The Church as Sender: The Biblical Why
This two-part series explores the scriptural foundations for why and how the church should be the primary sender in global missions. In part 1, we delve into why the healthiest and most biblical sending starts with the local church.
Read MoreThe Church as Sender: The Biblical Why
Mike Easton | Aug 5, 2025, 12:05 PM
This two-part series explores the scriptural foundations for why and how the church should be the primary sender in global missions. In part 1, we delve into why the healthiest and most biblical sending starts with the local church.
It has been a privilege of mine to be a part of sending people to the nations for a couple of decades now. I have seen the determination to send started through parachurch organizations, gospel-centered non-profits, and from the local church. While many missionaries on the field have gotten their start through the parachurch and non-profit organizations, I believe the healthiest sending starts within the context of the local church. I believe this to be of both biblical and practical importance.
In this two-part series, we will examine the biblical reasoning in this article and how in the next.
Biblical Basis for the Church as the Sender
From the Scriptures we see that God is a sending God who sent his Son to save the world (1 John 4:14). Jesus sent His disciples as a reflection of His relationship with the Father (John 20:21). Jesus sent those disciples to make disciples throughout their communities, their region, and to the world (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and Son to live in believers and empower them for fruitful lives honoring Him. As these Holy Spirit-empowered believers gathered in each location, they began a local church. In these churches, believers were gathered, encouraged, and sent on mission (Acts 2:41-47).
As we continue through the book of Acts, we see through the diaspora of the Jewish Christians after the persecution of Stephen, the church spread to a place called Antioch (Acts 11:19). In Acts 11:22, as the church in Jerusalem grapples with what it means for the gospel to go to the Gentiles, they sent Barnabas to validate the work of God in the church. Which he was able to see clearly. The church grew to such maturity that when the Jerusalem church faced a famine, the church of Antioch mobilized resources to send down to the church of Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30).
The church of Antioch continued to grow and mature during the period between chapters 11 and 13, when they reached a pivotal moment in verses 1-3,
"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. 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.' Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."
In this passage, we see an incredible description of healthy sending. We use the term 'description' because we must be careful when interpreting historical books of Scripture, such as the Book of Acts, and turning their contents into a prescription (command). With this account and the rest of the Scriptures, observations can be made, and principles can be gleaned from this passage regarding what sending can ideally look like. Let’s look at a few of those.
The church invested in and sent its best.
Paul and Barnabas were â…– of the leadership team at the church of Antioch. Church history tells us that Paul and Barnabas had spent around six years with the church of Antioch at this point. Paul and Barnabas had heavily invested in the church, and the church had invested in Paul and Barnabas. This was undoubtedly a difficult decision. But one they were ready for.
They actively worshipped and fasted.
Worshipping and fasting seem to be a regular part of the life of the church in Antioch, as they were in other New Testament churches. It was out of that worship and fasting that God spoke regarding the calling of Paul and Barnabas. Is there always a cause and effect between worshipping, fasting, and God answering prayers? No, but we see the principle of the discipline in this passage and an example of where the act led to answered prayer.
Calling is recognized internally and affirmed externally.
Calling is recognized internally in the one seeking to be sent and affirmed externally by the church. When the Holy Spirit spoke, he used the word “called” in the past tense, meaning that Paul and Barnabas had already sensed God’s leading towards that mission. But rather than just going, Paul and Barnabas worshiped and fasted alongside the church to seek the affirmation of the Holy Spirit through the other church leaders.
When the Holy Spirit spoke, he commanded the church to “set apart” Paul and Barnabas. He gave the church the role of being the senders under His direction.
Even after the Holy Spirit spoke, in verse 3, leaders fasted and prayed some more before laying their hands on them to send them off. The church plays a vital role in the external affirmation of an internal call in the believer.
Sending goes beyond affirmation and preparation.
The sending process is not simply about what happens before someone is sent; it also involves caring for them while on the field and when they return. At the end of Acts 14 in verses 27 and 28, Luke writes,
“And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.”
The church not only sent Paul and Barnabas, but it also welcomed them back after they had completed the work. Paul and Barnabas spent time with the church to encourage its members and to be encouraged and refreshed themselves.
The church is to be the primary agent in sending and actively seeking the wisdom of God for whom to send, when, and how to do it.
In part 2 of this article, we will take a deep dive into what this means for our churches today.
Part 2 coming August 19, 2025.
