Over the last several weeks we have
been learning about our identity, purpose, and call as the church. So far in
our “Who are We?” series we have learned that we are what we confess (in Romans
10:9-10), we are greater than the sum of our parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-26), we
are exposed by what we do (Galatian 6:7-10), and we are a product of what we
are willing to invest for the kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Today we
are going to learn that in answering the question “Who are we?” we must
consider that we are people of mission. When I say “mission” I’m talking about
the mission of God that is articulated in places like Matthew 28:19-20-“Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age.”
Though the mission is clearly articulated
in the scriptures (see also Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13-14), many
believers today do not live as though they are a part of this glorious
enterprise. Instead, many live like they are on retreat. Many so-called
Christians today trade adventure for passivity or sacrifice and service for comfort
and security. Instead of playing offense, they are perfectly satisfied
exclusively on defense. However, when Jesus told Peter, “I also say to you that
you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of
Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18), he envisioned hell as powerless
against a robust offense, he assumed courageous action would be required, and
he intended for mission to be at the forefront of the church and her people.
Therefore, in an effort to remind us of
what our mission is, explain how our church is supposed to carry it out, and
inspire us to action, we are going to peruse several verses today (carefully
expositing each one). These passages will define and explain each of the
components of our mission as a church (to see people Know Christ, Grow in
Christ, and Show Christ to others). This reminder of our mission will have us
looking beyond our walls to see those who are yet to be a part of the kingdom
of God and considering how we can reach the lost with the gospel of Christ. Consider
this quote by William Tyndale: “The church is the one institution that exists
for those outside it.” But what about discipleship? What good is discipleship
if it does not result in disciples making new disciples? What about fellowship?
What good is fellowship (really) if those outside the church are not being
invited to experience it? What about preaching? What good are the messages preached
if they are not applied in our everyday lives and shared with those outside the
church?
It is my prayer that as we reexamine our
mission, we will turn our gaze outward and might be equipped through God’s word
to extend our worship experience outside the walls of this church in the real
world among those who are without a relationship with Jesus. After all, this is
our mission. This is our adventure. This is our calling.
I. PHASE
#1: KNOW (The Seed falls on Fertile Ground)-John 20:26-31
Phase 1 of the mission is KNOW Christ. In John 20:26-31. we read
the account of someone who was not easily convinced that Jesus had indeed risen
from the dead. Although we could make a compelling case that this account only
teaches how we shouldn’t doubt, I believe that it also teaches us how God is
pleased to provide more than enough evidence of Himself to doubters and
skeptics in order that they might be know something about Him. Thomas,
as a result of this encounter with Jesus Christ, knew Jesus in the purist sense—in a deep and meaningful
salvific kind of a way. “My Lord, and My God” is the exclamation that
highlights the climax of John’s Gospel as He works to show Jesus is indeed God
Almighty in flesh.
Knowing Christ is a theme throughout the New Testament that must
be echoed in churches today, in this church today. If we want to be a church that
is on mission, we will concern ourselves with bringing people to encounter
Jesus Christ and experience His love so that they might Know Him in the same
way Thomas came to know Him. This is the first phase of the mission.
John’s account continues with “Therefore, many other signs Jesus
also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this
book, but these things have been written…” (John 20:30-31a). What was true of
Thomas and true of everyone who comes to know Jesus is that they have responded
positively to some sort of revelation. Revelation is, quite simply, anything
that speaks of God’s character or will. In this passage, John speaks of “many
other signs Jesus also performed,…” These signs that Jesus gave to the disciples
were ways in which He divulged more about who He was, giving the disciples a
chance to respond to that information. Today, many things testify to who God is
in unique ways. The Bible says creation itself speaks of His glory. The talents
and gifts of people also testify to the creativity and diversity of God
Himself. While many phenomena are a revelation of God that has been made known
to man, the greatest means by which God has divulged His character and will is
the Word of God itself and Jesus Christ who is the WORD of God incarnate. John writes,
“but these things have been written…” The inspired and perfect Word of God is
the greatest resource of God’s attributes and will. It is the primary source by which all things
are judged and understood.
