What Is a Church Supposed to Do?

A mission statement has become a popular tool for businesses to clearly communicate the purpose of their existence. Here are a few of the mission statements of some of the largest companies in the world:

Google: Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Facebook: Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.

Microsoft: Microsoft’s mission is to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.

Skype: Skype’s mission is to be the fabric of real-time communication on the web.

Disney: The mission of the Walt Disney Co. is to be one of the world’s leading producers of entertainment and information…we seek to develop the most creative, innovative, and profitable entertainment experiences.

Many in the secular world have the ability to clearly communicate their mission. The Lord Jesus Christ had this same ability when He gave His disciples their mission statement. The mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations (see Matthew 28:18–20).

Over the years, many followers of Christ have redefined His mission. Christians belong to Jesus Christ—we are His followers, not the other way around. We have no right to redefine the purpose of the church. Our responsibility is to believe and obey the commands given by Jesus in what we refer to as the Great Commission.

What is the Great Commission of the church?

The Great Commission is to make disciples (followers of Jesus Christ). How do we do that?

In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus used three action words to explain how to make a follower of Christ: going, baptizing, and teaching. For someone to become a follower of Christ, it is not enough just to become a Christian, nor is it enough just to get baptized. A true follower/disciple of Christ is someone who makes a commitment to follow Christ (is saved), then is baptized after making that commitment (see Acts 2:41), and then continually grows spiritually by learning the Bible, the Word of God.

Simply Put…

One of the clearest ways to define what a church family is supposed to do is: evangelism and edification. Every Christian is to be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Evangelism = Soul Winning

Edification = Soul Building

From April 30 through May 4, Valley Forge Baptist will be hosting its 25^th Annual Missions Conference. It truly is the most important week of the year for our church family. Someone wisely said, “A missions conference is a church in a business meeting deciding the fate of the heathen.” How will you vote? Come and meet some very special people who are willing to leave all that’s familiar in our country to take the Gospel to those in foreign lands.

It’s going to take the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to complete the job of reaching our world with the Gospel.

The story is told of a man strolling on the beach who spotted a young boy tossing starfish back into the ocean. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The man watched as the little fellow picked up another of the dying starfish that had washed ashore. He chided the boy: “I’ve been watching what you’re doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but you’ll never save all those starfish. Does it really make any difference what you’re doing?”

The little boy looked up from the starfish he held in his hand and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he replied, “It makes a difference to this one!”

Like the boy in the story, what you do with your life does make a difference to those around you. Jesus commissioned the people of the church to reach the world with the Gospel. The question is this: Will you make a difference with your life and be a part of what the church is supposed to do?

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Article by Pastor Scott Wendal

Senior Pastor of Valley Forge Baptist