The parable that Jesus told was that “the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish” (Matt. 13: 47). Mission is for everyone. It spreads from everywhere to everywhere for gospel is for everybody. Peter records that we have been called from darkness to light to declare the good works of our Lord. The theologian Karl Barth once said, “Missio Dei=Mission belongs to God”. “The greatest missionary, God, send his own son to the world as a missionary to be a sacrifice”. We see in the Bible the God who sends. God sent his word (voice, words) and created the world; he renews his creation by sending his spirit; he sends his people to preach. He also prepares the church for mission. To make known God’s works among the nations is an Old Testament thought. “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy” (Psalm 47: 1). Asaph says, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets” (Psalm 50: 1). This call for the fulfillment of the mission still continues. It is a society that was steeped in superstitions and evil practices that is called to the miraculous light. Lord who is the light of the world (John 8: 12) made the ones who He called also to be the light of the world (Matt. 5: 14). He made those who weren’t a nation into a nation; the chosen into a community; holy and His own people; gave them the royal priesthood. The aim of this calling is important: “to declare the good works of the one who called”. We should bring to light those who are by many reasons still in darkness. We and our people were once not people so to say. Due to many reasons we were also once oppressed, marginalized and exploited once upon a time. But many sacrificial and courageous missionaries gave us education; a church and a name. Thus we became one people. We are given a huge responsibility to convey the gospel to crores of people of our country who still haven’t heard the gospel yet.

1. From Keriath Ravine to Zeraphath (I Kings 17: 1-16)
When Keriath Ravine ran dry Elijah travels to Zeraphath. Elijah who was fed miraculously at Keriath went to Zeraphath when the ravine dried up. Even there God works through him. Gospel is for everyone. Jesus Christ reinstates this through the parable. The owner of the house sets out to call workers to work in his vineyard. In the parable it said that workers were called at 3, 6, 9 and even 11th hour. Even at 11 many people are waiting at the market. They are there doing no work is what it means. Nobody has hired us is their response (Matt. 20: 7). “You also go and work in my vineyard” is what the owner of the house says. Nobody can escape the call of the Lord. All are called. If anybody knows the truth and doesn’t say it out, he sins (Lev. 5: 1). Not in places where God’s name has been made known but those who have not known must see and those who haven’t heard must understand- this is the foundation on which Paul preached the gospel is what he says while talking about his ministry (Romans 15: 20, 21). The Gospel means ‘good news’. News means new information. The News that, God through Jesus Christ saved mankind, becomes news when it is informed anew. If something is told over and over again it does not become news. The knowledge about Christ becomes news in places where it has not been heard before. Not everybody can go to North India to preach. But it is a commandment from God that we must be part of this through our prayer and other support. Nobody can stay apart from this.

2. From Jerusalem to Gentiles (Galatians 2: 1-10)
The commission that the apostles received in the Upper Room in Jerusalem sent them to the Gentiles with the gospel. God who spread through Peter onto the uncircumcised worked with Paul for the gentiles (Galatians 2: 7-9). God has no bias. Paul worked amongst the gentiles and Peter amongst the uncircumcised. Jesus taught us that if we believe that Jesus Christ is the lord and say it out loud with our mouths we will be saved. This is what we should believe. But here certain questions are raised: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 14, 15). That is, to be saved the people should believe. To believe they should hear. To hear someone should preach. To preach someone should go. To go someone should send. It was the Church who sent Paul and Barnabas when they were chosen by the Holy Spirit when the Church in the first century prayed together (Acts 13: 1-3). It is we who should send. Not through just prayer but through our support and financial help we should send those who go for us. Every nation should hear the gospel of the Kingdom. Then our Lord will come again (Matt. 24: 14).

3. From Church to Everywhere (Matt. 13: 47-52)
The mission that the Church received is now spreading everywhere because the Kingdom of God represents everybody (Matt. 13: 47, 48). God’s mission requires man’s participation. Even though God is almighty, omnipotent and all knowing we see Him asking for man’s participation to fulfill God’s mission. God who created everything once asked Noah to build an ark. God could have made the ark also. But in the God’s plan to save mankind he reminds us that man’s participation is also required. God asked Moses to build the tabernacle (Exodus 25: 1,2). The people gave more than that is required to build the tabernacle (Exodus 36: 5,6). God ordained Solomon to build the Temple of God. To speak to the crowd Jesus wanted Peter’s boat (Luke 5: 1-11). For the triumphal entry into Jerusalem Jesus wanted the colt of the village (Luke 19: 29-35). To feed thousands God wanted a child with five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6: 1-14). God appreciated the two coins of the widow (Luke 21: 1-4). All these incidents show one thing: For God’s mission man’s participation is required. Paul preached about the church in Macedonia who rendered financial support for God’s work. He teaches that,God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). The first century Church is a Church who submitted completely and gave submissively. That is the reason that the Church grew. Many are saved and added to the Church daily.