📖 Biblical Definition
Missions are the Christian sending of messengers across cultures and lands to plant churches and disciple nations. Christ's Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20) frames the project: go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. The book of Acts records the apostolic mission's first three decades; the church's mission continues to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8) until Christ returns.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Christian sending of messengers across cultures and lands; the church's ongoing project until Christ returns.
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Modern missions movement traces back to William Carey's An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens (1792). Carey's motto: expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 28:19 — "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 1:8 — "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Romans 10:14 — "How shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?"
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often relegates missions to specialists; the Great Commission was given to the whole church.
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Acts 1:8 frames concentric circles: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost. The household's mission begins where it stands and extends outward; the missionary specialist receives concentrated calling but does not exempt the rest.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek apostellô; sending.
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Greek apostellô — to send out; root of apostle.
Usage
"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God."
"Concentric circles: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost."
"The Great Commission was given to the whole church."