Seven missionary lessons from the Apostle Paul
You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears.
Acts 20:18-19
One of the Christian ministries I am grateful to God for is missionary work. People like myself came to Christ because missionaries brought the gospel to my nation. Leaving one’s own homeland and comfort zone to go, live, and serve among people of different race, culture, language and way of life or uncivilized is a huge sacrifice. The Lord Jesus who said ‘go’ (Matthew 28:19) also talked about the sacrifice missionaries make in leaving behind ‘homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children and fields.’ (Mark 10:29,30)
What is a missionary?
The Oxford Dictionary defines a missionary as ‘A person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country.’ An ambassador was interviewed on one TV station and the host asked him: ‘What is an ambassador?’ The ambassador who was full of sense of humour said jokingly: ‘An ambassador is a faithful citizen sent by his government to lie.’ I smiled and said what if a Christian missionary is asked the same question? Would he say, ‘A missionary is a faithful Christian sent by his God and Church to lie?’ No! Christian missionaries carry the good news of salvation to the perishing world! ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.’ (Isaiah 52:7)
The Apostle Paul spent three years in the province of Asia as a missionary among the Gentiles (Acts 20:31). What lessons can today’s missionaries learn from him? There are many but let’s go for the following seven from the narrative given in Acts 20:17-38.
1. Paul’s life among the Gentiles
‘You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came to the province of Asia. I serve the Lord with great humility…’ (Acts 20:18)
The first lesson is Paul’s life among the Gentiles. The secret behind Paul’s successful ministry among the Gentiles was his life of humility. From the first day he came to them, he put aside his high civilization and education, humbled himself, came down to their level, and treated and served them with respect, kindness and dignity.
2. Paul presented to the Gentiles the Lord Jesus as Saviour
‘I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you... I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus… I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.’ (Acts 20:20-21, 27)
Paul presented to the Gentiles:
- Repentance and faith in the Saviour Jesus Christ
- Anything helpful
- The whole will of God
Although Paul presented helpful knowledge to the Gentiles, it was the message of repentance, the cross, and salvation in Christ that was central in his ministry. ‘Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.’ (Galatians 3:1) That is the purpose for which missionaries are sent.
3. Paul paid a price
‘I served the Lord… with tears, severely tested by the plots of the Jews.’ (Acts 20:19)
In addition to the sacrifice of leaving home and comfort zone, another price missionaries pay is risking their very life. Threats, plots, prisons, hardships (see long list in 2 Corinthians 11) are synonymous with missionary work. But Paul’s slogan was: ‘None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus.’ (Acts 20:24 NKJV)
4. Paul the tent-maker
‘I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing… these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.’ (Acts 20:33-34)
The missionary landscape is changing. Today, professional tent-makers who go to mission fields as teachers, economists, engineers, healthcare workers, farmers, etc are needed. The advantages of being a missionary tent-maker are:
- Tent-makers are welcomed everywhere even in restricted countries because their skills and services are needed.
- No one would be suspicious of them.
- They support their own ministry financially.
The two hands, spiritual and professional, need to both be functional when called to missionary work (1 Chronicles 12:2).
5. Paul’s time to leave came
‘Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace.’ (Acts 20:31-32)
After three years of service in the Province of Asia, Paul’s time to leave came. A time comes when missionaries either retire and return home, transition to a new location God calls them to or are called home to heaven through physical death. Any of those three can happen. In Paul’s farewell speech (Acts 20:25-35) he:
- Reminded them of what he taught them
- Admonished them to keep watch over themselves and the flock
- Warned them about appearance of savage wolves that would devour the flock
- Committed them to God and his word of grace.
It is therefore important to develop leaders who will take over and carry the work forward after leaving.
6. Paul left them on their knees praying
‘When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.’ (Acts 20:36)
Ministry is started and established through prayer and kept, preserved, and continued through prayer. Paul learned from his Master, the Lord Jesus, who in his departure left his disciples on the mountain of prayer. (Matthew 28:16 & Luke 24:50-53)
7. Paul built a strong relationship with the people
‘They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.’ (Acts 20:37-38)
In the three years Paul lived and served among the Gentiles, a strong bond of love was developed and built between him and the people. We see this in the time of his departure when emotions such as weeping, embrace, kiss, grief, accompaniment to the ship, and kneeling down to pray with him were all expressed to him by the people. This last point is a reflection of the first point. It is all because Paul from the first day he came to them treated them with respect, kindness and dignity.
Building strong and long-lasting relationships also help in building trust and paving the way for future missionaries coming to the community.
Lord, help us to learn from your servant Paul.
