Mission of the Church

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

To more fully understand the church we need to understand its mission. The mission of the church is not a to do list or check list of things to accomplish. Rather it is a calling we are invited into; it is a perspective that should frame our actions and understandings; it is what the church and all of its members should be about. Part of this mission is uniting believers and calling us to use our gifts for God’s glory. But the mission of the church does not stop with its members, it goes much broader.

The purpose of the church includes many things, the primary aspect is the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus commands his followers to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them. In this, we are called to tell others about Jesus’ work in our lives and teach them about his love. The command to share the Gospel and be witnesses is central to the mission of the church.

However, even as we share the Good News, we are also called to a different way of life. Being a part of the church doesn’t just include worship on Sundays or sharing the Gospel. It includes a change of perspective and a shift in the way we act every day of the week. To be a part of God’s family, is to let the Gospel change how you live and how you treat others. In Mark 12:29-31 Jesus sums up part of this new perspective when he tells us the greatest commandment; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

As a Christian, we are clearly called to love God, and one way we show our love for God is by loving others. We can love our neighbor by sharing the Gospel with them, and by being in relationship with them. We show love by caring about their hurts and joys and by stepping in when they need help. Neighbor love is foundational to the Christian faith and to the church. In a nutshell, the church blesses the world by sharing the Gospel and by loving our neighbor.

Take a moment to reflect on the mission of the church and how God is calling you to participate in it. What opportunities has God given you to share about the work he has done in your life? How can you love God this week by loving your neighbor? Who in your life needs to hear the truth of the Gospel?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, We thank you for your word and for the way you use it to guide and instruct us. May we, as the church, follow your word and let it change the way we live. May we always seek opportunities to share your truth with others. And we ask that you open our eyes to the ways that we can show love to our neighbors. We pray this in your son’s name, Amen.

Blessings in your week,

Makalah Scholten
Spiritual Care Coordinator

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