Skip to content
Home » Bible Verses About Missionaries

Bible Verses About Missionaries

  • by

If you’re a Christian and you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a missionary, this blog is for you. We’ll be exploring some of the Bible’s most famous verses about missionaries and how they can help you understand God’s heart for those who don’t know Him. As Christians, we all have a role to play in sharing the gospel with others. Whether we’re talking to our friends or family members about their need for Jesus, or simply serving people in need through our church, we all have the opportunity to show Christ’s love by sharing His message with others in ways that are relevant to their lives. But many of us don’t know exactly how to do this. That’s why this blog has been created—to help equip you with insight into God’s Word so that you can learn how best to share your faith with others while still respecting their beliefs.

Churchgists is replete with valuable information on bible verses about supporting missionaries, bible verses about giving money to missionaries, bible verses about praying for missionaries, bible verses about sending missionaries, amongst many others. Be sure to surf through our catalog for more information on similar topics. You don’t want to miss this!

Bible Verses About Missions And Evangelism

As Christians, we are constantly reminded of the mission that lies before us. We are sent out into the world, tasked with carrying on Christ’s work of redemption and reconciliation. There may be times when you find yourself feeling unsure of what God wants from you, or if you’re wondering whether your calling is to spend your life somewhere in particular, these Bible verses about missionaries will help guide you toward God’s purpose for your life.

Matthew 9:37 ESV – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

In this verse, Jesus sends out disciples to do ministry and tells them that they need to pray for more people to come along with them. He says this because he knows that there are many people who need healing or salvation and very few people who will go out and help them.

Luke 10:2 ESV – And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

God has a plan for the whole world. He desires that people everywhere would know Him and live with Him forever.

In Luke 10:2, Jesus said that God’s harvest is plentiful, but there are few laborers to reap it. Every believer is a part of God’s harvest team, so we should all be praying for more laborers to help us bring in more fruit from this field that has gone untended for so long!

We should pray diligently because all of our efforts as missionaries are useless without God on our side (Romans 8:28). Our greatest need is not money or resources; it’s prayer support from friends around the world who love Jesus just as much as we do!Fruitful times in missions happen when many believers take up their weapons of warfare according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Luke 14:23 ESV – And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

Jesus was talking about the harvest in this verse. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. And the master wants his house filled with people who are ready to serve him.

Jesus knows that you have a calling on your life, and he wants to fill your house with people who will help you fulfill that calling. If you’re not sure what God has called you to do, remember these words from Jesus:

“You do not know what I am doing? But I know and I promise that when I return again, my reward will be with me.”

John 17:18 ESV – As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Jesus has sent you into the world to proclaim the gospel. He has also sent me and all of his disciples into this world with a similar mission.

The Bible teaches us that there is one way to eternal life—through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He not only offers salvation for our sins but also provides us with an abundant life here on earth through his teachings about how to live our lives in accordance with God’s will.

Bible Verses About Being Sent By God

Romans 10:14-15 ESV – How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

We are ambassadors for Christ. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

We are to preach the gospel. And how do we know this? Because it says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”

Wait… what? How can feet be beautiful? We have here a strong indication that Paul was not writing in English! The Greek word translated as “beautiful” here is kalos (καλός), which means something like excellent and praiseworthy, or noble and honorable—in other words, something excellent with regard to its moral qualities (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:7). If Paul had written kala s instead (καλά σε), then this would mean “beautiful” in terms of physical appearance (1 Corinthians 11:15). But instead he wrote kalōs; hence my translation above!

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

As a missionary, you are an ambassador for Christ. You represent His love and grace to the world around you. As an ambassador, it is your job to present yourself in such a way that others will want to learn more about the person you represent. When people meet missionaries who have this kind of attitude and personality, they are more likely to take interest in their message than those who seem stuffy or unapproachable.

Bible Verses About Missionary Calling

What Bible verses come to mind when you think of missions? 

For most, missions is a distant concept, emphasized only by the occasional mention of the Great Commission in Matthew 28.18-20.

And while these verses are pinnacle to the call of all believers who have been witness to the saving work of Christ, they are not the only verses that compel us to take on God’s mission. 

The Bible does not simply speak about missions, rather the Bible is about missions. From the account of Creation to the final Revelation, every word of Scripture is evidence of the longing of God for every individual to turn to Him and know unity between God and man.

This is God’s mission, and we can see it woven throughout the entire narrative of Scripture. 

