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Suggested Bible Readings for

Global Mission Sunday
For October 2, the Revised Common Lectionary gives as Scripture
passages for the day:
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 The Ten Commandments
Psalm 19: God’s glory in Creation
Philippians 3:4b-14 Paul speaks of the goal of
answering God’s call through
Jesus Christ.
Matthew 21:33-46 The Parable of the tenants in
the vineyard.

For World Communion Sunday the same lectionary gives the

following passages:

Hebrew Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:4-10: The call of Jeremiah:

v 9: Then the Lord reached out to, touched my lips and said to me, “Listen, today I
am giving you the words you must speak. Today I give you authority over nations
and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build
and to plant.”

Psalm 96

V 1-3: Sing a new song to the Lord,

Sing to the Lord, and praise him!
Proclaim every day the good news that God has saved us.
Proclaim God’s glory to the nations, God’s mighty deeds to all peoples.

Epistle: 1 Peter 2: 4-10: Being God’s people

V 9-10 : But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s
own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you put
of darkness into his marvellous light. At one time you were not God’s people, but
now you are his people, at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you
have received God’s mercy.

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20: The Risen Christ’s commission to

his disciples
V 18 -20 Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in
heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and baptise them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.

However, you may like to choose other readings from Scripture that
highlight unity, sharing, partnership, solidarity with the world…

• Ephesians 4: 1-6 The action of unity that is found in the celebration at

the Table - one bread, one body –is absolutely inclusive
• John 6: 1-14; Jesus feeds the five thousand. In sharing his bread and
fish, one small boy enables Jesus to “feed” so many, with as much as
they wanted...
• John 6: 32-34 “to pray give us this day our daily bread and not share
that bread is a blasphemy” (Oscar Romero). In sharing the bread, we are
committing ourselves to stand in solidarity with the poor of the world.
• Acts 2: 43-47: Sitting together at the table, breaking the bread and
sharing the cup of suffering is to participate in deep community,
participating in the brokenness of the world and the redemption all are
offered.
• 1 Cor 10:16; The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the
blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body
of Christ?
• Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all
partake of the one bread.
• Matthew 25: 34-40, 1 Cor 11: 23-26 a study of the Last Supper… an
exercise in hospitality for ALL.

Points to Consider When Reflecting on Mission that is Global

• It is God’s mission not ours, and we are joining God in Kingdom work.
This means that rather than taking God and the Gospel into the mission
field, we are joining God who is already working out there, calling us
to join in the adventure. Let’s curb the arrogance and paternalism that
subtly conveys the message that Western Christians have the superior
version of the good news.
• We all belong to the global village: in our action towards local migrants
and refugees, in our giving to a World Vision child, in our welcome
to the Korean, Cook Island or Kiribati congregation who share our
premises, in our finding warm jerseys for Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers
we are engaged in glocal mission – at our place and at their place.
• Partnership is a key concept, along with mutuality and sharing. We
recognize that we all give and all receive and share our joys and our
struggles. Often in the West we have the material wealth, education
and the freedom to worship as we wish, but maybe we could see
these as gifts of God to be shared with our brothers and sisters. Also,

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 the incomparable gifts we are given ‘in the mission field’ are so very
precious and life changing for us, when we recognize our own empty
handedness: faith born out of oppression as a minority group, warm
hospitality that is costly, hope in face of poverty and conflict and
laughter that comes from deep connection in Christ.

More pointers can be found in the May 2011 edition of Candour on

“Global Mission”, featuring articles by Pamela Tankersley (Editorial), Chris
Nichols, Angela Norton and Kirstin Harray. Read or download here http://
presbyterian.org.nz/sites/default/files/publications/candour/W_5514_PRC_
Candour_May_2011_v2.pdf

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