Outreach Stories

A multitude that no one could count

Mission Devotional Day 31

READ: Revelation 7:9-12

The Scottish mission historian Andrew Walls writes, “Perhaps the most striking single feature of Christianity today is the fact that the church now looks more like that great multitude whom none can number, drawn from all tribes and kindreds, peoples and tongues, than ever before in its history.” Walls of course is referring to this text from Revelation.

Hearing and doing the word

Mission Devotional Day 30

READ: James 1:19-27

One of the unfortunate developments in mission during the last century was the false division of the gospel into words or deeds. Groups of believers who emphasized proclamation as the key dimension of witnessing to the gospel often neglected compassionate action and work for justice. Those who emphasized compassion and justice often did not embrace inviting others to give their lives to the Lord.

It is the gift of God

Mission Devotional Day 29

READ: Ephesians 2:8-10

These verses from the Letter to the Ephesians have had a great impact upon many people, including John Calvin and John Wesley.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

A plan for the fullness of time

Mission Devotional Day 28

READ: Ephesians 1:3-14

These eleven verses (1:3-14) from Paul are just one sentence in Greek. He is packing in a lot! At the center of this long sentence, we read this: “He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

But emptied himself

Mission Devotional Day 27

READ: Philippians 2:1-11

In calling the Philippian Christians to unity, Paul offers us an example. He writes that we are to have the mind among ourselves which we have in Christ Jesus. The verses that follow are a powerful description of Jesus’ self-emptying, being born as a man, and being obedient unto death. These lines, some scholars believe, are evidence of an early hymn of the church.

Because of your sharing in the gospel

Mission Devotional Day 26

READ: Philippians 1:1-6

Sometimes we forget that each of Paul’s letters was written to a church on the mission field. Paul writes then to remind them of their calling and to encourage them to be faithful witnesses. One thing that Paul makes clear is that the Christians’ life together becomes their first act of witness to the world. That is what Leslie Newbigin has in mind when he talks about the church being the hermeneutic of the gospel.

Ambassadors for Christ

Mission Devotional Day 25

READ: II Corinthians 5:16-21

In this marvelous statement of God’s mission, Paul describes how in Christ, God was reconciling the world unto himself, and he has entrusted to us a ministry of reconciliation. In Ephesians, Paul writes of how God is gathering up all things in Christ.

Just as the body is one and has many members

Mission Devotional Day 24

READ: I Corinthians 12

In this well-known chapter, the Apostle Paul uses the body as a metaphor for the church. I have to admit that in the past I usually applied this metaphor to particular congregations. It was natural to think about different church members and the gifts that they bring to the life of the body of Christ.

I truly understand that God shows no partiality

Mission Devotional Day 23

READ: Acts 10

In this long story about Peter and the centurion named Cornelius, Luke describes the early church’s struggle to understand whether or not one first had to become a follower of Moses in order to follow Jesus. In other words, “Could a non-Jew become a Christian?” We know from Acts 9 that God is doing something new in his mission because Paul has been appointed an apostle to the gentiles. Still, this was something that the church struggled with. After Cornelius’ encounter at Caesarea shakes him to the core of all that he held dear, Peter concludes, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon Cornelius and the others, Peter understands that there is nothing to prevent them from being baptized. Peter certainly is not going to stand in the way!

To the ends of the earth

Mission Devotional Day 22

READ: Acts 1:6-11

Why should we be so concerned about the world?

Not only does Jesus tell us, “For God so loved the world,” but in his last words to the disciples, he tells them that they shall be his witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. As some have put it, Jesus sends his followers around the corner and around the world.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you

DAY 21

READ: John 20:19-21

Each of the gospels have a section in which Jesus makes it clear that his followers are sent out into the world to continue his redeeming work. There is in the gospels an unmistakable agreement about the work of witness being the foundation of Christian mission.

I will make you fish for people

Mission Devotional Day 20

READ: Mark 1:16-20

Jesus’ first encounter with the disciples in Mark’s gospel occurs along the shore of Galilee where they are tending their fishing nets. Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Those are his first words. In his last words to the disciples, he tells them that they shall be his “witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Remember, I am with you always

Mission Devotional Day 19

READ: Matthew 28:16-20

This passage is known as the Great Commission, and it is Matthew’s statement of Jesus sending the disciples out into the world to continue his work. Note the “all’s” that fill this section: all authority, all of the nations, all that I have commanded you, I’ll all-ways be with you. One of the things that I find encouraging about this passage is that Matthew writes honestly about the disciples’ doubt. They are clearly still trying to figure out what all this means – Jesus’ actions and his words, his crucifixion, and resurrection. This one thing is clear: He says to them, “Go!”