The Mission of the Church

Steve Baney, PhD

The mission of the Church is given by Christ, calling us to share the saving grace of our Lord with everyone. This is done on many levels, in many facets. Just as the local church has a mission to its community, so the global Church has a mission to this world.

Our God began sending his people on missions long ago, even before the Great Commission given by Christ. Consider Psalm 96 verses 2, 3, and 10: "Proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among the peoples... Say among the nations, The Lord reigns."

When God set apart the nation of Israel as his chosen nation, it was not for the purpose of hoarding blessings, keeping God's goodness to themselves. Rather, God intended them to be a blessing to others (Gen 12:2).

Christians are commanded to participate in disciple-making. Jesus prayed for his followers and for those who would come to believe in him through their testimony (that's us!) that God's truth would bring them joy and freedom. On more than one occasion, he sent them out to preach the Good News. And he commissioned them to continue their work by the power of the Holy Spirit, even unto the ends of the earth. His desire was not rule oriented. Should we, ought we? Yes of course. But the motivation cannot be merely the fulfillment of a command. Jesus said he came to be a servant, to seek and save the lost. How honored I am that he would invite me to participate in his mission!

Since the church exists for people who are not yet apart of it, fulfilling the Great Commission is absolutely necessary for the church to survive. Jesus instructed us first to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Without him, our attempts to accomplish his mission will inevitably fail. Then by his power, we begin relationally sharing the Good News with those closest to us, those we meet, and even with those who are strangers. If we skip the first step - being filled with the Spirit - then going anywhere (near or far) will fail. And if we attempt to take Jesus to the world without first taking him into ourselves, then we lose all credibility.

By reading through the chapters of Acts, we can identify how the church spread (aka church planting) into surrounding areas and cultures. They began in Jerusalem, and spread to Judea and Samaria. Paul took his ministry to the Gentiles. And through his missionary work, the Gospel was spread through the known world. But we also have to consider how far we're asking a convert to come away from his or her own culture. I see Paul doing this as he checks up on the churches he planted in the letter he wrote (which make up most of our New Testament). And the Early Church likewise began to require converts to go through catechism to ensure that they understood what their conversion meant.

Prayer reveals the heart of the church. Jesus said the mouth speaks out of the heart. If our heart is close to God, loving his mission, and prioritizing his kingdom, then naturally we will speak to God (and to others) about the things of God. But if our heart is more interested in appearance or pattern, then our prayers are empty (and our actions follow suit!).

It may also interest you to know that I have written a book regarding short-term mission trips entitled Ready... Set... Seven Devotions For Short-Term Missions Teams.