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Summary of Prioritizing Missions in the Church

Authors: Aaron Menikoff and Harshit Singh

Preface: Four Principles of Church-Centered Missions

The preface introduces four foundational principles that explain why missions must be centered on the local church.

1. Christianity Is Church-Shaped

Christianity naturally forms believers into a community. The church functions as a family united through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:11–22 describes the church as one new people in Christ.
1 Timothy 3:15 calls the church the “household of God.”
The apostles commonly refer to believers as brothers and sisters, emphasizing the familial nature of the church.

Thus, the Christian life is not individualistic but lived within the covenant community of the church.

2. Churches Are the Means and the Ends of Missions

Missions must be shaped by the church because the Great Commission is given to the church rather than merely to isolated individuals. Churches serve as the sending base for missionary work. Missionaries are sent out to proclaim the gospel and establish new churches.

3. Missions Work Best When Churches Work Together

The New Testament demonstrates cooperation among churches in missionary efforts.
Examples include:

The churches of Antioch and Jerusalem supporting the missionary work of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11; 13; 15).
Paul and Barnabas returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch to appoint elders in newly established churches (Acts 14:21–23).
3 John 5–8 encourages churches to support missionaries, while 3 John 9–10 condemns a leader who refused cooperation.

These examples show that missions flourish when churches partner together.

4. Missions Must Be Bible-Led

Scripture is the final authority that shapes and directs missionary work. Missions should not be driven primarily by human strategies, cultural trends, or pragmatic methods, but by the teaching and authority of the Bible.

Introduction

The introduction opens with the statement attributed to J. Frank Norris Riley (often paraphrased in missions literature): if someone is truly a Christian, they are either going to the mission field or sending others there.

The authors emphasize that every church should cultivate a culture that raises up and sends missionaries, even if the church itself does not formally commission overseas missionaries.

A central argument of the introduction is that the gospel is humanity’s only hope. While caring for physical needs is important, the church’s primary responsibility is proclaiming Christ, because only Christ can save sinners from eternal destruction.

The church therefore bears a responsibility before God to raise up and send out missionaries who preach the gospel.

Definition of a Mission-Centered Church

A mission-centered church recognizes that its purpose begins with the Great Commission and actively pursues that mission through both words and actions.

Definition of the Church

The church is defined as:

A congregation of baptized believers who covenant together to gather regularly for the preaching of Scripture, observing the ordinances, loving one another, witnessing to the lost, and glorifying God.

Definition of Missions

Missions involves sending qualified workers across linguistic, geographic, or cultural barriers to start or strengthen churches.

The introduction stresses that churches should prioritize sending missionaries particularly to unreached places where the gospel has little or no presence. It also argues that the local church is the best training ground for missionaries, rather than conferences or external programs.

Chapter 1: The Centrality of the Local Church in Missions

Chapter one argues that anyone who claims to preach the gospel while remaining disconnected from a local church is distorting the gospel itself.

The local church is not optional in missionary work. It is essential because:

Gospel preaching produces churches, and
Churches in turn proclaim the gospel.

God has given the local church the responsibility of gospel proclamation. This occurs particularly through elders who preach and equip the saints for ministry.

The authors clarify that this view does not oppose evangelistic efforts such as revival meetings, street preaching, radio or television ministries, or distributing gospel tracts. The problem arises when evangelistic programs operate independently of the local church.

A mission-centered church therefore seeks not only to protect the purity of the gospel but also to maintain a healthy understanding of the church.

Questions to Evaluate a Church’s Readiness for Missions

The chapter proposes several questions that help determine whether a church is prepared to send missionaries:

Is the church governed by Scripture?
Does the church understand its purpose?
Do the pastors model faithful shepherding?
Does the church value spiritual depth as much as numerical growth?
Is the cost of discipleship clearly taught?

The chapter concludes that misunderstanding the church will eventually lead to misunderstanding the gospel. Any missionary effort that ignores the local church will ultimately prove fruitless.

Chapter 4: Balancing Local Ministry and Global Missions

This chapter addresses a common concern: that focusing heavily on missions might cause a church to neglect its own local ministry.

The authors argue that churches must maintain a biblical balance by:

Caring for believers within the church
Evangelizing people in the local community
Remaining committed to reaching distant people who have little access to the gospel

The ultimate goal is that Christ would be exalted among all nations.

The chapter also encourages churches to steward their resources—time, finances, and people—for the work of the Great Commission, regardless of their size, age, or budget. Even small churches are called to participate sacrificially in missions.

Chapter 5: Identifying and Preparing Future Missionaries

This chapter focuses on identifying individuals within the church who may be called to pastoral or missionary ministry.

Preparation for ministry should begin with faithful service as a church member. The authors stress that the best way to prepare for pastoral ministry is not immediately becoming a pastor, but serving faithfully in the local church.

In fact, the most fruitful pastors and missionaries of the future are often the most faithful church members today.

Churches should actively look for ordinary believers who demonstrate spiritual maturity and may be equipped to carry the gospel to other parts of the world. This responsibility should not be left entirely to church-planting networks or mission agencies.

Six Key Qualities to Look For

Love for God – (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Love for God’s Word – (Romans 10:14)
Love for People – (Matthew 9:10–11)
Love for Hospitality – (1 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 13:2)
Love for Holiness – (1 Timothy 3:1–13)
Love for the Church – (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Additional Considerations for Missionary Service

Potential missionaries should also consider whether they are:

Willing and able to learn new languages
Willing to grow deeper in theological understanding
Able to practice wise contextualization of the gospel
Willing to sacrifice comfort and distance themselves from family

The chapter concludes that churches that prioritize missions will focus less on finding the most talented individuals and more on raising up faithful believers who love God, His Word, His people, and His church.

Chapter 7: The Church’s Role in Sending Missionaries

This chapter recounts the story of two missionaries who returned from the mission field but were asked by their church to wait and undergo further training before being sent again. Though the waiting period was difficult, it ultimately prepared them to return to the field more effectively.

The story illustrates an important principle: missions is not primarily an individual endeavor but a church responsibility. God has entrusted the local church with the work of raising up and sending missionaries.

Seven Imperatives for Sending Missionaries

Take responsibility (Acts 13:1–3)
- The church must own the responsibility of sending missionaries.
Test candidates (1 Timothy 3:10)
- Potential missionaries must be examined for spiritual maturity.
Emphasize the local church
- Missionaries must value church membership, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the church’s witness (Hebrews 3:13; 1 Corinthians 11:17–33; 1 Thessalonians 1:8).
Be willing to say no (1 Timothy 5:22)
- Not everyone who desires missionary service is ready to be sent.
Be willing to move slowly
- Effective preparation requires time, desire, ability, and opportunity.
Be willing to say yes (Acts 20:36–38)
- Churches should not hold on to their best leaders but be willing to send them out.
Partner for the long haul
- Sending churches must maintain long-term relationships and support with missionaries.

Conclusion of the Chapter

Missionary work often involves seasons of waiting and preparation. Churches must ensure that those they send are spiritually ready and properly trained, trusting in God’s providence throughout the process.

Kenneth Malenge

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