HOW TO THINK LIKE A MISSIONARY
by Doug Tegner
How to Think Like a Missionary
Doug Tegner
Theme: Challenge students and adults to see themselves as missionaries in their world.
A missionary is someone who crosses lines of culture to introduce other people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are someone who leaves the safety, familiarity and comfort of their "natural" environment to cross boundaries into a "different" culture to impact others for Jesus Christ.
The greatest missionary who ever lived was Jesus Christ who left the glory and comfort of heaven to dwell among people on earth. He made the ultimate jump across cultural barriers. Jesus became flesh and came to earth to "dwell" among us. (John 1:1 & 14), yet the overwhelming majority of people did not receive Him (John 1:12)
The last night before Jesus went to the cross, He prepared His disciples (including future disciples - us!), for the response they might anticipate when they follow Him while living in a spiritually lost world.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-19
Not everyone will hate or oppose Christians. Not every disciple will be physically attacked or assaulted. But as you venture out as a missionary into a spiritually blinded world, you will face a built-in resistance and opposition as you identify with Christ.
Beginning with this understanding, you won't take people's questions, apathy or even verbal opposition personally. It may not be you or your personality that they are opposing. It is more likely the reality of Christ they see in you. Therefore we begin with the reality that our Christian worldview and message will likely clash with those we meet.
Here are some realities to anticipate as we think like a missionary on a school campus or in the workplace.
Missionaries are "on a mission" wi ...
Doug Tegner
Theme: Challenge students and adults to see themselves as missionaries in their world.
A missionary is someone who crosses lines of culture to introduce other people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are someone who leaves the safety, familiarity and comfort of their "natural" environment to cross boundaries into a "different" culture to impact others for Jesus Christ.
The greatest missionary who ever lived was Jesus Christ who left the glory and comfort of heaven to dwell among people on earth. He made the ultimate jump across cultural barriers. Jesus became flesh and came to earth to "dwell" among us. (John 1:1 & 14), yet the overwhelming majority of people did not receive Him (John 1:12)
The last night before Jesus went to the cross, He prepared His disciples (including future disciples - us!), for the response they might anticipate when they follow Him while living in a spiritually lost world.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-19
Not everyone will hate or oppose Christians. Not every disciple will be physically attacked or assaulted. But as you venture out as a missionary into a spiritually blinded world, you will face a built-in resistance and opposition as you identify with Christ.
Beginning with this understanding, you won't take people's questions, apathy or even verbal opposition personally. It may not be you or your personality that they are opposing. It is more likely the reality of Christ they see in you. Therefore we begin with the reality that our Christian worldview and message will likely clash with those we meet.
Here are some realities to anticipate as we think like a missionary on a school campus or in the workplace.
Missionaries are "on a mission" wi ...
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