Sermon by Missionary Samaroo Sookraj
TEXT: Matt 4:18-22. 28:16-20.
SUB: The church planter: A called missionary.
Intro: 1) The first part of the text reveals the calling of His disciples. He called them with the promise that He will make them fishers of men.
2) In our second part of the text, He appointed a meeting where he gave the church's marching order...The Great Commission.
3) Every disciple is a missionary in a sense but some missionaries have special calling. In this case my subject is about the Church Planter Missionary.
1. THE MISSIONARY
A. He must be a called man of God.
i) Many a person has called themself.
ii) This is seen in the many false religious groups.
iii) The Commission was give only to the Lord's church, not individuals, nor Mission Boards, nor religiously inclined groups.
B. Not only called, but totally surrendered only to Christ and His Will.
i) His will revealed in the Great Commission is to
a. Go,
b. Make Disciples
c. Baptize them
d. Teach the things commanded by Christ.
ii) The church planter's surrendering. Acts 9: 3-6. "what wilt Thou have me to do..."
C. He must have the approval of the church he belongs to. Acts: 13: 1-3.
i) They were called from within the Lords Church. vs 1,2.
ii) These called were educated in the Word. vs 1. prophets, and teachers.
iii) The church recognized the calling and commissioning of them vs 3.
11. THE MISSIONARY'S MESSAGE.
A. It must be Christo-centric. He is the central theme of the Bible.
i) He is God of very God.The revealed Jehovah of the Old Testament. Matt 1:21. John 10: 30.
ii) He is the perfect Man of sorrows.. He sufferred and died for us. His own. Isa 53: 3-6. John 10:15.
B. It must be Sound Doctrine. We must emphasize the importance of this.
i) John 8:32. 2 Tim 1:13. 2:2. 4: 3.
111. THE MISSIONARY'S METHOD.
A. The Biblical pattern. Acts 13:1-3.
i) The church, the Lord's institution, sent him to plant indigenous churches.
ii) The church did not tell the missionary where to go.
iii) Sometimes the Lord's will was clear to them, somtimes not. Acts 16: 6-10.
iv) Through the church's authority elders were ordained and had self-government. Acts 14:23. Tit 1:5.
B. The missionary must be consistent and committed to the Biblical pattern yet be very practical.
i) Train the people only to depend on the Lord and themselves, not the missionary's supporting churches.
ii) Never try to deculturise the converts.
iii) If the converts were previously paganistic idolaters, do not critize their religion nor their gods but preach Christ and Him crucified and the Holy Spirit will do His work. Acts 19: 17,18.
1V. THE MISSIONARY'S MOTIVE IN PLANTING CHURCHES.
A. Obedience to his calling...
i) As to his personal love for Christ. John 14:15.
ii) As to his obediece to the commission entrusted to the Lord's church. Matt 28: 19,20.
B. To Glorify the Lord in His churches. Eph 3:21
C. To fulfil his burden... Seeking souls. Prov. 11:30.
D. To do his part in the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to his elect.
V. THE MISSIONARY'S EXPECTATION OF HIS MASTER'S BLESSINGS.
A. His Lord's approval. Matt 25:23.
CONCL 1) The white fields ripened unto harvest.
2) The need must be filled.
3) Jesus is the only hope and the missionary must tell of this.
