Why is our middle name “Missionary”? What does it truly mean to be a “Missionary” movement or denomination? Why do we do what we do both in Canada and overseas and why do we continue to choose to go to the “hard and dark” places and people groups? What sets us apart from the other denominations and mission agencies? Today we will look at what are the genuine marks of a missional church and what does it mean for us, The Alliance Canada, to continue to obey God and live-out our missionary mandate.

“God’s purpose in this age is to gather to Himself a people of all the nations of the world.”

Chapter 1: God, His Mission and His World, KAIROS Reader 4th Edition

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11:20 (ESV)

Apostolic Passion

“The word ‘apostle’ means a sent one, a messenger. ‘Apostolic passion’ therefore, is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship of Jesus in the nations. It has to do with being committed to the point of death to spreading His glory. It’s the quality of those who are on fire for Jesus, who dream of the whole earth being covered with the Glory of the Lord.” - Dr. Floyd McClung, All Nations International

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11:19-20 (ESV)

“I know apostolic passion has died in my heart when I don’t spend my time dreaming of the time when Jesus will be worshipped in languages that aren’t yet heard in heaven. I know it’s missing when I sing about heaven, but live as if earth is my home. Apostolic passion is dead in my heart when I dream more about sports, toys, places to go and people to see, than I do about nations worshipping Jesus.”

“I have lost it too when I make decisions based on the danger involved, not the glory God will get. Those who have apostolic passion are planning to go but willing to stay. You know you have it when you are deeply disappointed that God has not called you to leave your home . . .”

“If you have apostolic passion, you are one of the most dangerous people on planet earth.”

Dr. Floyd McClung, All Nations International

Bring the Gospel to everyone

. . . especially among those where few or none have heard in the hard and dark places

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

…and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,

Romans 15:20 (ESV)

… So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 11:26 (NIV)

Call people to be Christ- followers

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 2:3-6 (ESV)

A truly missional / missionary church is:

• Filled with apostolic passion
• Intentionally seeks and goes to bring the gospel to everyone and especially those who have no access to Jesus particularly the least reached
• Commitment to calling people especially among the least reached, to become Christ-followers so that they too can call others to be Christ-followers