1. WHAT IS OUR MISSION AS THE CHURCH?

2. “Mission”
“A specific task or duty assigned to a person or group of people” (Collins English Dictionary)

3. Concerning the church
What is the church?
Ekklesia, “to call out”
An assembly of God’s people, called out of the world and into service with one another.

4. Concerning the church
What is the church?
Used universally – Eph. 1:22-23, Matt. 16:18
Used locally – Matt. 18:15-18, 1 Cor. 1:2, etc.

5. Concerning the church
In God’s Eternal Purpose
Eph. 3:10-11
Heb. 8:2 – “A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, not man”

6. Concerning the church
A spiritual house
1 Pet. 2:5 – a spiritual house
1 Cor. 3:16 “temple of God…”
John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world…”

7. It’s Mission is NOT…
To provide recreation – not in the business of entertainment or catering to “the whole man”
Relive the world of material suffering – (cf. Gal. 6:10, Jas. 1:27, Matt. 26:11)

8. It’s Mission is NOT…
Engage in social issues or politics – not seeking to reform Roman government
Engage in business affairs – not a “for profit” entity. Only through free-will offerings 1 Cor. 16:1-2

9. It’s Mission is NOT…
Become involved in secular education – not building schools or colleges.
Such are good works, but NOT the purpose of the church! But society has come to expect such

10. It’s Mission is … Acts 2:42 Acts 20:7 – breaking bread and preaching
To worship God
Acts 2:42
Acts 20:7 – breaking bread and preaching
1 Cor. 11:17-24 – Lord’s Supper
1 Cor. 14:15 – singing & praying
Col. 4:16, 2 Tim. 4:2-4 - preaching

11. It’s Mission is …
To preach the gospel
Evangelism
Apostles preached – Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15
Carried out by those they taught cf. 2 Tim. 2:2

12. 1 Thess. 1:8 – from you the word has sounded forth
It’s Mission is …
To preach the gospel
The church supported preachers – 1 Tim. 3:15, Ac. 11:22, 23, 13:1-4, Phil. 4:15-16, 2 Cor. 11:8
1 Thess. 1:8 – from you the word has sounded forth

13. It’s Mission is … Eph. 4:11-12, 16 Build up the saints
Edification, “to build up”
Eph. 4:11-12, 16
“Edify”, “Edification” in EVERY instance was spiritual in nature
NEVER used to promote social or recreational activities

14. It’s Mission is …
Limited benevolence
NOTE: Christians ARE to be benevolent! Jas. 1:27,…

15. It’s Mission is … Limited benevolence
Churches DID engage in benevolence
Within the congregation – Ac. 6:1-6
Judea – Acts 11:27-30
Jerusalem – Rom. 15:25-26, 2 Cor. 8-9
Also1 Tim. 5:3-16, esp. 16.

16. It’s Mission is …
Limited benevolence
In each example of benevolence…
ALWAYS needy saints
Temporary
Handled with autonomy maintained

17. It’s Mission is …
Limited benevolence
In each example of benevolence…
No centralized organizations or “sponsoring churches”
Never a tool to evangelize

18. May our mission be to fulfill His mission
May our mission be to fulfill His mission! (Nothing more or nothing less)