Many churches count how many attend as if that is something that determines it’s success. How many we’re seating on any given Sunday was never intended to be a tool used to determine effectiveness. But, how many the church sends out each week is an indicator of a church’s health and Biblical obedience.
“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” – Romans 10:15
Our God is a sending God. Nearly every time He speaks to someone in scripture, He is sending them on a mission. From Abraham to Moses to Paul, to us, God’s people are always being sent into the world on mission. He sent His best and only son into the world to save us. Jesus is referred to as “sent” forty seven times in the New Testament. Clearly, God is a sender by nature. In the Old Testament, He sent prophets, angels and the very special Angel of the Lord. In the New Testament, He sent not only angels, but John the Baptist, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, among others. Jesus sent the apostles, and He has sent us. After His resurrection, Jesus passed on his identity to His disciples: “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you” (John 20:21).
The English word “mission” comes from the Latin word “missio”, which means sending out, or being sent out. The word pertains to the sender as well as to the one being sent. Considering how many times in the Bible God sent people, we can assume the word mission applies to Him as well. God’s nature is one of action; He is a sender. He calls people to participate in His work by sending them out to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). Send may be a small word, but it evokes big action.
The Biblical foundation for living as a sent people on mission is loud and clear (Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, John 20:21-22) and churches are expected to send their members out (Romans 10:15). A “sending church” equips members to demonstrate the gospel every day in their workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools and be prepared to give an answer to those in our community who ask them to “give the reason for the hope that they have” (1 Peter 3:15).
SENDING is the act of enlisting, equipping and mobilizing believers to engage the world with the gospel through:
- local community ministry
- short term missions
- church planting efforts
- disaster relief work
- vocational ministry
- long-term missionary service
Will you accept the SEND challenge? Will your church SEND at least one more on mission this year than you did last? It is our desire to help you discover what it looks like to SEND One More. We welcome the opportunity to help you and your church take the next steps toward obediently joining God in His mission. To accept the SEND Challenge or request assistance for your church (training, strategy development, resources, placement, etc), visit www.kybaptist.org/SENDmore.
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