Discerning Call and Sending

Job 11-12; Acts 15-16 

“Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabus…We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you…they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them…After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Acts 15:22, 24, 34; 16:10

Throughout the mission-account of the early church, we see both the discernment of who to send, and the discernment of the call. Like two bookends, the discernment of both sending and call in the mission of God involves the church. Those being sent recognize and submit to the authority of the local church. Similarly, the discernment of God’s call to mission in a particular place was a “we” moment, even if only Paul saw the vision of the Macedonian man. Submitting to authority, both through the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the church we are a part of is an essential feature of mission in our day and in the early church.

“Lord Jesus, send out laborers from the church into your harvest, for your glory.”