BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

The Great Commission personifies the church’s mission

During previous weeks, we have discussed the doctrine of the church, defining the church and its nature. This week we will examine the mission of a church.

The church receives its mission or purpose from its Lord. Since Christ is the head, the mission of the church is to do the will of Christ on earth.

There is no place in the New Testament where the exact mission of the church is set forth. However, Christ spoke to his disciples and gave them their mission for life. In speaking to his disciples Jesus was speaking to His church.

There are five references of Jesus speaking to his assembled believers (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). These words are referred to as The Great Commission.

The Sphere of the mission can best be described in the verse: “…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). There can be no question about the geographical boundary of the church’s witness. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus expressed the sphere as “all nations.”

The church must penetrate every part of the globe by every possible means with the message that Jesus is Lord. Our understanding cannot be restricted to a concept of “foreign missions.” It is the church’s total mission to go unto all the world.

The purpose of the mission can be explained by the verse: “Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The church is to lead men to God through Christ and to teach them all things that God taught. This is the changeless purpose or mission of every church regardless of its size or location. Though a church may be small in terms of members, the purpose remains the same.

In fulfilling its mission or purpose the church will do its work in accordance with its nature. Functions of an organization or organism are determined by nature.

A church acts according to its nature. The functions of a church indicate what God ordained or expects His church to do on earth.

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