59 Bible Verses about Mission, Of The Church

it was not you that chose me, but I that chose you, and establish'd you, that your travels may be fruitful, and your fruit be lasting: so that whatever ye shall ask of the father for my sake, he will give it you.

the harvest indeed is plentiful, but the labourers are few: entreat therefore the Lord of the harvest, to send forth labourers into his harvest.

After this the Lord nominated seventy disciples more, and sent them before by two and two, into all the cities, and towns, where he himself design'd to go. and he said to them, the harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few: intreat therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. go then: I send you as lambs among wolves.

he that reapeth, receiveth wages, by gathering fruit unto life eternal: that the sower, and the reaper, may both rejoice together. upon this occasion, that saying is verified, "one soweth, and another reapeth." I sent you to reap where you bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and you are entred into their labours.

After this he assembled the twelve apostles, and gave them authority over all sorts of demons, and the power of curing all diseases:

Jesus having called his twelve disciples, he gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal diseases and disorders of every kind.

and Jesus came, and said to them, all power has been given me in heaven and in earth.

Now having called the twelve, he sent them out by two and two, giving them power to exorcize spirits:

they that believe shall be endued with these miraculous gifts: in my name they shall cast out demons: they shall speak new languages: they shall handle serpents, and if they drink any mortal poison, it shall do them no hurt: they shall lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover.

At length the seventy return'd with great joy, saying, Lord, even the demons have been made subject to us by virtue of your name. upon which he said to them, I beheld satan falling, like lightning, from heaven. I have authoriz'd you to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and triumph over all the power of the enemy; so that nothing shall be capable of doing you any mischief.

then said Jesus to them again, "peace be with you: as my father hath sent me, even so send I you."

as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

but ye shall receive the influence of the holy spirit, which will descend upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.

and I am going to send you what my father has promis'd you. but continue in the city of Jerusalem, until you shall be endued with power from on high.

and when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "receive ye the holy spirit.

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled, trembled; they were all filled with the holy spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

God also giving an additional testimony both by signs, by prodigies, by divers miracles, and gifts of the holy spirit, which he distributes as he pleases.

go and instruct all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost: teaching them to observe every thing which I have enjoin'd you: and be assured I shall be always with you to the end of the world.

then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day. they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

cry'd out, "sirs, what are you going to do? we are but men as well as you, and we exhort you to renounce these vanities, and turn to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth and the sea, and all that they contain:

so we took our places, and convers'd with the women, that came there. one of them was nam'd Lydia of Thyatira, a trader in purple, and a Jewish proselyte. she heard us: and the Lord inclin'd her heart to attend to what Paul said. so that having been baptized with her family, she made us this request, if you think me sincere in my profession, pray come and lodge at my house; and she prevail'd upon us.

the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his family, as well as many of the Corinthians, who heard Paul, and were baptized.

But how, say you, shall they call on him on whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

for the life was manifested, we have seen it, we testify of it, and denounce unto you, that eternal life which was with the father, and was manifested unto us. what we have seen and heard, we declare unto you, that ye also may be of the same society with us: and truly associated with the father, and with his son Jesus Christ.

then sent them to proclaim the reign of the Messiah, and to heal the sick.

and wherever ye go, make this proclamation: the kingdom of heaven is nigh. heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: what ye have received gratis, give gratis.

as for the disciples, they went and preached the gospel in all parts: the Lord co-operating with them, and confirming their doctrine by the miracles that accompany'd it.

accordingly they departed, and travell'd thro' the towns, preaching the gospel, and performing cures every where.

things that little affect me, nor is life so much my concern, as to finish my course, and the charge I receiv'd from the Lord Jesus, to attest the declaration of the divine favour.

but Philip was found at Azotus: and passing on, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

for God is my witness, to whom I am entirely devoted, in preaching the gospel of his son, that I constantly make mention of you, in my prayers, requesting,

I have effectually preached the gospel of Christ: yet so as studiously to avoid preaching it where Christ was owned, lest I should build upon another man's foundation; for,

For this I was establish'd the herald, the apostle, and doctor of the Gentiles. this has drawn upon me the evils I suffer.

