Missions Sunday
3 John 1:6-8
Welcome to Lottie Moon Sunday at FBCPS where today we get the opportunity to partner with missionaries all around the world and join in their Gospel work by awareness, praying, and supporting them financially as the Word of God calls us to do.
From the beginning to the end of the Bible, we see God’s love for and focus on the nations. He created the nations in His image and for His glory. When we think nations, we think countries. But when the Bible talks about nations, God is saying people groups, ethnicities. God’s heart is for the ethnic groups of the world.
Note: Several words are used in the bible denote the idea of a nation or a people. The most commonly used Hebrew word for nations is: gôy, which means a gathering of people with similar cultures and language. It does not refer to a geo-political country.
The Hebrew word most commonly translated into the word peoples in the Old Testament is the word ʿam - This word usually refers to the Israelites and not the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:6 - I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people ( am) , As a light to the nations ( goy).
1 Chron. 16:24 - Tell of His glory among the nations (goy) , His wonderful deeds among all the peoples (am).
In the New Testament the theme continues:
The Greek word used here for nations is ἔθνος / Ethnos (Ethnic) – it means “a body of persons united by kinship, language , culture, and common traditions."
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Word used here is Ethne or ethnic.
Revelation 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation."
The question we must ask is what is the part that God wants us to play in His mission around the world? What is my part? What is your part?
3 John: 6-8 - They have testified to your love before the church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name* and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.
