The Bible has a lot to say about world missions and reaching the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical themes and passages related to world missions and God’s heart for all peoples.
The Great Commission
One of the most well-known passages on missions is Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus commissions his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This has become known as the Great Commission. Jesus commands his disciples to go to all peoples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all he has commanded. This makes it clear that the gospel is for all nations and peoples, not just the Jews or one particular group.
Similar commissions are recorded in Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47-48, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8. The scope of the mission is global. Disciples are called to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. The Good News is for all creation.
God’s Heart for the Nations
The Bible reveals that God loves the whole world, not just Israel. God chose Israel to be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6). His ultimate purpose was that salvation would reach the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6).
This universal scope is seen throughout the Old Testament. The covenant with Abraham involved blessing all nations (Genesis 12:3, 22:18). God’s global purpose is clear in passages like 1 Kings 8:41-43, 1 Chronicles 16:24, Isaiah 45:22, and Jeremiah 3:17. The book of Jonah illustrates God’s compassion for even pagan nations like Assyria.
In the New Testament, Jesus declares that God so loved the world that he gave his Son (John 3:16). The gospel of salvation by grace through faith is for both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 1:16). God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).
It is clear in Scripture that while God uniquely chose Israel, his love and salvation extend to the whole world. Global missions is at the very heart of God.
The Early Church and Paul’s Missionary Journeys
The book of Acts records the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the apostles boldly preached the gospel in Jerusalem despite opposition. Persecution scattered believers who took the message beyond Judea (Acts 8:1, 11:19).
The conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, in Acts 10, convinces the Jerusalem church that the gospel is also for non-Jews. The Great Commission is for Samaritan villages and the Gentile nations too (Acts 1:8). Paul takes the gospel to Asia Minor and Europe, crossing significant cultural barriers.
Paul’s three missionary journeys (Acts 13-21) proclaim the gospel across the Roman Empire. He spreads the Word from Syrian Antioch to Rome itself. A key theme is how the gospel transcends ethnic and cultural divides. All who believe are united as one in Christ.
Motivations for Missions
According to the Bible, Christians should be motivated to engage in missions for several reasons:
- Obedience to Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Desire for God’s glory among all peoples (Psalm 96:3)
- Compassion for the lost (Romans 10:1)
- Sense of debt to preach to all (Romans 1:14)
- Urgency of the task (John 4:35)
- Joy of participating in God’s mission (Acts 13:52)
Missions is not optional for followers of Christ. It is a direct command and central to our purpose. We care about the lost and long to see people from every tribe and tongue know Jesus. Missions bring glory to God.
The Holy Spirit and Prayer
Two essential resources for missions in the Bible are the Holy Spirit and prayer. Jesus tells disciples to wait for the Spirit before going out as witnesses (Acts 1:8). The Spirit guides, empowers, gives boldness, and confirms the Word with signs and wonders.
Prayer is another vital missions practice we see in Acts and Paul’s letters. The believers constantly pray together before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:3). Paul asks others to pray that he will preach the gospel boldly (Ephesians 6:19). Fervent prayer undergirds the spread of the Word globally.
Overcoming Barriers
The book of Acts shows how the gospel breaks down barriers:
- Ethnic – Jews and Gentiles become one in Christ (Acts 15)
- Social – Slaves and masters worship together (Philemon)
- Gender – Men and women both receive the Spirit (Acts 2:17-18)
The gospel challenged traditional boundaries. God’s kingdom is for all. Missions demonstrate the power of the gospel to transcend human divisions.
The Role of the Local Church
Local churches play a vital role in global missions in several ways:
- Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3)
- Supporting missionaries (Philippians 4:14-16)
- Praying for missions (Colossians 4:3-4)
- Equipping for evangelism (Ephesians 4:11-12)
- Modeling unity amidst diversity (Ephesians 2:14-18)
Churches can commission, send, fund, pray for, and care for missionaries. They also equip all believers for evangelism. Local churches are the missionary base supporting the advance of the gospel worldwide.
The Missionary Call
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit calls specific men and women into missions and church planting ministry. Paul describes his personal sense of call from God to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21, 26:17-18; Romans 1:1). The Spirit also calls Barnabas and Saul while the Antioch church is worshiping and praying (Acts 13:2).
Later, Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the churches they started and committed these new believers to the Lord (Acts 14:23). They returned to these cities later in the trip to strengthen and encourage the disciples to remain true to the faith (Acts 14:21-22; 15:41).
Paul writes that Christ himself commissioned him as apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). He believes he is entrusted with the task of proclaiming the gospel where it is unknown (Romans 15:20-21). A definite call from God motivates and sustains missionaries on the field.
God’s Power in Missions
A major theme in biblical missions is that success depends on God’s power, not human efforts. Paul testifies that his preaching was in weakness, fear, and trembling, not eloquent words of wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). The Thessalonians received the Word as God’s Word, not merely human speech (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Paul stresses that only God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).
It is the Holy Spirit who empowers miracles, conversions, and new churches – not the skill of missionaries. Missions rely on prayer and require God’s supernatural work. It is God who opens hearts to respond (Acts 16:14). Missions are not ultimately about human strategy but divine power.
