If we are to individually engage in the mission of the church we have to first understand and embrace the mission of the church. This is important because without a mission then we have no purpose or direction. Without a mission we end up busying ourselves running around in circles, then congratulating ourselves for how many circles we’ve managed to complete, yet never coming close to the mission of the church. Running aimlessly is not the mission of the church. Running with purpose is a better choice. Still, what is the mission of the church?
Jesus tells us in Luke 19:10 that His mission was to “seek and to save that which was lost.” After His death, burial and resurrection, but before His ascension, Jesus gives the command to: “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” We see the Apostles fulfilling the mission to spread the promise of salvation in Jesus throughout the book of Acts, starting with Acts 2. We find members of the church also fulfilling the mission to spread the promise of salvation in Jesus starting in at least Acts 8:4.
The mission of the church has not changed. Jesus’ mission, the Apostles’ mission, the mission of the early church, and the mission of the church today remains the same. We are to “seek and to save that which was lost” spreading the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Engaging in the mission of the church can happen in a variety of ways. Someone could be good at personal evangelism, online evangelism, correspondence evangelism, conversational evangelism, small group evangelism, mission work, and so on. While we need to be definitive about the mission of the church, the methods by which we accomplish that mission are diverse.
In order to engage and fulfill our God-given mission as individual Christians and collectively as the church we should embrace four basic principles. The first principle provides an understanding of our identity as a holy people among the worldly. Realizing this we embrace the reality of the lost and the need to share Jesus. It also provides a framework for Christians to work within, understanding that the worldly come to Jesus to change and grow into His likeness. This helps the Christian be loving and patient with those walking toward spiritual maturity.
Another principle involves the importance of a biblical organization of the church. Such organization allows us to equip and be equipped to engage and fulfill the mission of the church. The third principle involves being able to express the Gospel in a way that is relevant to those around us. This could involve different methods of communicating the Gospel such as: electronic, print, video, or audio. It could also involve applying the Gospel message to the differing needs of your audience. For example, a friend loses a loved one and so the Gospel message becomes one of comfort and hope. Another example might involve someone with an illness and so the Gospel message becomes one of healing and restoration.
The last principle is that of the morality and spirituality of the church. The church, made up of saved sinners, is a moral and spiritual transformative representative of our holy God to the world. This means that as individuals within the body of Christ it is important for us to work toward and exemplify a Christ-like morality and spirituality. In doing so, we help to lead the lost to Jesus. This does not involve moral smugness or hypocritical behavior, but your life lived humbly and sincerely as a faith example of Jesus.
The church needs to know and affirm its mission to evangelize. The principles of holiness, structure, relevance, and spirituality help us to engage and fulfill our God-given mission.
