GREENSBORO, N.C. — N.C. Baptist President J. Allen Murray used this year’s annual meeting theme of “On Mission Together” to share characteristics of  “on mission together people” during his president’s address. 

Murray serves as pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, N.C., and his message came from Luke 24:44-49 which tells the story of Jesus appearing to His disciples before His ascension. Using this passage, Murray shared three things that people who want to be on mission together must be. He said on mission together people must be “Jesus people, Bible people and sent people.” 

On mission together people are Jesus people 

Before diving into Luke 24, Murray directed the audience’s attention to the account in Acts 4 where Peter and John were preaching and arrested by the authorities. When they came before their accusers, Peter and John responded by quoting Scripture. Their accusers were surprised as they perceived the men had no formal education, yet had knowledge of Jesus. 

Murray said the only answer to where they could have received their knowledge was based on the time they spent with Jesus. Murray pointed out that knowledge means nothing if one has not spent time with the Lord and proceeded to take His Word out into the world. 

“If you want to be on mission with Jesus you must spend time with Him,” Murray said. 

On mission together people are Bible people

Murray also said that if N.C. Baptists are to be a people on mission together, they will uphold the authority of Scripture in faith and practice.

Murray said believers must care about the Scriptures because Jesus Himself cared about the Scriptures as He was actively living out things prophesied about Him in the Old Testament. 

Murray emphasized that the entire Bible ultimately points to Jesus by going through each book in the Old Testament and connecting each book’s main theme with a characteristic of Jesus. Murray called listeners to share the whole Bible with those they minister to.

“The whole world needs the whole book because the whole world needs Jesus,” Murray said.

“Amens” echoed throughout the session hall as Murray went through his list. 

On mission together people are sent people

Murray concluded by looking to Luke 24:47-49 where Jesus commissioned His disciples to take the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection to the nations. Murray challenged listeners to be on mission together in their daily lives and in their own communities for the common cause of the gospel. 

“We are messengers sent out to the highways and byways to invite people to the banquet feast of our King,” Murray said.