God’s Purpose & Mission for The Church
What is God’s purpose & mission for the church ? What is the one thing that He desires more than anything else ? This one thing is something that God desires for all people. That is why it is God’s top priority. And God’s purpose & mission for the church.
God’s purpose and mission for the church is to serve as a community of believers called to spread the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The church is meant to worship God, grow in faith, and live out Christ’s teachings in love, service, and compassion. It exists to demonstrate God’s love through selfless acts of kindness, to share the Gospel, and to make disciples and help people grow spiritually.
The church is also tasked with being a witness to the entire world, representing Christ’s presence on Earth, and fostering spiritual growth and unity among believers. Ultimately, God’s mission for the church is to be a light in the world and to bring people into a relationship with Him and.
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
To understand God’s top priority and desire, you need to understand God’s heart. God has a great love for all people in His heart. Because God loves everyone so much, He wants all people to have a restored personal relationship with Him.
“God wants all men to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4
God also wants everyone to be close to Him and have close fellowship and intimacy with God. And God wants everyone to have abundant life, full of meaning and purpose. God also wants everyone to have eternal life in heaven with Him once their life is done here.
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Why Don’t People Have A Personal Relationship With God ?
The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, we all have a broken relationship with God. God’s Word also tells us that our sin cause us to be far and separated from God.
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” – Isaiah 59:2
If someone does not help us with this problem of sin, then we will forever be far and separated from God. And we will all be under the punishment for our sins, forever.
“For the wages of sin is death…” – Romans 6:23
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
How Much Does God Want Everyone To Be Be Saved ?
If someone does not help us with our problem of sin and a broken relationship with God, then we will forever be separated from God and under the punishment for our sins. But God sent the answer. Because it is God’s top priority for us to be saved and have a restored personal relationship with God, He send His own son Jesus to fix our problem.
God needed to send His own son Jesus because it took a perfect sacrifice to pay the price for all of our sins. Religion cannot fix our sin. Going to church cannot fix our sin. Doing good things cannot fix our sin. Only Jesus can fix this problem we all have.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Jesus’ Top Priority And Mission
When Jesus was here on earth, before he died on the cross, He had a ministry for 3 years. Jesus was always laser focused on the important mission that His Father God gave him. What was His mission and top priority ?
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10
Jesus was always going out to seek lost people and tell them about God’s love and the wonderful gift of salvation and eternal life. He was driven by His love for God and His love and passion for lost people. Driven by “agape” love, which is selfless and sacrificial love for others.
Jesus was also actively involved in the 2nd part of God’s purpose & mission for the church.
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Who Would Continue God’s Purpose & Mission ?
Jesus knew that He was going to die on the cross for everyone’s sins. Then he was buried and later on He want back to heaven. Was God’s purpose & mission of saving people going to end when Jesus left ? No.
God had a plan to continue His purpose & mission of seeking and saving lost people. God’s plan involved His followers (Christians) and His church.
“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
The Early Church Was Faithful to God’s Purpose & Mission
Jesus clearly called & commanded His followers to actively participate in God’s purpose & mission for the church. The early disciples of Jesus and the early church in the book of Acts was always faithfully doing what Jesus told them to do. Being fishers of men. Being faithful witnesses and sharing the Gospel with as many people as they could.
“And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:47b
Even with a lot of persecution and danger, the early church faithfully did their part in fulfilling God’s top priority and mission. Many of the apostles and disciples were killed following Jesus’ command to fulfill God’s top priority and mission. In fact all but 1 of the apostles were killed because of their obedience. But the church kept on faithfully spreading the Gospel.
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word (the Gospel) wherever they went.” – Acts 8:1,4
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
God’s Top Priority & Passion Was The Apostle Paul’s Top Priority & Passion
The apostle Paul was one of the most faithful and passionate followers of Jesus. He was true to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And he was faithful and true to God’s purpose & mission for the church. Paul went through a lot of persecution, opposition, and suffering to follow and serve Jesus. And to accomplish God’s purpose & mission for the church.
“imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren. I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” – Acts 20:24
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
The Church Today Needs to Have The Same Top Priority & Passion
Sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible was Paul’s first and top priority. Another part of his ministry was to make disciples after people believed in Jesus. Paul also planted churches so the new believers would grow and become faithful and fruitful disciples.
And sharing the Gospel was the early church’s top priority. Because it was God’s top priority. Because it was God’s purpose & mission for the church.
And it still is God’s top priority and desire. God has not changed. Neither has His heart’s desire for all men to be saved. So the top priority of sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible needs to be our top priority today. And making disciples once people place their faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
What we see in many churches today is a completely different emphasis and priorities. The top priority in many churches today is to attract as many people to the church. And to have a large church full of people. Then the church will have a lot of resources, so it can have many events and conferences. Which will in turn attract more people. As part of this modern mission the modern church has adopted, their needs to be messages that do not offend people. The messages are positive and easy to listen to messages that will get people to feel good and want to come back. Is this what God really wants ?
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Make Disciples Is The 2nd Part Of God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
In a previous post we discussed the first part of God’s mission that He has for His followers and church. To follow Jesus and be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). In other words, to obey His command and share the Good News of Jesus with lost people. This command and part of God’s mission is for all believers, not just for pastors, church leaders, or missionaries.
