Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7700 Leadership and the people of God  »  7739 missionaries  »  7740 missionaries, call of

God calls and sends out his people into the world. All believers are called to share the good news of the gospel, though some are specially commissioned by God, confirmed by the church and compelled by the gospel message to missionary service.

The call to all God's people

Psalm 96:2-3 pp 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 Matthew 28:19 See also Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8

Missionaries in the OT

Those sent to their own people

Isaiah 6:8-10 See also 2 Peter 2:5 Noah; Jeremiah 2:1-4 Jeremiah's ministry extended further but was primarily to his own people, Judah; Ezekiel 2:3 Ezekiel

Those sent to other peoples

2 Kings 17:27-28 A priest from Samaria returns to teach the resettled population about the LORD.

God's servant is to bring salvation to the whole world:

Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47 Amos 7:15 Amos, from Judah, is sent to the northern kingdom of Israel.

Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh:

Jonah 1:1-2; Jonah 3:1-2

Missionaries in the NT

John the Baptist

John 1:6-7 See also Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:10 pp Luke 7:27; Mark 1:2-4; Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3; John 1:33

Jesus Christ's disciples

Luke 9:1-6 Healing and deliverance accompanies preaching as part of the disciples' mission. See also Matthew 10:5-16 During Jesus Christ's earthly ministry the disciples' mission was limited to Israel; Mark 6:7-11; Luke 10:1

Other believers

Acts 11:19-20 See also Acts 8:5 Philip; Acts 18:24 Apollos; Acts 26:15-18 Paul

Receiving the missionary call

The call given by God

Jeremiah 1:4-10 See also Matthew 4:19 Peter and Andrew; Acts 8:26 Philip; Acts 22:21 Paul

The call confirmed by the church

Acts 13:2-3 See also Acts 14:26-27; Acts 15:40; Acts 22:14-15 Paul's call to be a missionary to the Gentiles is communicated through Ananias; Galatians 2:7-9 Paul's mission to the Gentiles is recognised by the other apostles.

The call through circumstances

Acts 8:4 Persecution drove the early church to wider mission. See also Genesis 45:4-5 Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt; Daniel 1:3-6 Daniel among those taken into exile in Babylon; Acts 18:1-2 Priscilla and Aquila left Rome because of persecution.

Missionaries compelled by the message

Acts 4:18-20 See also 1 Corinthians 9:16; 2 Corinthians 5:14

See also

5107  Paul
5112  Peter
5624  witnesses to Christ
6620  calling
7724  evangelists
7772  prophets
8495  witnessing