Our Purpose...

Purpose Statement

We are here to praise God with all of our being as we proclaim Jesus and provide for the needs of all people, bringing them to participate in God�s family where they will be prepared for their life mission in the Kingdom of God.

Building on Purpose

On December 13, 2006, we began a journey in the Scripture. We started a survey of the New Testament seeking the answers to the following questions: why does the church exist? What are we to be as a church? What are we to do as a church? How are we to do it? We examined over 40 different passages from the 4 Gospels, Acts and the Epistles; the title of the study was 'Discovering Our Purpose'. The aim of this study was to engage one another and learn from the scripture, the specific purpose God has in mind for the Church. Careful consideration of the scripture is an important step in becoming mature and developing personal convictions that make you strong in the Lord. The Bereans were said to possess noble character for they received the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to learn the truth (see Act_17:10-11). Another important reason for this exercise is the realization that the church does not belong to men, it belongs to Christ. In Mat_16:18 Jesus said, "I will build my church." Jesus claims ownership of the church, it is HIS possession. We can therefore safely infer He obviously has a specific purpose in mind. It isn't our job or responsibility to create the purposes of the church; it is our duty to discover them. The consequences of creating a purpose for the church will lead to following personalities and building the church with inadequate materials producing a form of godliness void of real power. Identifying God's purposes for the church will enable us to build correctly and with adequate materials.

'Building with Care'

[1Co 3:9-17, NLT] For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building. Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have�Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials�gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

'We are God's field', the implication of this statement is that God is a farmer/landowner and we are HIS field. A field is tilled, fertilized, plowed, sown, watered and a harvest is expected. 'We are God's building', the implication of this statement is God owns the building and we are HIS building. A building is a tool or vehicle by which the owner can execute his business or purposes. A building provides shelter and refuge. It is also a symbol of strength and a reflection of the owner�s glory. The language of the scripture also implies that we are free to build on the foundation of Christ using a variety of materials; we must understand that freedom is not free. That is to say freedom has its cost. The cost of freedom is measured in the expense of consequence. The manner in which we build and the materials used will be tested. The judgment day will reveal the merit of what has been built. God is the owner of the house; He has all rights and authority to dictate how the house is built. He has established the purpose for His field and building. We have an obligation to discover the purposes He has in mind for the church and make every effort to execute the plan and will of God. That is why we have spent over 9 weeks examining the scriptures in order to discover our purpose as the Lord's church.

The Lord's Purpose(s) for His Church

As we studied the scriptures during our midweek devotionals and an extended study on two separate Saturdays, our hearts were moved and our souls stirred by the Holy Spirit. During our study sessions we filled a flip chart with our answers to the four questions listed in the beginning of this article. Some of you may have noticed as we progressed through the study a few themes or concepts repeating. Our purposes are revealed in these themes or concepts. Interesting purpose is plural, meaning more than one. Prior to beginning this study I believed we had a single purpose. Yes, you read correctly, our study has revealed that the church has more than one purpose. As we surmised all the answers recorded on the flip chart, specifically the answers to the question, 'Why does the church exist?' we found there are five purposes for the church. There are a lot of passages describing the purpose and function of the church, two statements by Jesus summarize it all: the Great Commandment (Mat_22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Mat_28:19-20).

[Mat 22:37-40, NKJV] Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

[Mat 28:18-20, NKJV] And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Jesus gave the great commandment is response to a question. Jesus was questioned by one of the Pharisee, a lawyer. He questioned Jesus, testing him he said, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus responded by saying all the Law and the Prophets are summed by these two tasks: Love God with heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

After his resurrection in some of his last instructions to his disciples, Jesus gave the Great Commission to them and gave them three additional assignments: Go make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything he taught.

The answers to the questions: Why does the church exist? What are we to be as a church? What are we to do as a church? How are we to do it? are summarized by these two passages. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission give us the primary task the church is to focus on until Christ returns. The five purposes of the church are; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, Love your neighbor as yourself, Go and make disciples, Baptizing them and Teaching them to obey.

Purpose #1: Love the Lord your God with all your heart

This first purpose is summed up by one word, worship. How do we express our love for God? Love for God is expressed by worshipping HIM. The church exists to worship God. God the Father, looks for worshippers (John 4:23). It does not matter if we're alone, with a small group or a large of assembly of thousands. When we express our love to God, we're worshiping. Jesus said, "Worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve". Worship proceeds service. We should never be too busy to worship. We were created to worship God. [Isa. 43:7, NIV] ...everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. [1 Peter 2:9, NIV] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 'It is God's prerogative to behold his creation and to be the observing audience-an audience of one'. (Henry Kriete, Worship the King). Worship is mandated, commanded by God. [Psa 34:3, NASB] O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Let's give God what we owe Him, the continuing debt of love.

