Where the world comes to study the Bible

A Biblical Basis for World Missions (Session 44)

Purpose: This session purposes to speak of the need of the world and the responsibility that is ours to take the gospel to the uttermost regions of our globe.


1. The disciple will understand the nature of the spiritual need of a world without Christ.

2. The disciple will understand that we share responsibility for getting the gospel to those in the uttermost parts of the earth.

3. The disciple will see that world evangelization is the will of the Father for us.

4. The disciple will sense the urgency in getting the gospel to the world.

Scripture Memory

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?

Romans 10:13-14


1. Mutual sharing and prayer time.

2. Discuss worksheet and questions.

3. Discuss new terms.

4. Share Scripture memory.


The thrust of this ministry has been both toward building a believer, as well as helping a believer learn how to become a servant, a disciple, and a worker.

This discussion is one in which we have considered the world as the field. We are part of the world and we have a responsibility to bring the world the message, without which people perish.

We will approach this by looking at the motives for reaching out to the world.

I. Motives based upon external factors, from the consideration of the unreached people themselves.

A. Their temporal needs. Among the unreached peoples there is poverty, toil, ignorance, and physical suffering.

B. Their moral condition. Many are characterized by degrading habits, moral corruption, slavery and polygamy.

C. Spiritual condition, Psalm 115:4-8. This is the paramount claim.

1. They are lost, Psalm 9:17; Ephesians 2:12.

2. They are responsible, Romans 2:12.

3. A two-fold witness is possessed by all the lost, Romans 1:19-20.

4. Salvation is through Christ alone, Romans 10:14-17; Acts 4:12.

D. Abundant opportunities abound among the unreached peoples. They can be and are being reached.

II. Motives that spring from our consideration of Jesus Christ, and our relationship with Him.

A. Obedience, Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:27; John 20:21; Acts 1:8.

1. The Word of God is supreme, Psalm 138:2.

2. Obedience is the pledge of our love, John 14:21.

B. Gratitude

1. His grace and privileges bestowed upon us.

2. Am I essentially different from them?

3. I should do for the heathen what I would expect them to do for me if I were in their place and they in mine.

C. The heart of God desires that all be saved.

1. God's motive in saving us was love, John 3:16.

2. Behind God's command is His desire to reach the whole world, John 3:16-17.

D. Love for Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:14.

1. The measure of our sense of missionary responsibility is the sense of our evaluation of Christ.

2. Any man who prays "Thy will be done" is either a missionary or a hypocrite.


World Vision

This study is about the need and condition of the world in which we live. The scope of this ministry had been originally that of evangelizing the islands of Hawaii. The work continues in Hawaii, but presently we reside in California, so this state became the new focal point. We have groups discipling in Northern California, and hope to be in every state in the United States. Some of the materials have gone to Africa, and Asia.

These small beginnings are but the initial thrusts we plan to make. The field is the world! The Church has had some 2,000 years to evangelize the world, and still there is much work to do. We go to our lovely places of worship and listen to sermons on "love" and "faith" and still the world is dying...going to hell! We sit in our comfortable lounges and speculate about the sermon when literally millions are dying of hunger.

We will not have an entire section on missions. In a sense, the whole discipling ministry is missions. But we want you to see the need of the world. In the western United States, we sit on the periphery of the Far East. Millions come to this land every year. They brush against us, do business with us, drive our automobiles, and eat at our tables. Most of them are without Christ and serve other gods. What are we doing to help make Christ known to them?

Let's look at the countries that are heavily populated and without Christ. In order to do this, you will need to have available a world atlas.

List the population and chief religions of the following countries:

1. Brazil

2. China

3. Egypt

4. India

5. Indonesia

6. Japan

7. Russia

Total Population

Looking at this list of major areas (certainly not all inclusive), how many Christians would you estimate live within the boundaries of these countries?  

What are the compelling motives that would lead us to seek to share the Gospel with these billions of people?

What does Proverbs 29:18 say?

