This document is a theology of missions paper submitted for a class at Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. It discusses several key aspects of mission theology, including the missional nature of God, examples of mission work in scripture, the relationship between mission work, ecclesiology and the Trinity, key themes like the Kingdom of God and shalom, and the roles of missionaries, church leaders and lay people in mission work. The conclusion emphasizes that worship of God leads to mission work, as the love believers receive from God spills over into love for others.

1. LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Theology of Missions
Submitted to Dr. David Campbell
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
GLST 500 – D12
Global Studies Survey
by
Dawn Freeman
April 6, 2015

2. Introduction
The topic of mission is more complex than many believers know in the world. There are
many variables and aspects of mission. Therefore, mission needs more of an explanation. That
way, believers will be more ready to serve in the world to which they have been called by God.
The Nature of God Relating to Mission
The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth is the one true God on a
mission.1
He always has been and always will be the only missionary God. According to
Dictionary.com, the term mission is defined as an important goal and purpose which usually
comes with a strong conviction. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”2
God gave His son, Jesus, to
the world because He loved everyone in the world so much. He so loved the world that He gave
His son. He was compelled by His love for the world to be so generous to the world. He sent
His son into the world not to condemn the world but to save it through Him.3
God does. God
goes. The very nature of God is characterized by love.4
In the “Love Chapter”, the term love is
given more of a definition and meaning. “…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”5
Love
does. Love goes.
1
Genesis 1:1 (New International Version).
2
John 3:16 (NIV).
3
John 3:17 (NIV).
4
1 John 4:8, 16 (NIV).
5
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV).

3. Scripture Relating to Mission
Throughout God’s word, He shows that His people are also missionaries. Numerous
people were called and sent by God throughout scripture from Noah to Moses to Joshua to David
to Jonah to Peter to Paul, Timothy, and Silas to John the Baptist and then to Jesus Christ
Himself. For instance, Jonah was called and sent by God to go to Nineveh to preach to the
people there. Jonah was reluctant at first, but he eventually gave into the Lord’s mission for
him.6
Barnabas and Saul took John Mark with them after returning from Jerusalem. They
finished their mission.7
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting in the church at
Antioch, the Holy Spirit told them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I
have called them.”8
After they fasted and prayed, “they placed their hands on them and sent
them off.”9
The prophet Isaiah spoke of his own mission from God. “The Spirit of the
Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release
from darkness the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance
for our God, to comfort all who mourn…”10
Isaiah spoke to the people as one of the Lord’s
messengers called and sent by God. He also spoke of the anointing from the Lord while on
mission. “…And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me endowed with His spirit.”11
Jesus talked
about one of the greatest commands for His followers in the book of Matthew. He said, “…All
6
Jonah 1-4 (NIV).
7
Acts 12:25 (NIV).
8
Acts 13:2 (NIV).
9
Acts 13:3 (NIV).
10
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV).
11
Isaiah 48:16 (NIV).

4. authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.”12
‘The Great Commission’ is the ultimate command for all of God’s
people to do mission work. He tells all of His children to be salt and light in this dark world.13
As all believers are out in the world, all of us are to be on mission and share the Gospel or the
Good News of Jesus Christ.
Mission Theology Relating to Ecclesiology and the Trinity
For the most part, the church is where the majority of Christians learn of mission work.
Many churches today teach their members to be mission-oriented and –focused. It is part of their
theology and church doctrine. In the book Let the Nations Be Glad! John Piper states that,
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship
doesn’t.”14
However, church members may think that it is the primary goal of the church with
the huge emphasis put on missions and mission work. Piper continues, “Worship is the ultimate,
not missions, because God is ultimate, not man.”15
He says that missions is “a temporary
necessity but worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions.”16
Worship is a lifestyle, not a church service or a type of music. “Therefore, I urge you, in view of
God’s mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God---this is your
12
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV).
13
Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV).
14
John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad! (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010), 35.
15
Ibid.
16
Ibid.

5. true and proper worship.”17
God has set all believers a part for His work. Part of that work
includes being on mission. First and foremost, He wants us to worship Him though. He desires
true worshipers who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.18
Those are the kind of believers He
wants in His church. The mission work usually comes later as a result of worshipful lifestyles of
His children. Worship begins with an attitude of gratitude. Believers worship and praise the
Almighty God. Piper agrees when he says, “The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples
in the greatness of God.”19
Later, he also backs it up with scripture from Psalm 67:3-4, “Let the
peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for
you!”20
The Psalmist writes much about praising the Lord. Therefore, it must be very important
to God and for His people to do so. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the
Lord.”21
Every believer has the presence of the Trinity at all times. The Trinity consists of God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They all work together in the lives of all
believers. Each member of the Trinity is present in believers’ lives whether they recognize and
acknowledge each one. God the Father created all believers to worship, honor, and praise Him.
It was one of His purposes for all of His creation---specifically humanity. By being in
relationship with Him, we learn from Him and His word. As any good Father, He wants us to
imitate Him in all ways. It honors Him when we worship Him by imitating Him. God the Son,
Jesus Christ, is one of the great examples and role models for all believers of living, giving, and
17
Romans 12:1 (NIV).
18
John 4:23-24 (NIV).
19
John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad! (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010), 35.
20
Ibid.
21
Psalm 150:6 (NIV).