Purpose #2: Love your neighbor as yourself

A number of the scriptures we examined showed us that Jesus was a servant. Jesus was involved in taking care of people. Jesus said of himself that he did not come to be served, but instead to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus also said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matt 25:40). The church exists to demonstrate to the world God's love. Jesus said, "all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:35). Another way to state purpose #2 is ministry. Ministry is demonstrating God's love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts in the name of Jesus. Every time you reach out in love to others you are ministering to them. The church is to minister to all types of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational and physical. The function of the gifts apportioned by Christ is to prepare God's people for works of ministry (Eph 4:12)

Purpose #3: Go and Make Disciples

The church exists to spread the gospel, the good news of salvation. The function of the church is to communicate God's Word. 2 Cor 5:20, we are ambassadors for Christ. We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Cor 5:18. We have been commissioned (granted specific power, authority; assigned a specific task to carry out) by Jesus to go and make disciples. The mission of the church is evangelism. The word go in Matt. 28:19 is a present participle in the Greek text, meaning it should read "as you are going." It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News wherever we go, no exceptions. We are to tell the whole world of Christ's coming, his death on the cross, his resurrection, and his promise to return. We will have to give an account to God regarding how seriously we took this responsibility (2 Cor 5:10-11). Evangelism is more than a responsibility; God has afforded to us a great privilege. God has made us a part of his work, [1Co 3:5-9, NKJV] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo�s, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollo�s watered, but God gave the increase So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. God grants individuals the ability to respond to the gospel; however HE has included us in the process of bringing people into the Kingdom of God, for we are God's fellow workers. There is nothing more meaningful or significant to give one's life to. God wants all men to be saved, therefore he expects growth. As long as there is one person left that does not know Jesus, God is looking for the church to grow.

Purpose #4: Baptizing them

In Matt. 28:19-20, a review of the Greek text shows three participle verbs: going, baptizing and teaching them. Each of these is a part of the command to "make disciples." Going, baptizing, and teaching are the fundamental elements to making disciples. Baptism is a critical part of the disciple making process. Baptism is essential for salvation. Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is necessary to be united with Christ (Rom 6:3-4). Baptism signifies rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Baptism signifies birth into the kingdom of God and being added to the number of those being saved (John 3:3-5, Acts 2:42-47). Baptism signifies membership into the Body of Christ, the church (1 Cor 12:12-13). Baptism signifies salvation and fellowship, membership in the body of Christ, citizenship in Kingdom of God. [Eph 2:19, HCSB] So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household... The church is God's household, his family; baptism is the means for gaining access into the family of God with all the rights and privileges of sonship. Being a Christian means you belong to the fellowship, you belong to the family; your citizenship is in heaven (Rom 12:4-5). The church exists to provide fellowship for believers.

Purpose #5: Teaching them to obey

The church exists to train, instruct and edify God's people. Discipleship is the process of helping people become more like Christ in their thoughts, feelings and actions. The third participle in the Great Commission is teaching them to obey. The Lord commissioned the church; give her the authority, the ability and the gifts to complete this assignment. [Eph 4:7-13, NASB] But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Jesus posses all authority, He has therefore given us grace in proportion to the special gift he has given. Christ has distributed the various gifts for the equipping of saints for the works of service, to build up the body of Christ. The church exists to bring believers to maturity. [Col 1:28, NIV] We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

An examination of the earthly ministry of Jesus and the church in the book of Acts will reveal all five of these elements. The apostle Paul fulfilled all five purposes in his ministry and also explained them in Ephesians 4:1-16. All five purposes are clearly described in Acts 2:1-47. They taught each other, the fellowshipped together, they worshiped, they ministered and they evangelized. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His purpose for the church is the same today. The church exists to worship, minister, evangelize, fellowship and edify. There is no longer any confusion. We now know why we exist and we know what we are called to do. I urge all of you to join me in building this ministry. Jesus did all things well, meaning there was balance to his life and ministry. He practiced all five elements. As we engage in our purposes as a church their will be a temptation to prioritize one purpose over another creating imbalance. Imbalance will lead to an unhealthy environment. Like Jesus we must do all things well. In doing so, we will become a healthy church. May our God be glorified as we labor together in love, building on purpose. Amen!!

- Craig Morgan