23/08/2026
TOPIC: MISSIONS: THE PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH
TEXT: MATTHEW 28:18–20
MATTHEW 28:18–20
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
INTRODUCTION:
Every organization exists for a purpose. Every institution has an assignment. Every army has a mission. Every company has a goal. Every school has a purpose. When an organization loses sight of its primary assignment, it may continue to exist, but it will no longer be fulfilling the reason for which it was established.
The same is true of the Church.
The Church has many activities. We worship, pray, sing, preach, organize programs, build structures, hold conferences, conduct meetings, raise funds, train leaders, and carry out many other activities. But above all these activities, there is a primary assignment given to the Church by her Lord and Master.
That assignment is MISSIONS.
The Church was not established merely to gather people together. The Church was not established merely to conduct services. The Church was not established merely to maintain buildings and organize programs.
The Church exists to make Christ known to the world.
The Church exists to take the Gospel to those who have not heard it.
The Church exists to seek the lost, save the lost, disciple the saved, and send more labourers into the harvest.
Therefore, missions is not a side activity of the Church.
Missions is the heartbeat of God. Missions is the command of Christ. Missions is the responsibility of every believer. Missions is the primary assignment of the Church.
A church may have a beautiful building, a large congregation, excellent music, powerful preaching, good administration, and many programs; but if that church has lost its burden for the lost, it has lost the heart of God.
WHAT IS AN ASSIGNMENT?:
An assignment is a specific responsibility, duty, task, or work given to a person or group to accomplish.
An assignment is not merely a suggestion.
An assignment is not something one does only when convenient.
An assignment carries responsibility.
When somebody gives you an assignment, you are expected to do something with it. You are expected to act. You are expected to complete it.
JOHN 17:4
“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Jesus understood that He had a divine assignment from the Father.
He did not come to earth merely to live. He came to accomplish a specific work.
He came to seek and to save the lost.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10
The question every believer must ask is:
What is the assignment that Christ has given to the Church?
The answer is clear:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
— Mark 16:15
The Church has an assignment.
And that assignment is missions.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
The Church is not primarily a building.
The Church is not the roof, the walls, the chairs, or the pulpit.
The Church is the people who have been called out of darkness into the light of Christ.
1 PETER 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
The Church is made up of people who have been saved by Christ and sent to represent Christ.
Therefore, when we say “the Church must do missions,” we are not talking only about the pastor.
We are not talking only about the Missions Department.
We are not talking only about missionaries.
We are talking about every genuine believer in Christ.
The Church is the body of Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:27
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
If we are the body of Christ, then we must continue the work Christ began.
Jesus came to seek the lost.
Jesus came to save sinners.
Jesus came to preach the Gospel.
Jesus came to reach the nations.
Now the Church is His body on the earth.
Therefore, the Church must continue His mission.
WHAT IS MISSIONS?
Missions is the obedience of the Church to God's command to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard, believe, or received Him.
Missions is the deliberate movement of the Church beyond itself to reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ.
Missions involves:
- Evangelism
- Church planting
- Cross-cultural ministry
- Sending missionaries
- Supporting missionaries
- Giving for the spread of the Gospel
- Praying for the lost
- Reaching unreached communities
OR- Discipling new believers
- Raising and sending labourers
Missions is the Church saying:
“We have received the Gospel, and we must take the Gospel to others.”
ROMANS 10:13–15
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
This passage gives us the chain of missions:
People must call.
But they cannot call unless they believe.
They cannot believe unless they hear.
They cannot hear unless somebody preaches.
They cannot preach unless they are sent.
And they cannot be sent unless the Church accepts the responsibility of sending them.
This is missions.
WHY IS MISSIONS THE PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH?:
A. BECAUSE CHRIST GAVE THE COMMAND.
Matthew 28:19–20 is not a suggestion.
It is the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The Church cannot choose whether to obey the Great Commission.
A believer may choose whether to participate in a program.
But no believer has the right to cancel the command of Christ.
The Great Commission is not for a few selected people.
It is the assignment of the entire Church.
B. BECAUSE THE WORLD IS LOST WITHOUT CHRIST.
The Church is not taking the Gospel to people who merely need entertainment.
We are taking the Gospel to people who need salvation.
We are dealing with the eternal destiny of human beings.
JOHN 3:16–18
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The world is not merely suffering from poverty.
The world is suffering from sin.
The world is not merely suffering from ignorance.
The world is suffering from separation from God.
The world does not merely need development.
The world needs salvation through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, missions cannot be treated as a plaything.
When the Church fails in missions, people remain without the opportunity to hear the Gospel.
C. BECAUSE THE HEART OF GOD IS FOR THE LOST.
God is a missionary God.
He sent His Son into the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...”
— John 3:16
Jesus came from heaven to earth to save humanity.
The Holy Spirit empowers the Church to become witnesses.
Therefore, the entire Godhead is involved in the salvation of the lost.
LUKE 15:4–7
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
If heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, how can the Church remain unconcerned about millions who are still lost?
The heartbeat of God is missions.
D. BECAUSE JESUS HAS NOT YET RETURNED.
The assignment of the Church continues because the world has not yet been fully reached.
