Introduction:  Neither the word missions nor the word missionary is found in the Bible.  Yet, it is difficult to read through Acts or Paul’s epistles without seeing its practice on every page.  Mission comes from the Latin word missio and means a sending or sending away.  A mission is defined as a sending out with authority to perform a special duty.

1. THE SENDING OF A MISSIONARY (Acts 13:3-4 [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
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1. Sent by the Church (Acts 13:3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
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2. Sent by the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
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2. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Responsible to God
2. Responsible to the Church (Acts 14:26-28 [26] And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. [27] And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. [28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.
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3. Responsible to the People (1 Corinthians 15:34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
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3. THE WORK OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Their Biblical Duty
1. To preach
1. Message
1. The word of God (Acts 13:5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
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2. The gospel (Acts 14:7And there they preached the gospel.
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3. Turn from vanities unto the living God (Acts 14:15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
   See All...; Acts 26:17-18 [17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
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2. Location (Acts 20:20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
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1. Synagogue  (Religious Establishment)
2. Publicly  (Public Ministry)
3. House to House  (One on One and Discipleship)
2. To warn the lost (Acts 20:31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
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3. To baptize believers
1. This can be done by the missionary (1 Corinthians 1:14-16 [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
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2. Though this is not the purpose of the missionary (1 Corinthians 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
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4. To teach the saved (Acts 18:11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
   See All...; Acts 20:20-27 [20] And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, [21] Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. [22] And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: [23] Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. [24] But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. [25] And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. [26] Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. [27] For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
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5. To ordain elders (Acts 14:23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
   See All...; Titus 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
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6. To establish churches (Acts 14:23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
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7. To confirm the churches (Acts 15:40-41 [40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. [41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
   See All...; Acts 16:5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
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2. A Confusion of Their Duty
1. Much of the mission work done in our day is for the social welfare of man rather than the spiritual welfare of man.
2. This is largely based on a misapplication of Matthew 25:34-40 [34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? [38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? [39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
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4. THE SUPPORT OF A MISSIONARY 
1. Supported by His Work
1. If a missionary can work in the field to which he has been called there could be some benefit to him doing so.
2. Paul was able and willing to do some work to make some necessary money (Acts 18:1-3 [1] After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; [2] And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. [3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
   See All...; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 [8] Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: [9] Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
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2. Supported by Churches
1. Concerning the church at Philippi (Philippians 4:10-12
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2. Concerning the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
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3. Concerning the church at Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 [8] Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: [9] Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
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3. Biblical Concept for the One Ministering Locally (2 Corinthians 11:7-8 [7] Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? [8] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
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1. Paul makes a point that the way things ought to be done is for the church to which the man is ministering to support the man.
2. Should be supported by the church he is ministering to.  This would be the equivalent of the national pastors of our day.  They should be obtaining the support from their local congregation.
3. Anytime a local church is planted it ought to be taught how to support their pastor.

Conclusion:  If we are going to be Bible-believers then we have to be willing to submit our doctrine and our practice to the authority of the scriptures.  In doing so, we will seem strange to some, but we will be pleasing to the Lord.  This is our foremost goal anyway.