The Mission with a Church (Outline)

Introduction

Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Church is the body of Christ, it is alive and dynamic. It is a body of Believers saved by grace and called out (Ekklesia) to be the hands, eyes, feet, and ears of Jesus Christ.

We have been left behind to plant the gospel into the hearts and lives of people in:

Every Land

Every Language

Every Lifestyle

Every Level of Society

We typically say things like: “Our Church has a mission” or “The Church has a mission in the world.” Do we have the cart before the horse? The Mission has already been determined!

God determined His mission in Genesis 12, as He told Abram to leave his country and go to a place that He would show him. God says, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed.” (v.3)

God chose a special people to become a missionary nation! They failed (like we have failed) in so many ways. Yet, nothing stops the Mission of God (Missio Dei) from be carried forth into human history.

Our question is not going to be: does our church have a mission? The real question should be: Does the MISSION have our Church?

Matthew 28:18-20 lays out the Mission for the Church.

I. The Great Power

Jesus says in v.18, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”

As our resurrected Lord, Jesus has exalted authority! He is sovereign over all – everything, everyone, everywhere (past, present, and future).

II. The Great Plan

“Therefore go and make Disciples of all nations”

Last words are lasting words and Jesus gives us very clear marching orders. The central command is “make Disciples”.

You’ve heard it said that we are too:

Make’em -- Evangelism

Mark’em -- Baptism

Mature’em – Discipleship

Questions:

#1. Pizza Hut makes what?

#2. Ford makes what?

#3. Crispy Crème makes what?

#4. What is the Church to make? We are called and commanded to make Disciples!

So how are we doing?

III. The Great Promise

“And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

Jesus is saying, there will be no:

No Hour

No Day

No Place … in which the Lord Jesus is not present to help us!

Does the Mission have our Church? Does the Mission have you?