True or False: The concept of collectivity and cooperation is according to God’s design.
• True
List three examples of mission teams in the New Testament.
- The apostles
- Peter and John
- Peter and six disciples from Joppa
What are some advantages of team missions? List four.
- Everyone has an innate need for human companionship, including emotional and spiritual support
- Every Christian needs encouragement and stirring up to love and good works
- The team-mission approach gives fellow missionaries the opportunity to pool resources: talents, funds, etc.
- More input in decision-making
- When starting a church from scratch, the nucleus of the church is already present
- The potential for greater longevity and impact on the field.
- The loss of a worker is less likely to halt the work
What are some disadvantages of team missions? List four.
- Workers are concentrated in fewer areas, so the gospel is not as widely dispersed.
- The temptation is greater for team-members to rely too much on one another and to not get as involved in the community or to allow locals to do the work (i.e. “mission compound syndrome”).
- A higher risk of inter-personal conflicts and consequent strains on the work
- A large nucleus of foreigners may give the impression of foreign-domination and therefore hinder the desired indigenous character of the work.
Is there any biblical precedent for the solo missionary?
- Yes. The lone missionary has precedent in the NT:
- John the baptizer
- Stephen
- Philip
- Apollos
- Timothy
- Titus?
When a missionary goes solo, is he ever really alone? Explain.
• No because god is always with him.
According to the instructor, based on biblical principles and examples, which is the better option: mission team or solo?
• Mission team
In which of the following do we find scriptural justification for supporting those in full-time ministry: (a) the Old Testament, (b) the teachings of Jesus, or (c) New Testament directives?
• (A) The Old Testament
and
• (B) the teachings of Jesus
According to class discussion, what is God’s missionary-sending agency?
• The local church
what is meant by congregational autonomy?
is how a congregation is able to stand alone
without the need of an outside organization.
Who is the head of Christ’s universal church?
• Christ himself
Where is the headquarters of Christ’s universal church?
The headquarters of Christ’s universal church is heaven, because the
head of the church is Christ and Christ is in heaven
How is the local congregation to be organized on earth?
- A plurality of qualified men serving in each congregation as elders or overseers
- Each congregation is to be self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating
Church elders have oversight over whom?
• The congregation in which they have membership
According to class discussion, can a congregation receive outside rule (from human leaders) without losing its autonomy?
• No
According to class discussion, can a congregation receive outside support without losing its autonomy?
• Yes
. Based on class discussion, list three reasons that demonstrate the wisdom of church autonomy.
o It develops leaders and members
o It promotes giving and working
o It helps prevent the spread of apostasy—if one leadership or congregation goes astray, autonomy minimizes the adverse affects on other congregations.
• Seven responsibilities of churches
- Choose well-qualified personnel
- Send out workers
- Ensure workers & their families are adequately supported
- Pray for the missionaries and their work
- Provide emotional support
- Evaluate the work of the missionaries
- Withhold support from unworthy persons
• Seven responsibilities of missionaries
- Take initiative
- Be open to the direction of mature Christians
- Be willing to actively seek support from congregations
- Be willing to accept support when offered
- When necessary, be willing to be self-supporting
- Be conscientious about the use of time and funds
- Be answerable to brethren and report to them about the work
Examples of church cooperation in the New Testament include what three areas of the Lord’s work?
- Benevolence
- Evangelism
- Edification
• Sending congregations
o The Jerusalem church
o The Antioch church
• Contributing congregations
o Philippi church
o The Macedonian churches (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea)
When multiple churches financially support an individual missionary how does the Bible prescribe these funds are to be administered, i.e. what is the administrative pattern?
• The bible doesn’t provide a pattern for these funds to be distributed or coordinated.
As discussed in class, what is a “sponsoring church”?
o A “sponsoring church” is a congregation whose eldership accepts the responsibility of sending and supporting a missionary by coordinating the funds contributed by other supporting congregations.
