”  “You haven’t done that I hope?”  “You know, you really need to be careful about something.”  

This is a real problem.  Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has successes.  Why does it seem that only some are allowed to make mistakes and others are not trusted to do so?  As a whole, mistakes are too harshly criticized and learning by doing is too undervalued.  And the reality is that some have forgotten that this is how they got where they are today.

Stories the New Testament Tells

The success stories of the Twelve and the Seventy-Two from their village to village short-term preaching ministries were received by our Lord Jesus with joy and intense delight (Luke 9-10).  The church at Antioch listened intently to the stories of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas as they recounted that first real “to the ends of the earth” missionary trip (Acts 13-14).  And the Gospel success stories only continue to mount throughout the New Testament.  In fact, that is the very content of the New Testament and its reason for existence--the Gospel’s progress throughout the world.

Did the Apostles ever make mistakes?  Of course they did.  But, mistakes are not recorded because mistakes are just not that important.  Besides, the Gospel is powerful unto salvation by itself (Romans 1:16), and it is impossible to really mess it up if one just declares the Gospel.  Yet, one sure way to mess things up (speaking from a human perspective) is not to clearly proclaim Jesus at all.  Even the Apostles become better over time because they practiced in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Tell Stories to Those Who Will Listen

American Christians generally think there is more power in human persuasion and cultural insight than God has placed in His Gospel inherently.  As a result, mistakes are very serious matters.  This theological and perspectival blunder is also why so few believe the stories of success when they hear them.  It seems too good to be true; something must not be right.

However, when understanding things rightly, there is great freedom in Gospel proclamation and great encouragement to keep on learning how to do things better.  There is trust in God for God’s work.  The joy is for those who believe the stories because they believe the Gospel is more powerful than human hearts and ingenuity. 

Keep Proclaiming, Making Mistakes, and Learning by Doing

It is much more preferable to encourage the preaching of Jesus and trust Jesus to take care of His own Gospel, its success, and even the proclaimers and the hearers of it.  He is much better at this than we are at being its guardians.

What if we unleashed people to proclaim the Gospel with only a little training?  And then, what if we listened to their stories without telling them what they did wrong?  And then, what if we encouraged them to keep preaching Jesus?  

What if we shared in the joy and delight of the success of God’s Gospel along with them?  What if we let them get better on their own, perhaps just facilitating their learning together?

Might We Be Moving Too Slowly For God?

It is common to hear Christians say “I don’t want to move ahead of God.” Why this bias for inaction? Why such a cautious, even a timid, approach to life and ministry?

Maybe it is because we are often too unsure about how to discern God’s leading when He leads naturally and gracefully rather than through stunning circumstances. We keep waiting and waiting.  But, one tragedy of this bias is that we can miss huge opportunities for godly glory and the Gospel’s advance.  

At times this waiting posture expresses a deep humility before the Lord; yet, at other times it can be a cover up for deep fear, cowardice, desire for comfort, even laziness. We tend to think it is more holy to be still, to wait, to do little if nothing, even hoping for a sign from heaven. Surely, there will be times, even seasons, of prayer and waiting. However, most certainly we can pray with our eyes open, our feet moving, our minds racing, and our mouths speaking!

When trying to figure out our next steps in life and ministry we sometimes reveal a bias for inaction and maybe make the comment “I don’t want to move ahead of God.” We might want to consider whether we are truly taking advantage of the obvious opportunities God is giving to us, even following His obvious leading. Too often we deliberate beyond the facts and past the point of usefulness when instead the right thing to do is make a move!

Sometimes we are held back by strong ideals or myths of what we think would be most pleasing to God but in reality they are nothing more than our opinions on our preferred lifestyle. We all need other trusted Christian friends to speak into our lives with the voice of clarity; and to push us forward in faith, courage and energy to make the move we know God wants us to make.  

The Gospel demands that we keep on making decisions and keep on moving forward, even more so when we are talking about ministry as a church. We will be in a much better position to discover God’s will when we are moving, not when we are standing still. The famous explorer and missionary, David Livingstone, said, “I don’t care which way we go, let’s just go forward!” 

We can trust the Holy Spirit of Jesus to lead the way, as the story of the Macedonian Call illustrates:

Acts 16:6–10 ESV “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

The BIG timing question in knowing and doing God’s will requires sensitivity to the Spirit, as well as, true courage in our own spirits to act. 

We should at least be equally concerned not to move too slowly for God as we are not to move ahead of Him.  It should be more common to hear it said among ourselves, “I don’t want to move too slowly for God.”