God commits various tasks to his servants. A principal task of those sent by God is to take the good news of the gospel to those who have not heard it, and so to be a means through which others come to faith.
The need for missionaries
Romans 10:14–15 See also Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 9:37–38 parallel Luke 10:2
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
The work of missionaries
Proclaiming good news
Isaiah 61:1–2 See also Luke 4:18–19Luke 4:43 See also Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35Acts 11:20 See also Acts 5:42, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:25, Acts 14:6–7; Romans 15:16
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,
But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”
But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Calling people to turn to God
Acts 26:20 See also 2 Chronicles 30:6–9; Mark 1:4 parallel Luke 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:19–20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
Announcing judgment
Jonah 3:4 See also Jeremiah 25:30–31, Jeremiah 26:12–13; Ezekiel 21:2–3; Acts 10:42
On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”
Teaching and baptising new believers
Matthew 28:19–20 See also Acts 2:41–42, Acts 8:12–13; 1 Corinthians 4:17
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Taking the message further afield
2 Corinthians 10:15–16 See also Romans 15:18–20, Romans 15:28; Matthew 24:14; Luke 24:47; Acts 16:9–10, Acts 23:11
Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.
Strengthening newly established churches
Acts 18:23 See also Acts 8:14–17, Acts 14:21–23, Acts 15:36–41, Acts 16:4–5
After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Examples of other specific assignments
Exodus 3:10 Moses is sent by God to Pharoah; Joshua 22:3 The eastern tribes complete their mission to help the others take possession of Canaan; Judges 6:14 Gideon is sent by God against the Midianites; 1 Samuel 15:18–20 Saul is given the task of destroying the Amalekites; 1 Samuel 16:1 Samuel is sent by God to anoint David as king; Isaiah 48:15 Cyrus is appointed to bring deliverance from Babylon.; Acts 11:30, Acts 12:25; Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 4:7–8
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.