MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES AS PARTNERS: Philippians 4:14-16


OUTLINE

  1. Missionaries are sent and supplied in obedience to Christʼs command in the Great Commission
    (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
  2. Missionaries are either Church-Planters or Church- Strengtheners, sometimes both
    (Ti. 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:2)
  3. Missionaries should be approved, sent, and supplied by local churches (Acts 13:3)
  4. Missionaries should be accountable to local churches
    (Acts 14:27)
  5. Missionaries should meet the same qualifications as pastors, because they are pastors (Eph. 4:11, 1 Tim. 3, Ti. 1)
  6. Missionaries are sent and supplied for the sake of Christʼs name among the nations (Rom. 1:5, 2 Jn. 7)
  7. Missions exists because worship does not
    (1 Chron. 16:31, Is. 4996, Rev. 599-12)

I. MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES TO SHARE THEIR TROUBLES BY MEETING THEIR NEEDS (vv. 14, 16)

II. CHURCHES MUST PARTNER WITH MISSIONARIES BECAUSE SENDING FINANCIALLY IS JUST AS VITAL AS GOING PHYSICALLY (v. 15)

III. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE TREATED MORE LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER AND LESS LIKE A BEGGAR (v. 16)

IV. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED EVEN AT GREAT COST TO THE SAINTS (2 Cor. 8:1-3)

DISCUSSION

1. In verses 14-16, Paul is clarifying his gratefulness for the Philippians’ generosity. What did they do for him? How does 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 shed further light on their generous spirit?

2. How does Acts 16 help us understand what Paul is referencing in verse 15?

Ekklesia Muskogee is a reformed baptist church that gathers for worship in Muskogee, Oklahoma. We confess the 1689 second London baptist confession of faith. We affirm the five solas of the Reformation as well as the doctrines of grace (otherwise known as the five points of Calvinism), and each of our pastors would not be ashamed to be called a Calvinist. We are a church led by elders, of which there is a plurality (also called pastors and overseers in the Scriptures). Our mission is to make disciples, love cities, and plant churches.