Mission of the Church

The church’s mission is to reach others for Christ and to help them become mature followers of Christ. When our plans or priorities conflict with that mission we must change. The mission statement Christ issued for his followers is actually quite simple, “Go and Make Disciples“. Somehow along the way it is easy for a body of believers to forget that mission.

Some get caught up in developing and carrying out a decades old great “master plan” that present day ministries must suffer to complete this plan. It is as if nothing is more important than following the plan. Unplanned opportunities to reach others for Christ are ignored in strict adherence to this great plan. What good is it to have a well-designed facility when there is no one to use the facilities?

Others get caught up in the functions of committees especially those that focus on the internal workings of the church that they lose sight of reaching others. Suddenly things like decorations and the appearance of the church become a higher priority than providing the necessary resources for outreach ministries. Keeping the church looking nice is good but what good is it when there is no one left to maintain the church?

For some adherence to traditions and maintaining the status quo becomes the primary focus. They become unwilling to move out of their comfort zone unaware that the unless the church is willing to adapt and change its method we will lose an entire generation. What good will our traditions do when no one is left to follow them?

I am reminded of something one of my seminary professors Dr. Roy Fish used to say. “The primary mission of the church is evangelism. Everything aspect and ministry of the church should be about evangelism, if it is not then we must change or jettison the things that are not.” What things must be changed or jettisoned from your church?

Reprinted by permission from The Dee Zone by D. E. Herrod http://thedeezone.wordpress.com/

Thinking Outside the Flocks

Too often churches focus on its discipleship needs to the exclusion of outreach. While the Great Commandment is an essential component of Jesus’ mandate to the church, it would seem that churches need to place as much emphasis on the Great Commission and to think outside of the flocks.

What makes this so important is that the church in America is losing its influence. 3,500 to 4,000 churches are closing each year while, according to George Barna, the number of unchurched adults has increased by 92%. Ed Stetzer, in his book “Comeback Churches”, said that churches that are growing are doing so through evangelism.

When I pastored a small rural church in 1988, I honestly didn’t know how to do outreach. The fellowship I served had been birthed out of the Charismatic renewal and great emphasis was placed on the teaching ministry and revelation of the Word of God. Young Christians grew quickly and many went off to bible school and into the ministry.

What didn’t happen was evangelism. Like so many pastors, I encouraged the congregation to invite unsaved friends, but provided little training in relationship evangelism. Services were designed with the believer in mind. Outreach, although often a part of the vision statement, was not practiced locally.

Thank God things are changing. More resources are being made available. Men like Steve Sjogren have shown us that small acts of kindness draw people with God’s love. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek modeled friendship evangelism. Nick Kinn has trained hundreds of soul winners and has led hundreds of thousands to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ on the streets of our community.

As the return of Our Lord nears, pastors and church leaders are realizing that it takes more than just building a church and preaching a wonderful sermon. It takes thinking outside of the flocks.