However, what is the purpose for God having made himself known to
the world?
John 20:31 continues with “so that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name…”.
Revelation has as its purpose the salvation of men. God reveals Himself in
order that people may KNOW Him for who he is. This phase of the mission has as
its purpose the salvation of men through a saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ.
Romans 10:17-“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of (that is from,
about, concerning) Christ.”
Phase 1 of the church’s mission is to share the revelation of
God—His Word about Christ—with others so that they might hear, understand, and
believe the message of the gospel (KNOW Christ). The same transforming power
that changed Thomas’ life is available to change the lives of those doubters,
cynics, and disenfranchised that you know. Part of your adventure and this
church’s mission is sharing the message of salvation with them! It is more than
our mission, it ought to be who we are—sharers of the gospel message!
II. PHASE #2: GROW (The Seed Begins to
Germinate and Develop)-Acts 2:42
Phase 2 of the mission is GROW. Growing in one’s relationship with
Christ is paramount to seeing the mission completed. Remember, Matthew 28:19-20
does not say “go into all the world and make converts.” It says, “go into all
the world, making disciples.” A beautiful picture of this is illustrated for us
in Acts 2:42—“ They were continually devoting
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer.” The verb “continually devoting” is important. It
means to do something with intense effort with the possible implication of
difficulty. The tense and form of this verb suggest that Luke is talking about
a devotion that becomes a part of someone’s character and takes place
continuously. Also, the connotation of this verb does not describe a passive
activity (i.e. sitting in a service of some kind and listening to what is being
presented and leaving unchanged). It describes vigorous action that leads to
growth. The growth of the church or the individual believer is not the
responsibility of some third party like a pastor or priest—it is the
responsibility of every follower of Christ.
The first direction of intense effort and focus required in growth/discipleship
is on the apostles teaching. For those in the Book of Acts, these were the
words preached and spoken of by the twelve who ministered with Jesus. However,
for you and me, the teaching that God decided to preserve in the Bible is the
primary source of information that leads to growth and development in Christ
(the same word that saves is the word that sanctifies). The teaching of the
apostles for these new believers and for us today provides the nourishment and
nutrition required to mature and grow in one’s understanding. Much like soil
feeds a plant, the teaching of the apostles fertilized the hearts of their
listeners.
The second direction of intense devotion is toward fellowship.
Fellowship is an association involving close mutual relations and involvement.
We read about this type of association in Acts 2:43-47.
CR: Acts 2:43-47 –“Everyone kept feeling a sense
of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And
all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they
began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as
anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with
gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being
saved.”
It is this type of fellowship that warms the heart of each
believer and allows one to grow by association. Much as the sunlight gives a
plant warmth and the ability to grow, fellowship involves a bunch of
light-bearers coming together to encourage and love each other in a way that
fosters growth.
The breaking of bread and prayer that follows fellowship renames
or defines what the fellowship is/consists of.
It was customary for New Testament believers to gather and eat a meal.
This was their primary means of entertaining and experiencing life together.
One thing that often accompanied such meetings was the sharing of the Lord’s
supper. Ultimately, fellowship and/or the breaking of bread simply means doing
life together in spiritual community. Participating in this kind of community is
crucial for proper spiritual growth.
Along with doing life together, prayer was understood to be an
essential element to corporate meetings and integral to Spiritual growth. If
the Word brings the nutrients, and fellowship is the sunlight, then prayer is
the life giving and refreshing water that is necessary for the believer to grow
in Christ.
“Prayer is where the action is”-John Wesley.
“The most important thing a born again Christian can do is
pray”-Chuck Smith.
