The Missions Show

Is Reformed theology antithetical to missions? Can Calvinists and Arminians partner together in gospel ministry? Today, Scott and Alex take a swing at these hotly-debated topics and provide answers from a biblical perspective recognizing that God’s sovereignty is fully compatible with the call to repent and believe the gospel—and how the fact that Christ has definitively “purchased for God people from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9) is what fuels all missionary hope.

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What does leadership have to do with missions? Everything. Although conversations on leadership are often kept separate from the realm of missiology, Charles Smith believes that now is the time to talk about what gospel-centered leadership—for the church—means for missions.

Charles Smith serves as Vice President for Institutional Relations at Midwestern Seminary and oversees the offices of Admissions, Institutional Advancement, Alumni, Communications, Student Life and Events, and Center for Church Planting and Partnering. He earned a Business Administration degree from Mississippi College in 2007 and a Master’s of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2011, and he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian Leadership.

Charles is also a cofounder and general editor of For the Church, which exists to engage, encourage, and equip the Church with gospel-centered resources that are pastoral, practical, and devotional.

Just a few days left before T4G! To join us at our expert panel and luncheon on Thursday, click here.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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We speak so much of the “kingdom of God”—but what does that mean, and how does Jesus’ present reign in heaven impact our mission? These questions are often neglected, misunderstood, or purposefully avoided in American evangelicalism, and there’s lots of confusion about Christ’s return and the nature of his kingdom. But understanding Jesus’ present authority over heaven and earth undergirds everything we do in cross-cultural ministry.

We’re taking a break this week from our format to bring you a message delivered by Alex Kocman on March 9, 2018 at ABWE’s New Missionary Orientation, titled “The Authority of the Great Commission” from Psalm 2.

If you’re interested in joining us at T4G, click here to learn more.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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Singleness can feel like a death sentence for some—but for women like Lina AbuJamra, it’s a gift to be stewarded. How can God use singles on the mission field? Lina weighs in and shares her perspective as a Lebanese-American physician currently involved in Bible teaching and medical missions to Syrian refugees.

Lina AbuJamra is founder of Living with Power Ministries and has authored several books including Thrive, Stripped, and Resolved. You can listen to Lina’s podcast on iTunes or Podbean and watch her inspiring thousands via the Faith Booster series and other Bible teachings on YouTube and Vimeo. Lina is the host of Today’s Single Christian on Moody Radio and the host of Morning Minutes, a daily audio devotional available on her website.

Lina’s most recent adventure has taken her back to the Middle East and her birth country, Lebanon, where she is providing regular medical care for Syrian refugees. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Lina now calls Chicago home.

If you’re interested in joining us at T4G, click here to learn more.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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Of all the world’s religions that are likely to stump Western Christians, Hinduism tops the list. How can Christians make sense of Hinduism’s millions of deities, belief in reincarnation, denial of human suffering, and rigorous caste system? Better yet—how can Christians reach those who hold to such a worldview?

In this episode we go over what Hindus believe, how they think, and some do’s and don’ts of reaching Hindus. If you’ve ever been confused as to how to build redemptive relationships with your Hindu neighbor, this episode is for you.

If you’re interested in joining us at T4G, click here to learn more.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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Should Christians read books like the Qur’an—and if so, how? What about other religious texts? To help us answer those questions, we asked is Matthew Bennett, an experienced missionary who served in the Middle East, now instructor of missions and theology at Cedarville University.

In this episode, Matt builds a case for why Christians should meaningfully, fairly, and exegetically engage with other religions’ texts—and why those engaging Muslims might find the book of Hebrews particularly effective.

If you’re interested in joining us at T4G, click here to learn more.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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C.T. Studd is credited with saying, “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” But in today’s world where everyone is encouraged to “live on mission,” this classic missionary grit is increasingly absent. What happened, and what are the internal and external motivators that lead someone to risk everything to serve abroad? To answer that question, we invited missionary, author, and researcher David Joannes.

David Joannes is the co-founder and president of Within Reach Global, which serves the advance of the gospel in some of Southeast Asia’s most difficult places. He is the author of The Space Between Memories: Recollections from a 21st Century Missionary. David has a love for language, culture, and creative writing, and he lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife, Lorna, and their daughter, Cara. Follow David on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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Is every Christian a missionary? Is there a difference between “missions,” “missional,” and “mission?” Is volunteering at my local homeless shelter or sharing the gospel with my unsaved dad “missions?” These are loaded questions—questions which, if we get them wrong, could take the wind out of our sails in terms of engaging in actual cross-cultural ministry. Pioneers USA VP Denny Spitters and 16:15 President Matthew Ellison, authors of When Everything Is Missions, join us to share the hard answers from their new book.

If there’s a single, stand-alone episode of our show that’s worth sharing with your friends, pastors, or acquaintances involved in missions, it’s this one.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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You’ve probably heard of the plight of the Rohingya people—an unreached, Muslim people group who have been forced out of Myanmar and are flooding into Bangladesh. The U.N. calls them the world’s most persecuted people group. But you probably haven’t heard about the extraordinary providence of God in sovereignly using tragedy to bring the Rohingya to Bangladesh at such a crucial time when they can be received into the arms of Christian workers—workers who have been praying for them for years.

It’s an amazing story that only God can write. What many have meant for evil, God is meaning for good through this refugee crisis. Tune in and hear it all as we sit down with ABWE’s South Asia Executive Director.

To learn about how ABWE is impacting the Rohingya, read more here.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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Do all missionaries need to know apologetics? Some say yes, plenty say no. We invited our friend Dan DeWitt, an expert on the topic, to answer. Join us as Dan shares the advantages—and real limitations—of apologetics, and how mission-minded people can employ apologetics in an incarnational way to serve people in a world suffering the effects of sin.

Dan is Associate Professor of Applied Theology and Apologetics and the Director the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity at Cedarville University, and previously served as dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate school of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His areas of expertise include worldview, philosophy, apologetics, and C.S. Lewis—and he writes on all those topics and more on Theolatte, his blog.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email [email protected].

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