Jesus sends His people as He was sent: "as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). The need is great, for "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few" (Luke 10:2), so God's people are told to "Declare his glory among the heathen" (Psalm 96:3) and to support those who go.
Missionary work is the church obeying Jesus' command to take the gospel to every nation, near and far. Some are called to go, and every believer is called to pray, give and send. Many churches hold a missions emphasis and a Christmas missions offering in December, and short-term teams plan trips in the new year. These twelve King James verses cover the call to missions, missionaries in the Bible, and how the church sends and supports them. For sharing your faith with friends and neighbors, see sharing the gospel.
The call to missions
1. John 20:21
"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
On the evening of His resurrection, Jesus greeted His disciples with peace and then sent them. The mission of the church comes from the mission of the Son. Missions is not an extra program; it is part of following Jesus.
2. Luke 10:2
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."
Before Jesus sent out the seventy, He told them first to pray for labourers. The first missionary task is prayer, and the same verse that sends workers asks all of us to pray for them.
3. Psalms 96:3
"Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people."
Long before the New Testament, Israel sang that God's glory belonged to every nation. Heathen in the KJV simply means the nations, the peoples who did not yet know the LORD.
4. Isaiah 49:6
"And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
God tells His Servant it is too small a thing only to restore Israel; He will also be a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the end of the earth. Simeon saw this in the baby Jesus (Luke 2:32), a good Christmas connection.
Missionaries in the Bible
5. Acts 8:4
"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."
When persecution scattered the church from Jerusalem, ordinary believers went everywhere preaching. The first great missionary movement was not planned by leaders; it was everyday Christians sharing as they moved. See persecution.
6. Acts 13:47
"For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."
Paul and Barnabas quoted Isaiah 49:6 to explain their mission to the Gentiles. The Holy Ghost had set them apart, and the church at Antioch sent them out after fasting and prayer (Acts 13:2-3).
7. Romans 15:20
"Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:"
Paul's ambition was to preach where Christ had not been named. Many missionaries today work among unreached peoples for the same reason: some have never heard the gospel even once.
8. Acts 14:27
"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."
After their first journey, Paul and Barnabas gathered the church and reported all that God had done. Missionary reports belong in church life; they help the senders rejoice and keep praying.
Sending, supporting and praying for missionaries
9. Philippians 4:16
"For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity."
The Philippian church sent support to Paul more than once. Giving to missionaries is a partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5), and Paul calls the gift fruit that abounds to their account (Philippians 4:17).
10. 3 John 1:7-8
"Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth."
John praises Gaius for welcoming traveling missionaries who went out for the name of Christ. Those who receive and support them become fellowhelpers to the truth. You do not have to go overseas to be part of missions.
11. Colossians 4:3
"Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:"
Paul, writing in chains, asked for prayer that God would open a door for the word. Missionaries need open doors, clear words and courage more than comfort, so pray for these things by name. See praying for others.
12. 2 Thessalonians 3:1
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:"
Pray for us, Paul says, that the word of the Lord may have free course, a phrase that pictures the word running. Prayer helps the gospel move freely through a city or a nation.
A short prayer
Lord of the harvest, send forth labourers into Your harvest. Bless the missionaries I know by name: open doors for the word, give them courage, health and good friends, and supply their needs. Show me my part, whether to go, to give, to pray or to welcome. Let Your glory be declared among all nations. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Pray for missionaries by name with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What is the main Bible verse for missionary work?
The Great Commission is the best known: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Acts 1:8 adds the pattern of Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. Both are on our sharing the gospel page.
Who was the first missionary in the Bible?
Many point to Paul and Barnabas, sent out by the church at Antioch in Acts 13, as the first missionaries sent by a church. Others name Philip, who preached in Samaria and to the Ethiopian official (Acts 8), or Jonah, sent to Nineveh. Isaiah's "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8) is the classic missionary response.
How can I support missionaries if I cannot go?
Pray for them regularly and specifically (Colossians 4:3), give through your church or a trusted agency (Philippians 4:16), write to them, and welcome them when they visit home (3 John 1:8). A Christmas card or message with a verse means a lot to a missionary family far from home.
What should I pray for missionaries?
Pray for open doors and clear words (Colossians 4:3), that the word will run freely (2 Thessalonians 3:1), for safety and health, for their children, for language learning and friendships, and for new believers. It helps to keep a written list and pray through it during the week; a guided journal such as our 30-Day Prayer Journal can help.
Before giving, check that a missions organization is accountable and transparent, ideally through your local church. Short-term trips should follow your church's or sending agency's safety guidance.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about sharing the gospel · Bible verses about praying for others · Bible verses about testimony · Bible verses about persecution · Bible verses about being a disciple · Bible verses about offering · Bible verses about the power of prayer · Bible verses about stewardship
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
