What is God's Mission for the Church?
The purpose of the church is to equip the saints (Ephesians 4:1-16), teaching and raising them up in righteousness (2 Timothy 2:2; 3:14-17) that they will take what they have learned into their homes, workplaces, and communities, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, and making disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-48; Mark 16:14-20; John 20:21).
Our churches are the proof of the gospel. In the gatherings of the church, the Christian Scriptures are read. In the ordinance of the church, the work of Christ is depicted. In the life of the church, the character of God himself should be evident.(2 )
The doctrine of the church is important because it is tied to the good news itself. The church is to be the appearance of the gospel. It is what the gospel looks like when played out in people’s lives. Take away the church and you take away the visible manifestation of the gospel in the world. Christians in churches are called to practice “display evangelism,” and the world will witness the reign of God begun in a community of people made in His image and reborn by His Spirit. Christians, not just as individuals but as God’s people bound together in churches, are the clearest picture the world sees of who God is and what His will is for them. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love another (John 13:35). And Paul said, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:10-11).(3)
_________________________________________
