Steve Strauss is the US Director for “Serving In Mission” and wrote an interesting article titled “Missions Theology in Romans 15:14-33″ (Bibleotheca Sacra 160:640 (Oct 03) p. 458-475) I think the points he makes based on his own experience in world missions are worth some discussion. So let’s start with the passage in Romans he considers so important to the mission of the Church.

Romans 15:14-33 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.” 22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while— 25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Five principles for missions strategy in the United States and around the World can be drawn from Romans 15:14–33.

First, the work of missions is entirely dependent on God and all results must be recognized as stemming from His grace. This principle, derived from Romans 15:17–18, has at least two relevant applications to the challenges missionaries face today….

• Western missionary practice has developed a disturbing tendency to depend more on sociological principles, advanced education, and material wealth to get results and less on humble dependence on God…
• Recognizing missions as fundamentally a work of God’s grace gives confidence in the face of intense opposition.

Second, the task of missions is a priestly privilege of presenting the nations to God.62 Missionaries today are not apostles like those who founded the church (Eph. 2:20), but their message is built on that foundation. In addition when missionaries today carry the gospel into another culture, they, like Paul, are answering a call to the “nations” as people-groups similar to Paul’s call.

Third, people-groups can be reached. That Paul “fulfilled the gospel” in the Eastern Mediterranean is highly suggestive that “Paul must have had some idea of what ‘reached’ meant” and that he “must have known what it meant to complete the missionary task.”

• The ultimate goal of missions must be Christian maturity and reproducing churches. Though not every missionary will have the same priorities as Paul, missions as a whole must maintain the goal of seeing people come to faith in Christ and to mature in Him. It is not enough to evangelize individuals or even to plant churches. The ultimate goal of missions must be to see maturing fellowships of believers who are themselves reaching out to evangelize the lost.
• Missions must not lose the urgency of primary evangelism among unreached peoples. Though Paul’s goal was a maturing, reproducing church, he continued to focus on evangelism among the unreached. “Primary evangelism was integral to his missionary commission, although it was not the only element in that commission.”

Fourth, those who carry the gospel to the unreached among the nations are fulfilling the purposes of God in salvation history.

Fifth, partnership with the worldwide church is central to the task of missions. Romans 15:14–33 heavily emphasizes partnership in missions. As Paul looked to Spain, he knew he needed the help of the church in Rome to accomplish his mission. In fact the Spanish mission formed the primary background of his letter to Rome.

• Romans 15:14–33 also provides some important insights for these emerging partnerships. It seems that one of the reasons Paul arranged the collection for the church in Jerusalem was to build unity and interdependence between the churches.
• For this kind of partnership to emerge, younger churches of the two-thirds world must feel they have something to give, and older churches of the West must accept that fact. Is the North American church mature enough to recognize its need to learn and receive from the younger churches, and thus engage in genuine reciprocity?

• What application is there for church planting in the United States?
• Can the church really fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reach the world?
• How should these principles influence our own goals for reaching the lost and growing strong disciples in the church?

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