MATTHEW 24:14
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
The Gospel must go to all nations.
Until the Gospel has been preached, the Church still has work to do.
The Church must not become so comfortable that it forgets the unfinished assignment.
The harvest is still waiting.
The nations are still waiting.
The villages are still waiting.
The unreached are still waiting.
And the Church must go.
THE CHURCH IS A SENT CHURCH.
The Church is not only a gathered Church.
The Church is a sent Church.
JOHN 20:21
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
Jesus was sent by the Father.
Now Jesus sends the Church.
We gather to worship, but we are sent to witness.
We gather to be strengthened, but we are sent to serve.
We gather to receive, but we are sent to give.
We gather in the church, but we are sent into the world.
The Church must never become a spiritual warehouse where people keep receiving but never going.
THE GREAT COMMISSION REQUIRES THE INVOLVEMENT OF EVERY BELIEVER.
Not everybody will go to another country.
Not everybody will become a missionary in a distant land.
But everybody can be involved in missions.
Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Notice the order:
Jerusalem — our immediate environment.
Judaea — our wider community.
Samaria — people who may be different from us.
The uttermost part of the earth — the nations.
Every believer can participate through:
1. GOING.
Some must physically go.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
— Isaiah 6:8
2. GIVING.
Not everybody can go, but everybody can give.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:7
3. PRAYING.
Missionaries need spiritual support.
«“Brethren, pray for us.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:25»
4. SENDING
«“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
— Romans 10:15»
5. WITNESSING.
“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
— Acts 5:42
Missions is not the responsibility of one department.
Missions is the responsibility of the whole Church.
WHY IS THE CHURCH FAILING IN ITS PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT?:
A. THE CHURCH HAS LOST ITS BURDEN FOR THE LOST.
The Church may still have programs but no burden.
The Church may still have money but no burden.
The Church may still have buildings but no burden.
The Church may still have meetings but no burden.
But missions begins with a burden for souls.
ROMANS 9:2–3
“That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
Paul was burdened for the lost.
When the burden disappears, missions becomes a mere program.
B. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME TOO COMFORTABLE.
Comfort can make the Church forget the cross.
Jesus did not save us so that we could live only for ourselves.
LUKE 9:23
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Missions requires sacrifice.
Somebody must sacrifice time.
Somebody must sacrifice money.
Somebody must sacrifice comfort.
Somebody must sacrifice convenience.
Somebody must go.
Somebody must give.
Somebody must pray.
C. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME TOO SELF-CENTRED.
The Church must not exist only for the people already inside the Church.
Jesus came to seek those who were outside.
PHILIPPIANS 2:4–5
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
The mind of Christ is a missionary mind.
Christ did not look only at Himself.
He looked at humanity.
The Church must look beyond herself.
D. THE CHURCH HAS ALLOWED OTHER ACTIVITIES TO REPLACE THE GREAT COMMISSION.
There is nothing wrong with church programs.
There is nothing wrong with conferences.
There is nothing wrong with buildings.
There is nothing wrong with administration.
But none of these things must replace the primary assignment.
Jesus condemned religious activity without spiritual purpose.
MATTHEW 23:23
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith...”
The Church must always return to the weightier assignment.
We must ask:
Are we reaching the lost?
Are we planting churches?
Are we sending missionaries?
Are we supporting missions?
Are we making disciples?
WHAT MUST THE CHURCH DO TO RETURN TO ITS PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT?:
A. THE CHURCH MUST RETURN TO THE WORD OF GOD.
The Word of God must again become the foundation of missions.
MARK 16:15
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The Church must not allow culture, convenience, fear, or financial challenges to cancel the command of Christ.
B. THE CHURCH MUST PRAY FOR A FRESH BURDEN.
MATTHEW 9:37–38
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
The answer to the harvest is labourers.
The Church must pray for:
- Missionaries
- Evangelists
- Church planters
- Financial supporters
- Intercessors
- People with a burden for unreached communities
C. THE CHURCH MUST TRAIN AND SEND LABOURERS.
The Church must not only preach about missions.
The Church must prepare people for missions.
2 TIMOTHY 2:2
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
A healthy Church is a sending Church.
A healthy Church does not only produce members.
It produces witnesses.
It produces workers.
It produces missionaries.
D. THE CHURCH MUST PRIORITIZE MISSIONS FINANCIALLY.
Where our treasure is, our heart will follow.
MATTHEW 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
If missions is truly the primary assignment of the Church, missions must be reflected in our priorities.
The Church must give.
Individuals must give.
Churches must give.
The question is not:
“Can we afford missions?”
The question is:
“Can we afford to neglect the souls for whom Christ died?”
E. EVERY LOCAL CHURCH MUST HAVE A MISSIONARY VISION.
Every church must ask:
- Where are we reaching?
- Who are we reaching?
- What community needs a church?
- Who are we sending?
- What missionary are we supporting?
- What mission project are we undertaking?
- How many people are we discipling?
- What unreached place is God putting on our heart?
A local church must not only maintain itself.
It must reproduce itself.
The Church must plant churches.
ACTS 13:2–3
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
The Church prayed.
