59 Bible Verses about Mission, Of The Church

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that should remain, so that the Father might grant you whatever you ask in my Name.

And he said to his disciples: "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Owner of the harvest to send laborers to gather in his harvest."

After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his Messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit. "The harvest," he said, "is abundant, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Owner of the harvest to send laborers to gather in his harvest. Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like lambs among wolves.

Already the reaper is receiving wages and gathering in sheaves for Immortal Life, so that sower and reaper rejoice together. For here the proverb holds good--'One sows, another reaps.' I have sent you to reap that on which you have spent no labor; others have labored, and you have entered upon the results of their labor."

Jesus called the Twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, as well as to cure diseases.

Calling his twelve Disciples to him, Jesus gave them authority over foul spirits, so that they could drive them out, as well as the power of curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Then Jesus came up, and spoke to them thus: "All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me.

He called the Twelve to him, and began to send them out as his Messengers, two and two, and gave them authority over foul spirits.

Moreover these signs shall attend those who believe. In my Name they shall drive out demons; they shall speak with 'tongues'; They shall take up serpents in their hands; and, if they drink any poison, it shall not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they shall recover."

When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed joyfully: "Master, even the demons submit to us when we use your name." And Jesus replied: "I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. Remember, I have given you the power to 'trample upon serpents and scorpions,' and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing shall ever harm you in any way.

Again Jesus said to them: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me as his Messenger, so I am sending you."

Just as thou has sent me as thy Messenger to the world, so I send them as my Messengers to the world.

But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit shall have descended upon you, and shall be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

And now I am myself about to send upon you that which my Father has promised. But you must remain in the city until you have been invested with power from above."

After saying this, he breathed on them, and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit;

When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God's Message fearlessly.

while God himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit.

Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Faith of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, And teaching them to lay to heart all the commands that I have given you; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age."

So those who accepted his teaching were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the disciples on that day alone. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the Common Life of the Church, to the Breaking of the Bread and to the Prayers.

"We are only men like yourselves, and we have come with the Good News that you should turn away from these follies to a living God, 'who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.'

Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul, And, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. "Since you have shown your conviction," she said, "that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she insisted on our doing so.

Crispus, the President of the Synagogue, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized.

But how, it may be asked, are they to invoke one in whom they have not learned to believe? And how are they to believe in one whose words they have not heard? And how are they to hear his words unless some one proclaims him? And how are men to proclaim him unless they are sent as his messengers? As Scripture says--'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'

That Life was made visible, and we have seen it, and now bear our testimony to it, and tell you of that Immortal Life, which was with the Father and was made visible to us. It is of what we have seen and heard that we now tell you, so that you may have communion with us. And our communion is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

He sent them out as his Messengers, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and to work cures.

And on your way proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, make the lepers clean, drive out demons. You have received free of cost, give free of cost.

But they set out, and made the proclamation everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Message by the signs which attended it.

Then they set out and went from village to village, telling the Good News and curing people everywhere.

But I count my life of no value to myself, if only I may complete the course marked out for me, and the task that was allotted me by the Lord Jesus--which was to declare the Good News of the Love of God.

But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the Good News in all the towns through which he passed, till he came to Caesarea.

God, to whom I offer the worship of my soul as I tell the Goodness of his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you when I pray,

Yet always with the ambition to tell the Good News where Christ's name had not previously been heard, so as to avoid building upon another man's foundations.

of which I was myself appointed a Herald and Apostle, and Teacher.

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross. It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a Guide and a Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit--the gift of God to those who obey him."

You yourselves are to be witnesses to all this.

But, when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of Truth, who comes from the Father--he will bear testimony to me; Yes, and you also are to bear testimony, because you have been with me from the first.

Judge for yourselves, for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard."

So that now to the Archangels and to all the Powers on high should be made known, through the Church, the all-embracing wisdom of God, In accordance with that purpose which runs through all the ages and which he has now accomplished in Jesus, the Christ, our Master.

It is by your bearing fruit plentifully, and so showing yourselves my disciples, that my Father is honored.

Let your daily life among the Gentiles be so upright, that, whenever they malign you as evil-doers, they may learn, as they watch, from the uprightness of your conduct, to praise God 'at the time when he shall visit them.'

And that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed on his authority to all the nations--beginning at Jerusalem.

And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the world as a witness to all nations; and then will come the end.

But the Good News must first be proclaimed to every nation.

Then he said to them: "Go into all the world, and proclaim the Good News to all creation.

These twelve Jesus sent out as his Messengers, after giving them these instructions-- "Do not go to the Gentiles, nor enter any Samaritan town, But make your way rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, or pence in your purses; Not even with a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a staff; for the worker is worth his food. Whatever town or village you visit, find out who is worthy in that place, and remain there till you leave.read more.
As you enter the house, greet it. Then, if the house is worthy, let your blessing rest upon it, but, if it is unworthy, let your blessing return upon yourselves. If no one welcomes you, or listens to what you say, as you leave that house or that town, shake off its dust from your feet. I tell you, the doom of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah will be more bearable in the 'Day of Judgment' than the doom of that town.

He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey- -not even bread, or a bag, or pence in their purse; But they were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat. "Whenever you go to stay at a house," he said, "remain there till you leave that place;read more.
And if a place does not welcome you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust that is on the soles of your feet, as a protest against them."

"Do not," he said to them, "take anything for your journey; not even a staff, or a bag, or bread, or any silver, or a change of clothes with you. Whatever house you go to stay in, remain there, and leave from that place. If people do not welcome you, as you leave that town, shake even the dust off your feet, as a protest against them."

Do not take a purse with you, or a bag, or sandals; and do not stop to greet any one on your journey. Whatever house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. Then, if any one there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest upon him; but if not, it will come back upon yourselves.read more.
Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you; Cure the sick there, and tell people 'The Kingdom of God is close at hand. But, whatever town you go to visit, if the people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say 'We wipe off the very dust of your town which has clung to Our feet; still, be assured that the Kingdom of God is close at Hand.' I tell you that the doom of Sodom will be more bearable on 'That Day' than the doom of that town.

Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message--but only to Jews.

Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News. Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ. The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working.read more.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; And many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.

When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they sent Peter and John to them; And they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. (As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).read more.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

But the Lord said to him: "Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my Name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel.

But I am speaking to you who were Gentiles.

Because of the charge with which God has entrusted me, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to go to the Gentiles--that I should act as a priest of God's Good News, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.

Then Peter began. "I see, beyond all doubt," he said, "that 'God does not show partiality,' But that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord's side.

Among the members of the Church at Antioch there were several Prophets and Teachers--Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of 'Black', Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul. While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them." Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands on them and dismissed them.

While Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord, Started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches in the faith.