THE MISSIONARIES WERE COMMISSIONED (Acts 11:19-30; 12:25; 13:1ff)

You know what?
It is foreign to God's programme, and in fact very dangerous, for any evangelist/missionary to be without an operational base.

Pre: Think of what our conditions might have been today, if missionaries had not brought Christ to us. In order that others whom Christ died for, might hear and receive d Gospel, d Lord set aside certain people for Himself to leave their comfort zones and go to places of different and diverse tongues and cultures to preach d Gospel to them. Our churches and other evangelical activities must have room for missions, reaching out to people yet unreached with d Gospel. Are we ready for this? Christ is coming soon!

A. They initially focused on d Jews alone
The church is not a place for town meetings. God has established His church to amalgamate people of different nationalities for d purpose of worshipping and serving Him all d days of our lives unto eternity. Don't tribalize d Gospel!

B. They were sent on Missions
God cannot be happy that we sit down in d pews while others are wasting away outside on their ways to hell. He expects us to go and tell them about the same Christ who has saved us, if we have been truly saved. That is Evangelism/Missions. Having developed in a local church assembly, the Lord sent forth d Apostles so that their church affiliation would assist their responsibility and accountability. The church must develop her members to be useful for God, and must also support them fully whenever they're being sent on d Lord's word.

Lessons:
1. The road to God's will comes through prayers. As we worship Him, we get to know more of His will.
2. The Holy Spirit is the primary Sender of missionaries, while the sending church cooperates with Him to carry out His purpose.


Feel Free to Answer!
What are some of d major prejudices hampering Evangelism/Missionary activities? Proffer solution(s).

Please discuss the major prejudice hampering evangelistic/missionary activities.proffer solution

slaky: Please discuss the major prejudice hampering evangelistic/missionary activities.proffer solution

Just answer d question.

THEY RETURNED TO THEIR BASE
Acts 14:21-28

You know what?
God sits in heaven and from there directs all the affairs of the world. Also, Jesus made Capernaum His operational base while here on earth. Why then should we do ours today without properly defined bases?

Pre: "Home is home", says an adage. Paul and Barnabas were called and sent from their home church. While away and recording successes, they still had their loyalty and affiliation to the base intact. So after a rewarding labour, they returned to base. Let us imagine what could become of an Evangelist/a Missionary without a base. Will he not be a vagabond labourer? He would have been exposed to fatigue, pain, discouragement, hazards of all kinds and without a "shoulder" upon which to lean. Even in the Lord's work, East, West, North or South, home is home! Itinerant ministers must improve their relationship with their home base.

A. THEY FOLLOWED UP NEW CONVERTS
As they returned, they revisited their former stations, doing what? Strengthening the souls if the disciples, exhorting them, appointing leaders in every church and commending them to the Lord.

Newly Harvested souls must be discipled in order to make formidable and fruitful Christians out of them.

B. THEY REPORTED TO ANTIOCH
Iron sharpens iron (Prov. 27:17a). The successful missionaries did not begin to look down on the brethren back home as inferior to them. They still craved quality, soul-lifting, restoring and refreshing fellowship with them. You cannot be a lone-ranger in the ministry and be successful the way God wants it.

LESSONS
1. Appointing and ordaining competent leadership for the planted church is a way to consolidate on the missionary's efforts on the field.

2. No passionate and wise missionary jokes with relationship with the headquarters.


Feel Free to Answer
What are the negative effects of racial/ethnic discrimination against the propagation of the Gospel?