No matter your understanding of missions, these verses will challenge you to see that the whole Bible is our mandate for missions. 

Mark 16:15 ESV / 696 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV / 526 helpful votes
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 6:4 ESV / 285 helpful votes
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 252 helpful votes
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 243 helpful votes
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Psalm 96:3 ESV / 218 helpful votes
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Romans 10:14 ESV / 211 helpful votes
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 164 helpful votes
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Mark 16:15-16 ESV / 142 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV / 139 helpful votes
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV / 117 helpful votes
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 6:8 ESV / 87 helpful votes
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

John 20:19-24 ESV / 74 helpful votes
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” …

Matthew 24:14 ESV / 74 helpful votes
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 68 helpful votes
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

1 Corinthians 11:1-2 ESV / 67 helpful votes
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 61 helpful votes
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

John 3:16 ESV / 61 helpful votes
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 5:1 ESV / 55 helpful votes
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Matthew 16:15-19 ESV / 55 helpful votes
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Luke 18:29-30 ESV / 53 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Romans 10:13 ESV / 51 helpful votes
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV / 50 helpful votes
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Isaiah 49:6 ESV / 49 helpful votes
He says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 52:7 ESV / 46 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Bible Verses To Encourage Missionaries

Being a missionary is a great way to fulfill God’s call on your life. These Bible verses are full of encouragement and inspiration from the Bible, including quotes from missionaries themselves.

Missionaries are considered heroes and Christian role models by many. To learn more about the lives of missionaries, here are some Bible passages that talk about missionaries and missions.

Bible Verses in the Old Testament about Missions

1. Genesis 12:1-3

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, andin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”

When the nations were created, God had already formed a plan to draw them to Him. He destined one nation, Israel, to be a light to all the rest, blessing them with His presence and word that they may spread it

2. 1 Chronicles 16:24

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”

From then on, God established His call for all those who know Him to declare His glory to the world. He did mighty works through the nation of Israel to show the surrounding nations that He alone was God, and He called those who did know to continuously testify to His power. 

3. Isaiah 25:1

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”

In His perfect love, God had made plans to draw His creation to Him far before we can imagine, and in His divine graciousness He has beckoned us into those plans.

4. Psalm 22:27

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.”

The words of the Psalmist look beyond the first coming of Christ, into the day in which the whole world will be before the Lord in worship. This reveals the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all of the nations spoken of in Genesis 12:1-3, and this is the vision of missions.

New Testament Bible Verses about Missions

5. Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus commissioned the disciples to testify to all that they had witnessed in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. 

6. John 17:18-21

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”

When the Son of God took on flesh to walk among humanity, He became the conduit of God’s mission, seeking to bring salvation to all who hungered and to make hungry all who did not realize their need for what He was bringing. As Jesus became the way for salvation, He made disciples, raising them up to be His body of believers on earth for the coming generations. 

7. Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”

When Christ fulfilled salvation by His death and resurrection, He opened the door to a new age, one in which He gives His Holy Spirit to those who receive salvation. calling them to be witnesses to the work of the Lord proclaiming the Gospel to the world. 

8. Romans 10:13-15

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 

Now, God’s call to those who have heard and believed is to align their mission with God’s mission, which has remained the same throughout the ages. 

9. 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Salvation is destined for all. God’s heart longs to bring every individual into relationship with Him through repentance and faith. Because of this, He is patient, willing to endure that the ends of the earth may hear the Gospel and be offered the opportunity to receive His salvation. He has entrusted believers to spread the Gospel message throughout the world. 

10. Revelation 7:9-10

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

This is the mission of God: that every tribe, tongue, people, and language be before His throne confessing His salvation and sharing His glory. As those who are freely and graciously reconciled to Him, we cannot ignore His longing for the Kingdom of Heaven to be revealed, not solely by His own life and ministry, but also through the multitude of those here on earth who confess their salvation in Him. 

His mission is that we believers make it our heartbeat to go and find as we have been found, making disciples who truly know the living God. Scripture unfolds the mission of God before us so that we can join Him in fulfilling it. 

Conclusion

As we have seen, the Bible has many different verses about missionaries that are all very important and meaningful. Each verse has its own specific message but they all say the same thing: God wants people to go out into the world and serve Him. This is because He loves His creation so much that He wants them to be saved from sin and death. The best way we can do this as Christians is by being a light unto others so they might see what it means to live life fully with Christ as their guide!