Convictions and Practices of a Sending Church
Introduction
God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. The Holy Spirit fills believers and illuminates God’s Word to help them obey God’s commandments in their present lives. God’s Word and Spirit help believers live faithfully as a community seeking to fulfill God’s mission here on this earth in a place and time. Submitting to God’s Word and Spirit, God’s people become a church seeking to fulfill all God's commands in a covenantal and confessional relationship. These churches, over time, seek to make more disciples of Jesus and become healthy churches that continue to make and multiply disciples.
While the paragraph above lacks much substantiation and nuance, it is a cursory summary of the core elements of faithfulness in being a church that sends and supports Gospel workers. I believe it is true with everything in me. And chances are good that, if you’re reading this, you likely do as well – or at least the majority of it!
Acts and the Sending Church
If we’re honest, all churches should share the convictions above (in addition to many others), but what happens when a church, full of God’s people and led by God’s Spirit, begins to pursue this? By God’s grace, we have a narrative in Scripture recorded in the book of Acts and illustrated in the epistles. The book of Acts records the appearance of Jesus to His disciples and His ascension to the Father (Acts 1), the day of Pentecost and the birth of the Church (Acts 2), and the subsequent development of the Church and extension of the Church into new peoples and places (Acts 3-28).
Perhaps one way of summarizing this glorious narrative of God’s work in Acts is through the words of Paul in Ephesians 2:
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 2:18–22.
God’s work through Christ and the Holy Spirit, which was recorded in the gospels and Acts, was to establish His Church. The Church has Christ as the cornerstone, a foundation of the apostles and prophets, and continues to be built up into the household of God through the saints. And if we believe Ephesians is a good summary of Acts, we should today believe that gifted leaders will emerge from churches just like in Acts and that those sending churches will have a role in the lives and ministries of those Sent Ones. To see that, let’s look at one portion of Acts.
Peter, Jerusalem, and Antioch
The Acts narrative's “primary actors” are the apostles being led by the Holy Spirit, and perhaps the two most prominent apostles in the narrative are Peter and Paul. Several other gifted saints are involved in the unfolding work of God in this period, and several churches are interacting across geographies and cultures through the narrative. But Peter and Paul should be very instructive for sending churches today. Of particular interest are Acts 11 and Acts 13:
11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:1–4.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:16–24.
In Acts 11, we see the Gospel move from being received by the Jews to the Gentiles. The Spirit works through the apostle Peter and the church of Jerusalem to verify God’s actions and shape how the Gospel and the Word of God begin to be worked out among the Gentiles. We can observe in the narrative a dynamic interaction between leaders in the church, God’s Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and a church in a place (Jerusalem) wrestling with new disciples being made and new churches forming (Antioch) over some time. In this passage, Peter is engaging with the church of Jerusalem on matters of doctrinal application. Also, we see the church at Jerusalem sending Barnabas to Antioch to verify the work of God and serve the church there.
These interactions have continued throughout church history as the same Holy Spirit who worked in the recorded story in Acts continues to work throughout the world until the Great Commission is fulfilled and Christ returns. Being a sending church today should look a lot like this!
Barnabas, Paul, and Antioch
The narrative of Acts continues in chapter 13:
13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 13:1–3.
In this passage, we see the church at Antioch having gifted leaders (prophets and teachers) who are worshiping and fasting. In that, the Spirit moves and sets apart two of them – Paul and Barnabas – for a new work. The leaders (and possibly the church) fast and pray, lay hands on the two gifted leaders, and send them off! Interestingly, the church of Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch, and then the church at Antioch sent out Barnabas and Paul on the first missionary journey. These churches had a dynamic relationship with these leaders, who were conducting ministry on the church’s behalf.
Paul and Barnabas, and others like John Mark, do work (preaching the Gospel, making disciples, and establishing churches) throughout the region. Paul and Barnabas also returned to those churches and strengthened them through teaching. Finally, Paul and Barnabas are appointed to return to Jerusalem to resolve doctrinal disputes in collaboration with the apostles and elders there. In those discussions recorded in Acts 15, James has a prevalent voice, and the conversations result in a plural agreement for doctrinal application for these newly formed churches.
Following that renowned Jerusalem counsel, we see again apostles, elders, and the whole church select and send:
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 15:22–23.
