Last week we enjoyed a rich spread of gospel truth and missional encouragement at our 2020 Missions Festival. If you weren’t able to hear Nate Bonham on 2/9, John Snyder on 2/12, or Dave Garner on 2/16 - or even if you were - here are some of the highlights from their sermons.
Nate Bonham preached from John 17, and reminded us that missions is for the glory of God and our joy. Remembering that God’s glory is the goal of missions redefines the battlefield, redefines the weapons, and redefines victory. That is, a focus on God’s glory reminds us that the battlefield is actually the heart of man; that the word of God is the weapon, as is our money, which we sacrifice for His glory and for the sake of others knowing God; and that success in missions is guaranteed, for it is based on God’s sovereign grace alone. The purpose of missions is also the joy of those who are saved. God sanctifies His people and aligns our joys with His, and sends us out together with other believers to share the gospel so that we might rejoice as others come to know His joy.
John Snyder preached from the life of Ahaz in II Chronicles 28. He challenged us to ask ourselves if we are the kind of people with whom God can entrust new believers. Ahaz’s view of God was so small that it led him toward pragmatism, idolatry, unfaithfulness, and a disbelief of God’s promises. When we walk in the way of Ahaz, when our view of God is tiny, then our evangelism will be affected dramatically. Not only will we cease to evangelize but God will not want unbelievers to be in our midst, lest we infect them with the same view of God that we have.
Dave Garner preached from Matthew 28:18-20 and III John 1-8. In Matthew 28 he showed us what makes the Great Commission so great: its comprehensive scope (all nations gathered into the church); its depth (demands a complete life change); its source (the triune God); its authority (the authority of the incarnate Son of God); its accompanying promise (that Jesus will be with us by His Spirit). In light of these realities, we go forth to bring the message of salvation to all the earth. From III John 1-8, he were called to walk in gospel truth, to abound in gospel love, and the breath a gospel mission. Our mission must be marked by a priority (Jesus Christ), a fidelity (to the word of God), an accountability (to the church that sends us), a hospitality (to strangers), a generosity (to those who are sent), an intentionality (to see ourselves as fellow workers), and a mutuality (we are all called to send and to receive, to go and to send).
These notes are just a summary of the truth and exhortation we heard this past week. As we point others to the hope of the gospel, may the Lord continue to spread the fame of His name through us, both around the corner and around the world.