The Mission of the Church Part 1 Ecclesiology The Mission of the Church Part 1

The church was called into existence by God but not just for the sake of existence. Everything work of God has an eternal purpose. In most cases the Word of God reveals God’s purpose, at least to the extent that believers may be enabled to cooperate with God in accomplishing that purpose. This is most certainly true of the church. Those things which God designs for and through the church are clear in Scripture. This defines the “mission statement” of the church.

Glorification

“The verb translated glorify (doxazo) is found 54 times in the New Testament while the noun translated glory (doxa) is found 145 times.” This is the ultimate purpose of God. Creation is designed to reveal the glory of God. (Psa. 19:1)   Since man in his fallen state fails to render and reflect the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), the believer’s very existence is for the purpose of bringing glory to God. (Rom. 15:6,7; Eph. 1:3-6, 12-14; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Th. 1:11,12)

The church is specifically charged with the responsibility of being conscious and active in maintaining the glory of God through the life and ministry of the church. (Eph. 3:20,21) The manifestation of the glory of God through the ministry of the church continues from time into eternity where believers will participate in that glory unhindered by the flesh. At no point and under no circumstances is the church ever afforded the option of minimizing the glory of God in favor of any person or in favor of the church itself. People must always be directed to God in their thinking and focus and away from the human instruments of leadership.

Adoration One of the principle activities of the church is intentional worship. Worship of necessity requires a change of focus from the worshipper to the object of worship. The primary word for worship in the New Testament is proskunew which means prostrate oneself in reverence. The human spirit must be engaged within the boundaries of truth. (John 4:21-24)

In every aspect of worship there must be enablement of the Holy Spirit In every aspect of worship there must be enablement of the Holy Spirit. (Phi. 3:3; rom. 11:36 Worship demands participation. Biblical Christianity is not a spectator sport. Congregational hymn singing, joint prayer (though led by an individual), and visual and auditory participation with the preaching and teaching enable the believers to focus their attention upon the object of their worship.

Elements of Worship Ministry of the Word of God – Acts 20:7; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2 Prayer – Acts 4:24; 12:5; 13:3; 1 Tim. 2;1-8 Music – Jam. 5:13; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19,20 Giving – 2 Cor. 8:11,12; 9:7

The first day of the week (Sunday) is called the Lord’s day (Revelation 1:10) because it was the day of the resurrection. The disciples gathered on the first day of the week immediately after the resurrection. (John 20:19) The church meeting a Troas convened on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

Communion

The genuine, loving, and generous fellowship of the believers ought to reflect the same kind of communion as is enjoyed with God. (2 Cor. 13:11-14 ) The very first church valued the relationship of the believers because it is a true reflection of God’s work in their hearts and because of the bond that exists between believers as the result of their common experience in Christ. (Acts 2:42 )

koinonia, is a derivative of a root meaning “common” and involved the concepts of “sharing: and “belonging” in a household or family (1 Pet. 4:17).

Fellowship Incudes: Genuine Biblical love (John 15:17; 1 John 3:14), Entering into both the joys and burdens of fellow believers (Rom. 12:14; Gal. 6:2) Encouraging those who are weak (1 Th. 5:14) Exercising patience and forgiveness (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13) Every effort must be made to effect reconciliations (Mat. 5:23,24; 18:15).

Because the church is analogous to a human body, the interaction of the body parts is critical to very survival, much less the success of the body. (1 Cor. 12:12-27)