a biblical foundation for missions

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Just like how each sport has fundamentals that are the building blocks for the game, there are building blocks in Scripture that show us God’s purpose for the world or, in other words, His mission.

WE ARE USED TO HEARING THAT THE BIBLE IS A LOVE STORY-

God loves people. While this is true, as we see in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, it is only part of the story. 

The creator of all things has written out His story for us so that we can see things from His perspective. The Bible is not a story about people. The Bible is a story about God - the story of God revealing Himself in order to draw to Himself obedient worship from the nations.

In Psalm 96 we find that the ultimate value of salvation is not seen in what we are saved from, but it is what we are saved for that really matters. We are saved to worship God. In this respect, we can say that world evangelization is for God - the rationale for mission is the colossal worthiness of God - missions is for God. In missions, we go to people, but what we do is for God - that He might be glorified, that He might be worshipped. 

“Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations,
​his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.”
Psalm 96:2-4

When did missions first begin?

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of
the day, and they hid from the
LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 
Genesis 3:8-9
From the very moment sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, God began His missionary adventure. Through His pursuit of Adam and Eve in the garden, God initiated missions and has never stopped pursuing sinners since.

With one of the most formidable barriers to world evangelization being the diversity of language and culture, it begs one to ask the questions, “Why create so many nations?” Scripture gives us two reasons: (1) to restrain the expression of evil in the heart of man and (2) to cause people to seek Him. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:24-27

Immediately after God created the nations as described in Genesis 11, chapter 12 follows with God revealing His purpose through His promise to Abraham. 

Throughout history, God has been about the work of revealing Himself, redeeming His creation and bringing the promise of blessing to every people. This purpose and promise is seen, not only in Genesis 12, but throughout Scripture as God has revealed Himself to man...
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 
Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis 12
Through Abraham, God revealed Himself as the Lord, the Almighty and the Provider, who wants to bless all people of the world through His people.
Exodus 3:14
Through Moses, God revealed Himself as the I AM WHO I AM, whose plan is to show His glory to the world through His people, who are to be a kingdom of priests to all peoples.
2 Samuel 7
Through David, God revealed that His Seed would rule all nations and His Kingdom would be for all peoples.
John 3:16
Through Jesus, God revealed His love and His purpose to reconcile the world to Himself through Christ’s incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
Romans 16:25-26
Through Paul, God revealed that the mystery of the ages is that He includes all peoples in His redemption.
Revelation 7:9
Through John, God revealed that some from every nation, tribe, tongue and people will worship Him forever.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." 
Matthew 24:14

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MISSIONS...
God is the initiator of missions.
God has a purpose to overcome evil.
God has a purpose to redeem man.
God has a purpose to be worshipped within all peoples.
We are compelled to make His name known because He is worthy of the worship of the nations.