Stay on Track! Paul's Letter to the GalatiansSample

The mission is a task of the whole Church

“… and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised” (Galatians 2:9)

Paul was a missionary and has become well-known through his letters that were included in the Bible. But his missionary journeys were no private undertaking. When God called Paul to bring the Gospel to non-Jewish people (the Gentiles) he worked with the apostles, who were already leading the Church. The mission is not just the task of some individuals called by God; it is the task of the whole church.

Paul and the other apostles made sure they preached the same gospel everywhere (Galatians 2:2), and they decided that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles while the others would evangelize primarily among the Jews. There is nothing wrong with dividing missionary tasks according to gifts, opportunities, or calling of specific people. God “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers….” (Ephesians 4:11). But in the end, everyone in the Church is responsible for supporting the spread of the gospel and the building up of the Church whether through prayer, or financial and practical support of missionaries or by actually going out themselves.

Have you considered supporting the mission? How is your local church involved?