In Acts 2:42, commitment to the Word of God, community, and prayer,
were understood as the only proper response to knowing Jesus. The picture of
growth portrayed in this passage is spiritual and relational. All of these
considerations make up the second phase of the mission and ought to preoccupy believers
in the great mission to which God has called his people. Scenes of meaningful
fellowship punctuated by Bible study and prayer ought to fill the motion
picture of our lives as we see those who know Christ grow in Him. We ought to “do
life” together, recognizing that our mission is “our” mission—not yours, not
mine, ours, and that any great adventure worth having is one that is
shared with like-minded people and any mission worth accepting is for the
benefit of others. Phase 2 is growing in
Christ together. More than just a phase of our mission, it ought to be who we
are—disciples. However, this is not where things end.
III. PHASE #3: SHOW (The Seed Flowers, and
Spreads its Seed)-Col. 1:28
Now that we understand Phase 1 and Phase 2 (knowing Christ and
growing in Christ), this leaves only the third—SHOW Christ. Understanding phase
3 takes us to Colossians 1:28. When one considers how insignificant of town
Colossae was and how small the church that met there would have been, you might
begin to wonder why this letter from Paul was preserved in our Scriptures and important
enough to include in the Bible. The truth is, although this letter was
addressed to an unlikely destination, the problem they were dealing with in
Colossae was very disturbing to Paul and the message of the Gospel. Heresy and
false doctrine had already begun to infiltrate the church and Paul wanted to
confront this head on before it got out of hand. This is why, after introducing
his letter, the apostle concludes his opening remarks with this exhortation—“We
proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with
all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ”
(Col. 1:28).
The plural pronoun here refers not just to Paul, but to the church
which shares the responsibility of showing Christ to others. While most people
will readily insist that Paul and certain others are more gifted to proclaim
Christ to others, some fail to realize that they are also included in this
phase of the mission. After all, are we not all a “priesthood of believers” (1
Pet. 2:9)? Are we not all gifted by God for the purpose of showing him to
others (1 Pet. 4:10)?
Showing Christ well involves two things: teaching and admonishing.
While many think of “teaching” or “admonishing” in a formal sense, one need not
limit these terms to popular connotations. Rather, anything that provides
instruction or warning to the lost of this world is included in the call to
show Christ to others. This includes, but is not limited to serving people in
love, encouraging those around you, taking initiative to have conversations,
and the like. This also involves discovering and using the gifts God has given
every one of us. The truth is, there are as many ways to teach and admonish as
there are people. Notice the repetition of “every” in this verse. You would
think that Paul was trying to get something across. Showing everyone around us who Christ is by
anything and everything we say and do is how we show Christ to others.
The purpose for this mission is so that every man and woman might
join God’s mission/great adventure and be taken through these phases themselves
to maturity in Christ—“so that we may present everyman complete in Christ” (1:28).
The end product of this process is maturity. Much as a flower matures and gives
forth seed of its own after it blossoms, Christians who know and grow do not
reach maturity until they show Christ to others and scatter seed of their own
into the lives of those around them. The process began with believers
responding to revelation by knowing Christ on a deep and meaningful level in phase
1, and ends with these same believers communicating that revelation in all
wisdom to those around them so that others might join in on this glorious
process in phase 3.
These are the three phases of the mission of Crystal Spring Baptist
Church. These are the activities that ought to galvanize us to action in the
great adventure to which we have been called. More than phases of our mission,
these ought to be characteristic of who we are.
So What?
No matter how you label these three phases or what type of
illustration you use to explain them, ultimately, the mission of this church is
the mission spelled out throughout the New Testament. It is not something cute
that I or somebody else cooked up to sound religious. It is not a meaningless
phrase or slogan that looks good on paper or in a poster. It is the process
every disciple is designed to complete. We have examined three passages in the
Bible that have spanned the Gospels, Acts, and a letter from Paul that
explicitly define a biblical understanding of evangelism, discipleship, and
service both for the individual and the church. What will you now do about it?
Many are content with just
knowing Christ and coming to Church on Sunday Morning and leaving unchanged.
Some are comfortable Knowing Christ and even praying with others and attempting
to grow in His likeness. However, very few are willing to complete the final
phase of the process we have described in an actively show Christ to others.
May we choose today to be a church of the few. And may we begin praying for
those we know right now who need to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show
Christ to others.
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