The Holy Spirit called.
The Church sent.
This is the pattern of missions.
MISSIONS MUST HAVE A HEALTHY FOUNDATION.
Missions must not be driven merely by emotion.
Missions must have spiritual health.
A healthy mission must have:
1. A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
The missionary must know the God he represents.
2. A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD.
The Gospel must be preached faithfully.
3. A HEALTHY CHARACTER.
The messenger must not destroy the message by ungodly character.
4. A HEALTHY CHURCH SUPPORT SYSTEM.
Missionaries must not be abandoned after they are sent.
5. A HEALTHY FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
Mission funds must be handled with integrity.
6. A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL BURDEN.
Missions must not become merely an organizational activity.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:40
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Missions must be spiritual, but it must also be properly organized.
Missions must be prayerful, but it must also be properly planned.
Missions must be sacrificial, but it must also be properly administered.
THE CHURCH MUST RECOVER THE URGENCY OF MISSIONS.
The greatest enemy of missions is often not opposition.
It is delay.
The Church keeps saying:
“We will go later.”
“We will give later.”
“We will send people later.”
“We will plant churches later.”
But souls are dying now.
The harvest is now.
The opportunity is now.
JOHN 4:35
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
Jesus said:
Lift up your eyes.
The problem is that many times the Church is looking at herself.
Jesus says:
Look at the harvest.
Look at the lost.
Look at the villages.
Look at the cities.
Look at the nations.
Look at the unreached.
Look at the young people.
Look at the children.
Look at the people who have never heard the Gospel.
The fields are ready.
The question is:
Is the Church ready?
CONCLUSION: THE CHURCH MUST RETURN TO THE ASSIGNMENT.
The Church has a primary assignment.
That assignment is missions.
Jesus did not save us to become spectators.
He saved us to become witnesses.
He did not call us merely to sit.
He called us to go.
He did not bless us merely to consume.
He blessed us so that we could become a blessing.
He did not give us the Gospel so that we could keep it.
He gave us the Gospel so that we could share it.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18–20
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
The ministry of reconciliation has been committed to us.
The Gospel has been committed to us.
The message has been committed to us.
The responsibility has been committed to us.
Therefore, the question is not:
“Who will do missions?”
The question is:
“What part will I play in the mission of God?”
Some will go.
Some will pray.
Some will give.
Some will send.
Some will preach.
Some will plant churches.
Some will support missionaries.
But everyone must participate.
Because missions is not the assignment of a few people.
MISSIONS IS THE PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH.
And when the Church returns to missions, the Church returns to the heart of God.
TEN MAJOR PRAYER POINTS:
1. PRAYER FOR A FRESH BURDEN FOR THE LOST.
Romans 9:2
“That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”
Prayer:
Lord, give me and give Your Church a fresh burden for souls. Remove spiritual coldness and restore the compassion of Christ in our hearts.
2. PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH TO RETURN TO THE GREAT COMMISSION.
Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...”
Prayer:
Lord, bring Your Church back to the primary assignment of missions. Let no program, comfort, or distraction replace the Great Commission.
3. PRAYER FOR LABOURERS.
Matthew 9:38
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Prayer:
Lord of the harvest, raise missionaries, evangelists, church planters, intercessors, and faithful workers for the harvest.
4. PRAYER FOR THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...”
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, empower the Church to become bold and effective witnesses of Jesus Christ.
5. PRAYER FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LOST.
1 Timothy 2:4
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Prayer:
Lord, let multitudes be saved through the preaching of the Gospel. Open the hearts of men and women to receive Jesus Christ.
6. PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified...”
Prayer:
Lord, protect, strengthen, provide for, and empower every missionary serving in the field.
7. PRAYER FOR FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR MISSIONS.
Philippians 4:19
«“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Prayer:
Lord, provide abundant resources for the spread of the Gospel. Raise faithful and sacrificial supporters of missions.
8. PRAYER FOR THE PLANTING OF CHURCHES.
Acts 2:47
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Prayer:
Lord, help us plant healthy, Bible-believing, Spirit-filled churches in communities where Christ is not yet adequately known.
9. PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS.
Acts 4:29
“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.”
Prayer:
Lord, remove fear from the Church. Give every believer boldness to preach, witness, and represent Jesus Christ.
10. PRAYER FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE GREAT COMMISSION.
Matthew 24:14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Prayer:
Lord, use us to hasten the spread of the Gospel to every nation, tribe, people, and community. Let our generation faithfully complete its assignment.
FINAL DECLARATION BY ALL CHURCH MEMBERS;
I am not merely a church member; I am a witness.
I am not merely saved; I am sent.
I will not keep the Gospel to myself.
I will pray for missions.
I will give to missions.
I will support missions.
I will participate in missions.
I will reach my Jerusalem.
I will reach my Judaea.
I will reach my Samaria.
I will support the reaching of the uttermost parts of the earth.
By the grace of God, I will not fail in my assignment.
UNTIL:
The Church will return to the harvest.
The Church will return to the burden for souls.
The Church will return to the Great Commission.
BECAUSE MISSIONS IS THE PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH!
BY
Rev Dr A A Obe
