What Does a Missionary Do?

Wednesday:	What Does a Missionary Do?
Bible Lesson:	Josiah and the Book: The Bible is God's word. We should study it and apply it to our lives.
Memory Verse:	1st Thessalonians 2:13
Missions Concepts:	Missionaries make disciples and start churches.
Missions Examples:	Philippi
Bible Passages:	Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 16, Philippians 2:19-30

Introduction: Missions Marathon

[Perform the Missions Marathon Skit by way of introduction.]

In the skit, Earnest wasn't totally sure what he needed to do to be a missionary. He knew that it might involve talking to people, but he wasn't sure what he needed to tell them. So that's what we're going to talk about today: what missionaries actually do.

Kristina reminded Earnest that those who follow Jesus are to go tell people what they learned in the Bible. People need to know that their sin separates them from God, but also that he loves them and sent Jesus to pay for their sins. Earnest knew that they were to go and make disciples.

The Point: Discipleship

A disciple is a learner, a follower of God. If we teach people how they can have their sins forgiven, they can choose to become disciples, to learn more about God, to follow him and obey his word.

The Bible verse Earnest was quoting from is in Matthew 28. Jesus didn't just say we should tell everybody that Jesus loves them. That's part of it, but he also said Teach them to obey everything I have commanded. That takes time. Missionaries have to make sure that they do the whole thing: it's not enough to just tell the people how to be saved and then abandon them. Missionaries have to do more than that: they have to make sure the people are taught everything Jesus commanded.

Example: Philippi

Remember, yesterday, we talked about when Paul went to Macedonia. Paul spent several days in the Macedonian town of Philippi, teaching people, but that's not all he did. Because of Paul's ministry, a church was started in Philippi.

Paul stayed in contact with the Philippian church, too. He sent them a letter, which we have in our Bible: the book of Philippians. In the letter he taught them more about how to follow Christ. With the letter he sent a Christian man named Epaphroditus, who could help them as well. He also said that he was hoping to send Timothy to them soon, because Timothy would take a real interest in how they were doing. (Timothy was a Pastor whom Paul had trained specially.) Paul also said that he wanted to visit them again himself. For Paul, it wasn't enough to tell the people in Philippi that they needed Jesus: he had to keep helping them until they learned everything they needed to know.

Application: Today

When we tell people about Jesus today, we can't just get them to pray a prayer for forgiveness and then forget about them. We have to follow it through. That's what missionaries do. So if somebody asks you what a missionary is, you should say that missionaries teach people how to follow Jesus.

Invitation: Missions

Invite any children who want to do missions work to stay after the lesson and discuss it further.