Suffering in Missions
The Bible repeatedly shows that spreading the gospel often involves suffering. Jesus sends out his disciples as sheep among wolves (Matthew 10:16). Paul faces severe hardships in his missionary journeys:
- Imprisonment and floggings (Acts 16:23, 2 Corinthians 11:23)
- Beatings and stonings (Acts 14:19, 2 Corinthians 11:25)
- Mobs and riots (Acts 19:29, 21:27)
- Shipwrecks and dangers (2 Corinthians 11:26)
- Exhaustion and lack (2 Corinthians 11:27)
Jesus tells Ananias that Paul will suffer much for Christ’s name (Acts 9:16). Rather than success, Jesus promises his disciples persecution (Matthew 10:17-25). Suffering is part of missions.
The Holy Spirit at Work
The book of Acts highlight’s the Holy Spirit’s vital role in missions and the spread of the gospel. At Pentecost, the Spirit enables witnesses from different tongues to praise God together (Acts 2:5-12). The Spirit empowers apostles to do miracles and speak with boldness (Acts 2:43, 4:31). Stephen, full of the Spirit, testifies before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:10). The Spirit guides Philip to approach the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29). Peter’s vision and Cornelius’s vision are both from the Spirit (Acts 10:19, 11:12). The Holy Spirit creates gospel community across barriers at Pentecost and Cornelius’ household. The Spirit works powerfully to spread the Word globally.
Paul’s Missionary Strategy
Paul had a deliberate strategy he followed in his church planting missions:
- Focus on major urban centers (Acts 16:9)
- Preach first in Jewish synagogues (Acts 14:1)
- Win converts and plant house churches (Acts 16:15)
- Train local leaders like Timothy (Acts 16:1-3)
- Use Roman roads and sea routes (Acts 13:4, 14:26)
- Leverage Roman citizenship when useful (Acts 22:25-29)
Paul tailored his approach as needed to different audiences. He was very strategic in establishing new churches across the Roman world. He adapted his techniques in various contexts with the goal of spreading the gospel far and wide.
The Purpose of Missions
The ultimate purpose of missions in Scripture is bringing glory to God. Isaiah prophesies that one day all nations will worship the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-4). In the New Testament, missions aim at disciples from every people praising God together (Revelation 5:9-10). People from each tongue, tribe, and nation will gather to worship the Lamb.
Missions are also driven by the reality of coming judgment. Paul preaches that God commands all people everywhere to repent in light of coming judgment (Acts 17:30-31). There is urgency to reach the lost while there is time. The love of Christ compels us to persuade people to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:14, 20).
God is glorified when people from all nations worship him. Missions exist because unbelievers face judgment and need reconciliation. Global missions is ultimately about the glory of God and the salvation of the lost.
Missions in the Old Testament
God’s global purpose in redemption is emphasized in key Old Testament passages:
- God promises to bless all nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3)
- Rahab aids Israel’s spies due to news of the Exodus (Joshua 2)
- Ruth, a Moabite woman, joins Israel (Ruth 1:16)
- God spares pagan Ninevah when they repent at Jonah’s preaching
- Isaiah predicts nations will come to Zion to learn of God (Isaiah 2:2-3)
- God will make his salvation known among all nations (Psalm 67:2)
Though focused on Israel, the Old Testament anticipates the inclusion of Gentiles in redemption. It lays the foundation for the global reach of the gospel. The mission to all nations has roots in God’s covenant with Abraham to bless all peoples on earth.
Fulfilling the Great Commission
Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28 charges the church to make disciples of all nations. This is accomplished by going, evangelizing, baptizing, and teaching. Some key principles for fulfilling this mission include:
- Prayer – Only possible through prayer (Matthew 9:38)
- Holy Spirit – His power enables our witness (Acts 1:8)
- Sacrifice – Fulfilling the mission costs us our lives (Mark 8:35)
- Partnership – Work together to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:5)
- Perseverance – Despite obstacles, we press on (2 Timothy 4:5)
- All Believers – Every Christian plays a role in missions
There is an urgency to reaching the thousands of remaining unreached people groups. We must take the gospel to hard places. Completing the task requires total dependence on God. Every church and believer can participate through prayer, giving, mobilizing, welcoming newcomers, and sharing Christ’s love with others.
Conclusion
The Bible is a missionary book from start to finish. From the call of Abraham to bless all peoples to the visions of every nation worshiping the Lamb in Revelation, global outreach is central. Jesus commands his followers to make disciples everywhere. The Spirit empowers the rapid spread of the gospel.
Key missionary themes include God’s heart for the lost, the call for all believers to share the gospel, motivation for missions, strategies for missions, barriers broken down by the gospel, suffering involved in the advance of God’s Kingdom, and reliance on God’s power to bring results. Missions exist for the glory of God and the reconciliation of the nations.
As the church worldwide seeks to fulfill the Great Commission in line with biblical models, we joyfully anticipate the day when a multitude from every language and people worship Jesus Christ together.