Here, we see the gifted leaders (apostles and elders) and the whole church commissioning yet more people to go with Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch. Their relationships were mutually interdependent and submitted to the plural council of apostles and elders. During disagreements that led to discussion and a resolution, the churches communicated through letters and leaders.
While we live in a modern culture with various modes of communication, sending churches today can utilize this same pattern. We can commit to collaborating with other churches and communicating content through and with various gifted leaders engaged in ministry and mission across various geographies. The churches of Jerusalem and Antioch engaged in this way with people sent off, and so should we!
What, Then, Should We Do?
If you believe that the pattern of sending in Acts follows a bit of what was outlined above, what should we do as churches and leaders today?
I would suggest the following four things:
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest for laborers
Identify and train potential Sent Ones
Support workers through ministry partnership
Connect with other churches and ministries
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest
If you’re reading this, there is a good chance you know Luke 10:2 and pray it regularly. But I would challenge us to pray with two things in mind. The first is expectancy. God’s Spirit is active in every church, and the Holy Spirit will set people apart for cross-cultural ministry. We shouldn’t just want that; we should expect it! Whether your church meets in a home or has multiple congregations, God’s Holy Spirit is working to set people apart, and we shouldn’t be surprised when He does!
The second challenge in prayer is to embrace the uncertainty of walking by faith. As we pray, it’s so easy to want the Spirit to move predictably and with a long-term plan. And I know, because I am a planner by nature! But surprising things happen when God’s Spirit speaks or moves, and we must be ready to respond accordingly. Is it helpful to have a strategy? For sure! But the prophets and teachers of Antioch didn’t seem to have much of one based on the text alone. The Spirit set apart Barnabas and Paul while they were worshiping and fasting, so they prayed and sent them off. Being a sending church requires the risk of uncertainty, a deep faith in God's calling and persevering work, and a willingness to walk by faith rather than sight.
Identify and Train Potential Sent Ones
This may seem a bit contrary to what I just said, but in addition to prayer, we should be ready to identify and train those who arise in our midst. And it isn’t contrary, but part of what it means to be expectant. Simply put, if we believe the Spirit will move to send, then we should be ready when He does! And there is no greater preparation than prayer and fasting.
In addition, I would suggest that a sending church investigate both character and gifting to evaluate the calling a person might be receiving. When the church asks a few questions, it is not “getting in the way” of calling. It is partnering with the Holy Spirit in accordance with God’s Word to confirm work when it takes seriously knowing the person, their character, and their gifts. Additionally, it’s helpful to ensure the potential Sent One has a pattern of devotion to Christ, zeal for evangelism, and willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ, just like Paul and Barnabas had.
Support Workers through Ministry Partnership
Perhaps more than anything, a sending church should view their Sent Ones as a partner in ministry, not a far-off person or a subordinate of their authority. The partnership means financial support, yes, but it also means showing mutual respect and receiving the blessing and ministry of the Sent One. It’s easy for a sending church to lose sight of reciprocal partnership, but it is essential for the sending church's health and the partnership's longevity. There is no better “pair of eyes” to look back at the sending church and provide insight from the field. Just like Paul rebuked Peter for showing favoritism, sending churches need outside but trusted partners to see their ministry rightly.
Connect with Other Churches and Ministries
The famous saying “it takes a village to raise a child” could also apply to sending a worker. But it’s not just a village—it’s other churches and ministries. In modern times, organizations like sending agencies provide helpful evaluation, training, and services to support a Sent One in their calling. Other churches connected to the sending church are extremely valuable partners in prayer, funding, and support for both the sending church and the Sent One.
In addition to these benefits, having multiple partnering churches has one more tangible benefit: perspective. I wish it were not the case, but oftentimes, there is conflict in ministry. Having partners beyond the sending church and the Sent One can provide a helpful perspective when communication challenges or conflict about ministry arises. God has given local churches and His global Church to help us fulfill the mission and show the unifying John 17 love of Jesus to the world.
Conclusion
No matter who you are, where you worship, or what you do, God loves you and longs for you to be a part of His redemptive plan. There’s a good chance you are connected to a church, and no matter your role there, the one thing you can do is pray. Above all else, intercession is the fuel that fires sending churches in the long run. May God remind you of that grace and give you a glimpse of the book of Acts in your local church community!
Editor’s Note: For public use by permission of The Austin Stone.