Guidelines for Inter-Church Cooperation, Part 3

Acts 15:3a Missions Policy, Studies in Our Church

Pastor Albert N. Martin continues his series on Trinity Baptist Church's missions policy, focusing on 'Guidelines for Inter-Church Cooperation, Part 3.' He expounds on seven groupings of New Testament texts, particularly Acts 15, 1 Corinthians 9, Romans 15, and Philippians 1 & 4, to establish the principle that missionaries should ordinarily be supported by churches that know, love, and commission them, and by churches that come into being through their labors. Martin emphasizes the biblical importance of communication, counsel, financial and material support, and prayer in inter-church cooperation, arguing that this costly commitment reflects God's own self-giving love and prevents the proliferation of parachurch organizations.

4 illustrations in this sermon

Review of Six Principles of Inter-Church Cooperation

compare analogy

God's Generosity vs. Stinginess

The point: Do not keep missionaries on a borderline poverty salary; rather, set them forth worthily of God, reflecting His generosity.

Martin contrasts the idea of keeping missionaries on a poverty salary with God's generosity, arguing that churches should reflect God's open-handedness in supporting His servants.

So the setting forward was with a view. That they would lack nothing as they went forth to their tasks. So the whole idea that missionaries ought to be kept on a borderline poverty salary to keep them humble and to show that they really are not in it for what they get has no basis in the word of God. He says in third John, set them forth worthily of God is God stingy or generous.

7:19 - 7:47 Read in full sermon

Concluding Observation 1: The Costly Emphasis on Communication, Counsel, Support, and Prayer

auto_stories story

Hazelton Church Building Support

The point: Be like God in His giving: send people forth worthily of Him with an open hand, communicating with them, even if it means self-denial and being considered 'crazy' by others.

Martin recounts Trinity Baptist Church's decision to financially support a church building in Hazelton when they themselves had no building, illustrating their commitment to giving and God's subsequent provision for their own building.

Sure it means people look at us and say you're crazy. They looked at us and said we were crazy when we were spending thousands of dollars to help build a church out in Hazelton and we didn't have a church yet. That's all right. In secret some of us found great blessing pleading certain promises.

33:22 - 33:40 Read in full sermon

Questions and Discussion: Missionary Oversight and Church Growth

palette metaphor

Inner City Newark as a Jungle

The point: Be ready to feel the hurt and pain of others in gospel work, as it is costly but essential.

Martin uses the metaphor of inner city Newark as a 'jungle' to highlight the urgent and dangerous mission field close to home, stirring compassion and a sense of responsibility.

No. And perhaps God allows the kinds of things that I had to share with you this morning. To say, hey, what are we doing in that tremendous mission field just 15 miles from us? That jungle called inner city Newark.

39:52 - 40:08 Read in full sermon

compare analogy

God Made My Problem His

The point: Be ready to feel the hurt and pain of others in gospel work, as it is costly but essential.

Martin draws an analogy between God making humanity's problem of sin His own by sending Christ, and believers making the problems of others their own in gospel work, emphasizing the self-sacrificial nature of missions.

How can we rest when we know little kids are being beaten to death? Can't rest. Well, that's their problem, isn't it? That isn't the way God acted.

40:08 - 40:22 Read in full sermon

headphones Listen to full sermon