the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree. him hath God rais'd by his power to be the author of salvation, by giving repentance to Israel, and the remission of their sins. and we are his witnesses in what we say, and so is the holy spirit, whom God hath given to those that obey him.

you are witnesses of these things.

but when the advocate is come, whom I will send to you from the father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me. and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

for we cannot avoid publishing what we have seen and heard.

that the manifold wisdom of God, in ordering his heavenly kingdom, might by his church be now made known, to princes and magistrates, in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:

my father will be honour'd by your bearing much fruit, and you will have the honour of being my disciples.

souls. Let your behaviour among the Gentiles be virtuous, that instead of inveighing against you as vicious, they may observe your honest behaviour,

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preach'd in his name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, to testify to all nations, that the end will then come.

but the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Then he said to them, go ye into all parts of the world, and preach the gospel to all mankind.

Jesus made these twelve his missionaries, and gave them these instructions, don't go any where among the Gentiles, nor enter into any city of the Samaritans. but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purses: nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staves: for the workman deserves his maintenance. whatever city or town ye enter into, find out some house of repute, and there lodge till ye leave that place.read more.
As soon as ye enter into any house, salute the family. if the family be worthy, your benediction shall have its effect; but if it be not worthy, it shall only redound to your own advantage. if they should not receive you, nor mind your instructions: when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake off the pagan dust from your feet. I declare unto you, the people of Sodom and Gomorrha shall find less severity in the day of judgment, than that city.

he order'd them to take nothing for their journey, but a single staff, no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse: to have but one pair of shoes, and but one coat. whatever house you enter into, said he, there abide, till you leave the place.read more.
wherever they shall refuse to entertain you, or to hear you, at your departure shake off the dust of your feet, as a testimonial against them. I assure you, the people of Sodom and Gomorrha shall be treated with less severity in the day of judgment, than that city.

and he said to them make no provision for your journey: take neither staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money; and but one coat for each. when you are lodg'd in any house, there stay, till you leave the place. if any refuse to entertain you, when you leave that city, shake off the dust from your feet, as a sign of their being abandon'd.

carry neither purse, nor bag, nor shoes; neither salute any man by the way. at your entrance into any house, first say, prosperity be to this family. if any be there, who deserve your benediction, it shall have its effect upon them; otherwise, it shall redound to your own advantage.read more.
continue in the same house, and eat and drink whatever it affords: for a labourer deserves his wages: therefore don't shift from family to family. when you come to any city, where they receive you, eat without scruple, whatever food is set before you, and heal the sick you find there. tell the inhabitants the kingdom of God is drawing nigh unto them. but when you enter into any city, and they refuse to entertain you, go through the streets, and cry, "we shake off the dust, that sticks to our feet, against you: but take notice, the kingdom of God has been near you." I declare unto you, that the people of Sodom shall be treated with less severity in the day of judgment, than that city.

In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only.

but they that were dispers'd, preach'd the gospel wherever they went. Philip being arrived at Samaria, preached Christ to them. the people attended with great unanimity, hearing his discourses, and observing the miracles he wrought.read more.
for the impure spirits, with great outcries, came out of many that were possessed: many paralytic, and lame people were cured. which caused great joy in that city.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John, who upon their arrival, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit. (for as yet he had not descended on any of them: they having only been baptized in the name of the Lordread more.
Jesus) the apostles therefore gave them imposition of hands, and they received the holy spirit.

go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.

this concerns you Gentiles. for as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I should do honour to my character,

to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.

then Peter thus began, now I plainly perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth him, and acts justly, is acceptable to him.

some of them were of Cyprus and Cyrene, and upon their arrival at Antioch they address'd themselves to the Greeks, and preach'd to them the Lord Jesus. and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts.

Now there were several prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch, as Barnabas, Simeon surnam'd Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them. accordingly, after having fasted and prayed they gave them imposition of hands, and dismiss'd them.

but Paul chose Silas, and having been recommended by the brethren to the favour of God, he departed, and passing through Syria and Cilicia, he settled the churches there.