THE BIBLICAL MODEL: THE ACTUAL MISSION OF MISSIONS

Understanding the Full Scope of the Great Commission

Main Idea of the Article:

True biblical mission (“missions”) involves crossing cultural barriers to bring the Gospel and make disciples among other people groups (ethnos). It is crucial to distinguish this from local evangelism or benevolence to ensure the church faithfully fulfills the entire scope of the Great Commission, both at home and to the ends of the earth.

Questions to Consider:

Before reading this article, how did you define “missions”? Did it primarily include local activities or outreach to other cultures?

Why is the distinction between Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles and the other apostles’ ministry to the Jews so important for understanding the Great Commission?

In what ways could a church fall into the trap of THINKING it is fulfilling the Great Commission when it is really only doing a part of it?

How can your local church be faithful to both evangelism in its community and cross-cultural missions abroad?

Why is it vital that a national church, after reaching its own people, develops a vision for sending missionaries beyond its own borders?

Defining the Terms: What are Missions?

The Apostle Paul and the Meaning of Ethnos

The word “missions” is often a buzzword in Christian circles. But what does it really mean? To communicate clearly, we must define our terms.

When we think of a New Testament missionary, most of us think of the Apostle Paul. Why? Because while the other apostles primarily ministered to their own people, the Jews, Paul crossed borders. He went to the Gentiles (ethnos)—to people with different cultures, languages, and worldviews. This is the key.

In what is known as the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says the following:

“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (ethnos), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all ἔθνος…

• Original Word: ἔθνος
• Transliteration: ethnos
• Phonetic Spelling: (eth’-nos)
• Definition: a race, a nation, the nations.

This word can mean a race, people, or nation; the nations, Gentiles (non-Jews).

The Great Commission, in this text, is the “mission” we as Christians refer to when we speak of “missions.” But in light of Christ’s clear command here, are we using this term correctly? I often think we are not. I must say, first, that I believe most people have the best intentions, and I certainly commend their willingness to serve. There is nothing but love and respect for them.

But the mission is literally to bring the Gospel and make disciples of people from other nations. Ours too, of course, but not only ours. I do not believe the Scriptures give us the luxury of an “either/or” approach when it comes to missions. Every local church should strive to be involved in the proclamation of the Gospel at home and abroad. Whether by going, sending, supporting, praying, whatever it may be. But involved and committed, in both local ministry and foreign missions, to the best of their ability. Understanding that the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth was not simply giving a suggestion. It was not a beggar’s plea, but a King’s command to his people!

In foreign missions, the call is to reach and make followers of Christ of people who are not like us. Crossing geographical, ethnolinguistic, and cultural borders. You could say that what many call “local missions” is really evangelism and/or some other type of ministry. But according to the command, real missions would be evangelism and discipleship in a different cultural context than one’s own.

That definition could certainly be expanded, but for now let’s say that, at a minimum, missions, as we see in Scripture, is crossing cultural barriers with the Gospel. Some may not consider this significant. But I would argue it is very important that we make that distinction. We must define the terms.

I say this only because when we use terms like local missions, we refer to activities that are not really missional. We are really only doing “local missions” if we are crossing those cultural barriers in our own area or hometown. If you are in a predominantly white church or community and you are reaching out to nearby populations of Hispanics, Indians, Asians, etc., I would consider that you are actually doing “local missions.” But anything else… is, well, something else.

It may be benevolence… that’s very good. We must show mercy and help those in need, as we ourselves have been shown mercy.

It may be evangelism… absolutely essential. We must preach the Gospel everywhere. But this usually happens more naturally where we live and in the surrounding areas with people who participate in our daily lives.

Disaster relief… amen. We should come to the rescue of those in need and those who are suffering. This is not only the right thing to do, but it also opens us up to new opportunities to share the Gospel with people who are not in our immediate circle of influence and who are in need of hope.

In no way am I trying to downplay these important ministries and acts of Christian service. But this is not local missions, it is another type of good and necessary local ministry.

If we do not make this distinction, we can fail at least in this area of our calling as Christians. Because if we call something mission that is not mission, we will THINK we are doing what we are called to do, when in reality we are only doing part of what we should do (we were commanded to do). Why? Because we have been calling it something else that it really isn’t. That is why it is so important here to define the terms.

The Vision for a Sending Church: From Local to Global

Although the ultimate thrust of the Great Commission is to cross cultures, this in no way diminishes the value of local outreach. In fact, the work of national missions carried out by national missionaries is not simply a good idea; it is the foundational, vital, and necessary stage for fulfilling Christ’s command. This is a beautiful and biblical expression of the church’s growth, common in developing countries, and these are precisely the faithful men that BCMS seeks to support.

This foundational work does not contradict the global mission, but rather is the first and most crucial stage for its fulfillment. It is the model Jesus Himself gave us in Acts 1:8: the mission progresses from Jerusalem (our own people), to Judea and Samaria (nearby cultures), and finally to the end of the earth. A healthy church will always follow this biblical progression:

Establish itself in “Jerusalem”: Preach the Gospel and make disciples in its immediate community.

Strengthen the Base: Raise up faithful leaders from within that new body of believers.

Expand to “Judea and Samaria”: Begin to reach its own people in surrounding towns and areas.

Reach “the end of the earth”: And, finally, as a mature church, look beyond its own borders to send missionaries to other people groups.

This outward-facing vision is not an optional extra; it is the heartbeat of the Great Commission. We must ask ourselves: if it were not for those missionaries who first brought the Gospel to our own countries, where would we be today? Just as others brought the Gospel to us, we owe it to those who do not yet know Christ to make every effort to make Him known among them. The Great Commission is not just for the churches in the United States, but for all of us.

Practical Application: From Understanding to Action

Understanding the real mission of missions calls us to action.

Evaluate Your Language: Be intentional in how you speak. Call evangelism, evangelism. Call benevolence, benevolence. And reserve the word “missions” for the effort of crossing cultures with the gospel, whether locally or globally.

Evaluate Your Church’s Ministry: Is your church balanced? Does it actively support and participate in both local outreach to its community and in supporting missionaries who are crossing cultural barriers abroad?

Get Personally Involved: Every believer has a role. You can go, send, support financially, and pray faithfully. Get involved in both your church’s local ministry and its global missions effort. Remember, it is not a suggestion, but the command of our King.

Summary: A Privilege, Not a Sacrifice

The true biblical mission is the command to cross cultural, geographical, and linguistic barriers to make disciples of every people group (ethnos). While local evangelism, benevolence, and disaster relief are vital ministries, they are not synonymous with “missions.” By defining our terms biblically, we protect ourselves from the danger of thinking we are fulfilling the Great Commission when we are only doing a part of it. A healthy church will grow from local outreach to global sending, understanding that the command to go to the nations is a privilege and an order for all believers.

What we do know is that missionary work is definitely the work of the local church, it is the will of God, and it is the way God has ordained to call people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself as He magnifies His name among the nations! God is calling a people to Himself, Christ is building his church, preparing his bride, and has invited us into this work. All who call on the name of Christ. What an honor it is to serve our King in this way! What kindness, to bring former rebels into his family as sons and daughters, to allow us to serve him in this holy work. Let us understand it not as a sacrifice, but as a privilege.

This idea of foreign missions also needs a support system. An important partnership between the local church (and other supporting churches), the missionary, and the “Epaphroditus.” That companion, soldier and worker, that messenger and minister to the needs of the missionary.

I will explain something of what that partnership looks like in another article using an example directly from the book of Philippians.