MIS-201
Missiology: Theology & Practice of Missions
The biblical basis for cross-cultural missions and practical principles for planting and sustaining a congregation in a new cultural or linguistic context.
Topics: Cross-cultural ministry, Church planting, Contextualization
Suggested resource: Revisit SOC-101's cultural-fluency material; free training resources from established mission organizations.
Week 1: The Biblical Basis for Missions
Reading: Genesis 12:1–3; Matthew 28:18–20; Revelation 7:9–10
God's promise to Abraham already contains the whole missionary trajectory of Scripture in miniature: “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2–3). Israel was never blessed only for its own sake; it was chosen to become a blessing that would ultimately reach every family on earth. Jesus makes that ancient promise a direct, present command: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18–20).
Revelation 7:9–10 shows where this trajectory ends: “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb… and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Missions exists because that end goal requires the gospel to actually, physically reach every nation, not because of denominational ambition — Genesis 12:3's promise, Matthew 28:18–20's command, and Revelation 7:9–10's fulfillment are one continuous line from Abraham to eternity.
Key terms: Genesis 12:2–3's blessing-to-be-a-blessing, Matthew 28:18–20's full Great Commission, Revelation 7:9–10's fulfilled vision
Discussion Questions
- How does seeing Revelation 7:9–10 as the destination change how you think about the purpose of missions work today?
- What does it mean that Abraham's promise, the Great Commission, and Revelation's vision are one continuous line rather than three separate ideas?
Challenge: Trace the theme of 'all nations' through five passages spanning the Old and New Testaments, quoting each one in full.
Week 2: Principles of Church Planting Across Cultures
Reading: Acts 14:21–23 (revisit)
Effective cross-cultural church planting distinguishes between the unchanging content of the gospel and the culturally variable forms a healthy church takes, worship style, leadership structure, meeting patterns, so a new congregation feels authentically rooted in its own culture rather than imported wholesale from the missionary's home context. Paul's pattern in Acts, appointing local elders quickly rather than leading indefinitely himself, models moving toward genuine local ownership and leadership as fast as is responsibly possible, rather than creating long-term dependency.
Key terms: Content vs. cultural form, Local ownership and leadership, Avoiding dependency
Discussion Questions
- Where have you seen a ministry import a cultural form unnecessarily, mistaking it for essential gospel content?
Challenge: List three things that are essential gospel content versus three things that are cultural form in how your own congregation currently operates.
Week 3: Missions in Your Own Bilingual Context
Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (revisit)
You don't have to travel overseas to do genuinely cross-cultural ministry; language and cultural gaps exist within a single city, and your own bilingual, bicultural background is a direct missiological asset most monolingual ministers simply don't have. This week, think concretely about how the missiological principles from this course apply to Spanish-speaking or bicultural communities you already have access to, rather than treating missions as something that only happens somewhere else.
Key terms: Local cross-cultural ministry, Bilingual ministry as an asset, Applying missiology at home
Discussion Questions
- Where in your own city or community is there a genuine cross-cultural mission opportunity you have unique access to?
Challenge: Write a short, concrete plan for one cross-cultural ministry step you could actually take in your own community this year.
Course Exam
Five questions for review or self-testing.
Q: What promise to Abraham grounds the biblical basis for missions?
Reveal Answer
Genesis 12:3 — 'in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.'
Q: What does Revelation 7:9 picture?
Reveal Answer
Worshippers of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues — the end goal missions serves.
Q: What's the difference between gospel content and cultural form?
Reveal Answer
Content is the unchanging message; form is the culturally variable way a healthy church expresses it.
Q: What pattern did Paul model regarding local leadership?
Reveal Answer
Appointing local elders quickly rather than leading indefinitely himself.
Q: According to this course, where can genuinely cross-cultural ministry happen?
Reveal Answer
Not only overseas — within a single city, wherever real language or cultural gaps exist.