6. loving sacrificially. He laid down His life for us, and He asks us to do the same.22
As previously
mentioned, a person cannot truly love without doing for others. That also includes going on
mission. God the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity.23
He gives all believers the
presence and power to do God’s work which includes missions. According to Andrew Murray,
“the truth of the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit is not acknowledged in the church as
it ought to be.”24
The only way that all believers can truly fulfill ‘The Great Commission’ is
with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit though. “But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”25
Key Themes of Mission Theology
One theme of mission theology is the Kingdom of God. Jesus spoke much about the Kingdom of
God throughout scripture. He like His Father was always on mission. Normally, Jesus told
parables about the Kingdom of God. He said the secret of the Kingdom had been given to His
disciples.26
However, Jesus wanted those who were outside of the Kingdom to always see and
never perceive as well as to hear but never understand. Otherwise, they would repent and be
forgiven.27
After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus proclaimed the good news of God.
He said that the time had come. Jesus told the people that the Kingdom of God had come near.
22
1 John 3:16 (NIV).
23
Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray on the Holy Spirit (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1998), 119.
24
Ibid.
25
Acts 1:8 (NIV).
26
Mark 4:11 (NIV).
27
Mark 4:11-12 (NIV).

7. He proclaimed, “…Repent and believe the good news!”28
Jesus told the people that day to turn
away from their evil ways, repent of their sins, and be forgiven once and for all time. God
desires all of humanity to do the same. He wants to have a relationship with all of His creation---
specifically humanity. God wants us to first seek Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness.
Then, allow Him to take care of everything else for us.29
That is how important the Kingdom of
God is to the Father. He wants His children to be on mission for Him and His Kingdom. As
believers do so, He takes care of all of their other needs. “For the kingdom of God is not a
matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because
anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.”30
As
believers serve God by being on mission, they receive much themselves in terms of inner joy,
peace, and His righteousness. It does them good spiritually, physically, emotionally, and
mentally. Another theme of mission theology is shalom. Shalom is normally defined as peace,
completeness, and wholeness. As believers have shalom, they are able to do more of God’s
work. All believers must be whole and complete in Jesus Christ. They need to know that part of
their true identity in Him. In addition, they need to have the peace of God always with them
especially when on mission. Believers must be prepared and ready to share the Gospel of peace
with everyone.31
28
Mark 1:14-15 (NIV).
29
Matthew 6:33 (NIV).
30
Romans 14:17-18 (NIV).
31
Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV).

8. Mission Theology Relating to Missionaries, Church Leaders, and Lay People
J. Hudson Taylor was a Protestant missionary to China.32
Taylor knew he was called by
God to go overseas to do the work of a full-time missionary. He also knew there were risks
involved in mission work.33
He still went to do God’s work though. He ended up being the
founder of the China Inland Mission.34
It was a special agency created to serve and evangelize to
the people of Inland China.35
It was only through Taylor seeking God though, that he was able
to go and do work for Him. He spent much time in prayer and the Word of God beforehand.36
All believers must do the same whether church leaders, lay people, or other missionaries.
Church leaders need to know that God comes first. He is so worthy of praise.37
As they
remember that, they will seek His will and do His work. Lay people need to know that they have
a part in God’s plan. They need to seek Him first and foremost.38
By doing so, they will be
drawn into a closer relationship with Him.39
Only then will God’s purpose be revealed to them.
Then, they can go out into all the world and make disciples wherever they live, work, and play in
the world.40
32
Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader
(Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009), 319.
33
Ibid.
34
Ibid.
35
Ibid., 321.
36
Ibid.
37
Psalm 145:3 (NIV).
38
Matthew 6:33 (NIV).
39
James 4:8 (NIV).
40
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV).

9. Conclusion
God is a missional God. He asks all of His children to also be on mission. All believers
must know and remember that God is very worthy of all of the honor, glory, and praise. By
being in an on-going relationship with Him, the adoration will naturally flow out of them onto
others. It first begins with God though. Worship creates mission. The mission comes out of the
overflow of believers’ personal relationships with the Almighty God and spills out onto others in
their lives. Believers receive love from God and then give love to others.41
41
1 John 4:19 (NIV).

10. Bibliography
Murray, Andrew. Andrew Murray on the Holy Spirit. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House,
1998.
Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad! Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
Winter, Ralph D., and Steven C. Hawthorne. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A
Reader. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.

11. Table of Contents
Title............................................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 2
The Nature of God Relating to Mission .................................................................................................... 2
Scripture Relating to Mission ................................................................................................................... 3
Mission Theology Relating to Ecclesiology and the Trinity ................................................................4-6
Key Themes of Mission Theology...........................................................................................................6-7
Mission Theology Relating to Missionaries, Church Leaders, and Lay People .................................... 8
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 9
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ 11