A “fisher of men” is a believer that is actively in their daily life sharing God’s love and the Good News of Jesus with others. With people in their daily circle of influence.
The Great Commission
The second part of God’s purpose and mission for the church is found in Matthew 28:18-20. The “Great Commission”. Matthew 28:18-20 states:
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Analyzing the Great Commission
The following are the key points to understand in these verses and command of our Lord Jesus.
Jesus starts out in verse 18 saying that all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Him. In other words, Jesus is saying that He is Lord. The Boss. The Master. He is the head of the church and we need to follow and obey Him.
Therefore … because I am Lord here is what you need to do …
Go. This does not mean simply go on mission trips to or be full time missionaries in Africa or other places. The word used in this verse literally means “as you are going”.
It means as you are going about in your daily life. Sure God’s plan and call for some people is to go to Africa and other parts of the world. Like Nancy and I were called first to Brazil and then to other countries as full time missionaries.
But there is only a very small percentage of people that are called and led to do this. What about the rest of God’s followers ? Jesus call and command in Matthew 4:19 to be “fishers of men” is for every Christian. And the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples” is for every Christian also.
In Part 4 we will continue to look into God’s purpose & mission for the church. And specifically we will continue to look into the 2nd part of God’s purpose & mission.
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Where Should We Do Missions ?
First focus on reaching lost people and making disciples in your local community. And then pray and see if God is leading you or your church to reach out further into the region, or other parts of your country or the world.
“fishers of men” – Reaching out in God’s love to lost people. In your local area and in your circle of influence first. Then as God leads into other regions of your country and/or in the world.
“Go and make disciples of all nations” – Making disciples is the call and command. There are 2 parts of God’s mission – 1st is for all of us to obey Jesus and share the Gospel (be “fishers of men”). We need to reach lost people before we can help to grow and make them into faithful & fruitful disciples. Jesus tells us generally how to do this next…
First, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is symbolic of their dying to self and receiving Christ as their Lord & Savior and living a new life in Him. Baptism is important because Jesus wants them to do it, and it is a public display of their commitment to Christ.
Second, teaching them to obey everything Jesus taught and commanded us. New Christians are like spiritual babies, and need love and encouragement and help to grow spiritually in their walk with Jesus. They are also vulnerable to being led astray and falling away from Jesus. Discipleship is loving them and investing our time and efforts and resources into their lives and into their spiritual growth.
God’s Purpose & Mission Is For Everyone, Not Just Pastors & Missionaries
One key question about making disciples is this. Who in the church is responsible for doing this ? Is it only for the “professionals” like pastors or elders or Bible teachers to do ? Or is it for everyone in the church to participate in, one way or another ?
Not everyone in the church is a pastor, or a Sunday School or Bible teacher, or a small group leader. Yet this command of Jesus, to make disciples, is for all of us, not just the pastors or Bible teachers.
You may not be a pastor, or a Sunday School teacher, or a small group leader. But you can love new believers and other members of the church. You can invite them or bring them to church. And you can encourage them. You can pray for them. And you can invest your time and efforts and even resources in the lives of others, to help them to grow in their faith and walk with Jesus.
God’s Purpose & Mission For The Church
Agape – Selfless, Sacrificial Love
Loving others like Jesus loves them, with “agape” love, means to love them with a sacrificial love. Only Jesus can fill our hearts with His “agape” love, that is willing to sacrifice for the good of others. That is the kind of love churches desperately need these days. Reaching lost people and making disciples is all about love for others. And being willing to sacrifice to reach them and help them to grow and become all that Jesus wants them to be.
There is one other very important part of making disciples that many churches are not doing at all. Or are not doing a good job of. We need to teach new believers, and all members of the church, that Jesus commanded all of us to be “fishers of men“.
We need to teach everyone in the church that we all need to faithfully share God’s love and the Gospel with others. Every follower of Jesus is called and commanded to be “fishers of men” and disciple makers. The church needs to teach & train new believers and all members of the church how to share Christ and the Gospel with others. And how they can participate in God’s purpose & mission for the church of making disciples.
May more and more of us faithfully follow and obey Jesus’ calling and commands to participate in God’s purpose & mission for the church.
Pursuing Intimacy With God Ministry
Pursuing Intimacy With God is committed to helping you with the most important thing in your life… your intimacy with God , your fellowship with Him, and your partnership with God in His Kingdom work & mission.
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Other Links
Religion vs Relationship With God
Why Should You Pray & Spend Time With God ?
Is Jesus Your First Love ? Part 2
Prayer Is Passion To Seek & Know God
God’s Purpose & Mission For You And Your Church
Spiritual Gifts: All Christians Have Gifts
Jesus Wants To Heal You & Set You Free
Salvation & The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
The Kind of Christian & Church God Wants
Kevin Bart has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible studies website and book after many years of seeking God and studying His word. Kevin and his wife Nancy have 3 sons and 2 precious grandchildren.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led a self funded international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had more than 5o mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
After many years of studying the Bible and the Book of Revelation, and writing many Bible studies and articles, Kevin finally finished Unraveling The Mysteries of the Book Of Revelation. Hopefully it will be a blessing to many people.