After writing the general area of need as seen in this verse, let's look at some of the specific teachings. The passage indicates that where there is no__________, the people ____________ ______ ___________________. What kind of revelation do these people lack?  What are some results that might come from casting off restraint that seem to characterize the lost?

Surely the moral conditions of heathen worlds is pathetic. Polygamy and slavery are just two examples of those conditions. Wherever the Gospel has been taken, there has been an elevation in the status of humans. This is a compelling reason to carry the Gospel to the world.

Another reason is perhaps related to the lack of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Certainly not all countries in ignorance lack technology. Japan has developed aggressively and has a relatively high standard of living. But much of the world where Christ is not known is a world of great physical need. There is need to share our knowledge with those who are ignorant. We need to teach them how to grow their food, to develop efficient ways to meet their need. We need to introduce modern medical help to teeming millions who suffer and do not have such help available. And then, there are the children, those who have never known what it is to have enough food in their stomachs. They die of starvation by the thousands every day. For this reason, we help meet their _______needs. But the most pressing need of all is the _______________need of the lost, Psalm 115:4-8. What do the following passages say about their spiritual condition?

Psalm 9:17

Ephesians 2:12

Acts 4:12

These verses seem enough to convince us that the Name of Jesus is the only Name that can bring salvation. But there are those who would argue concerning those who have never heard. There are those who argue from the nature of God that He is a God of love and would not condemn someone who has never heard. Let's look at verses that might help us with this dilemma and give us the thrust we need to carry the Gospel to others. What does John 3:18 tell us concerning one's being free from condemnation?

Somehow it seems that the only criteria involved in not being condemned is faith in the Son of God. How does this faith come? Romans 10:17

The argument from the love of God also needs to be addressed. Our God is a God of love. What is the greatest demonstration of that love? John 3:16-17.

Read carefully Galatians 3:21-22. What do these verses seem to tell us is central in the discussion at this point in the session?

Surely the love of God, as great as it is, was not enough to save a heathen, who has never heard, without the love gift, the Sacrificial Lamb. But would it be fair to judge one who has never heard? This is a question that comes up all too often. And it is difficult to answer in a way that pleases all men's understanding.

One fact is true. If the heathen are not lost because they have never heard, it would be better that they never hear. Most do not receive the message when they do hear. If hearing were the central factor that condemns, then we should shut down all mission activity and let them go on in unbelief. Listen to the Scripture, however. What does John 3:18 say is the central issue?

Scripture says the lost have two witnesses. Let's look at these. Psalm 19:1-6 speaks of a universal witness that goes out to all the world. What is this witness?

How would this witness speak to men who have never heard of God or Jesus?

See also Romans 1:19-20. What witness is spoken of in these verses?

Now read the story of Cornelius, Acts 10. What does this account say concerning the unbeliever who lives up to the light he has?

There are other motives for attempting to reach those who have never heard. The following verses speak of these. Read the verses carefully and list these additional motives for sharing the Gospel with the world.

1. Psalm 138:2b, and Acts 1:8

2. John 14:21

3. 2 Corinthians 5:14

It is our prayer that as you have done this worksheet, you have begun to see the critical condition of the lost, and that you will commit to our Lord to do something about it.

Questions for Review and Discussion

1. If you were to strategize concerning how to win the world to Christ, what kind of plan would you come up with? In the space that follows, see if you can outline a plan that would reasonably accomplish total evangelism.

2. Some argue that it would be unfair for God to send the heathen to hell. This is, of course, an argument from the imperfect thinking of humans. How could you answer biblically the question, "Will those who have never heard the Gospel be lost forever?"

3. What witnesses are possessed by every man?

4. Of all the needs of those who have never heard the Gospel, which is the most pressing?

5. React to these statements:

"The measure of our sense of missionary responsibility is the sense of our evaluation of Christ."

"Any man who prays 'Thy will be done' is either a missionary or hypocrite."

Life Application

Do you have a willingness before God to be used anywhere, to do anything He asks? Write your prayer below.

Related Topics: Discipleship