I just finished reading Michael Horner’s book, When Missions Shapes the Mission: You And Your Church Can Reach The World .  This is a great book that emphasizes the Biblical Mandate for the church to go and reach the world with the gospel.  But what was really good about this book, was that after Horner presented the Biblical evidence for missions, he then presented a whole, “how to” section.  I definitely recommend this book for any Christian.

Below are a sampling of quotes that I really enjoyed from the books:

Missions, properly defined is making God’s glory known in all the earth so that in and through Jesus Christ all will be glad and sing for joy in His presence. (4)

Missions is God’s plan for reaching all nations with the good news of Jesus Christ by sending His people to tell them about and show them the gracious, redeeming love of a glorious God. (6).

The motivation force behind the early missions in the church was the presence of the Holy Spirit, and that empowering presence moved the people of God to become vital witnesses for the glory of Jesus Christ. (51).

If our hearts are not held in the grip of a profound love for Jesus Christ and a deep appreciation for the treasure He is, we will not be motivated to continue in our commitment to speak of His glory among the nations for very long. (52).

Before missions takes hold of the church, a consuming desire for Christ and His passions must be shaped in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (57)

If we are not open to be set apart in the way we live, ho will we ever be willing to be sent away to introduce people from every nation to the holiness that is required to see the Lord. (121)

Another quote I enjoyed was from Hudson Taylor’s journal.  Taylor was an Englishman whose love for Christ led him to give up everything,  go to China, and share the gospel.  By his death in 1904 he had established over 205 missions stations all over China.  This is what he wrote when describing why he went to China.

“Well do I remember how in the gladness of my heart I poured out my soul before God. Again and again confessing my grateful love to Him who had done everything for me, who had saved me when I had given up all hope and even desire for salvation, I besought Him to give me some work to do for Him as an outlet for love and gratitude…

Well do I remember as I put myself, my life, my friends my all upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my should with the assurance that my offering was accepted.  The presence of God became untenably real and blessed, and I remember… stretching myself on the ground lying there before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy.  For what service I was accepted I knew not, but a deep consciousness that I was not my own took possession of me which never since [has] effaced…

I saw Him and I sought Him, I had Him and I wanted Him.”