What is your definition of a good church? A place where people can go to worship God and have fellowship with other Christians? A place where people can learn about God and be taught about the truth of the Bible? A place to bring our kids so that they can learn about Jesus and have a solid moral foundation? A place to find friends and a sense of community? A place where we can find a way to serve?
Any and all of these definitions are wrapped up in the idea of a “good church.” But there is also something missing, because the church is not a place at all; the church is a group of people. But more than that, the church is a group of people united to Jesus Christ and committed to His mission.
As it states on the front cover of our bulletin, “Our mission is to love God, love others and make disciples of Christ.” This mission comes from Jesus Himself. In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus commands us to love God and others. In Matthew 28:19-20, He commissions us to “go and make disciples of all nations…” Jesus wants each of us to grow as disciples, and he wants to see others become disciples.
Life can get busy sometimes, and I know that it can be easy to lose sight of our mission and forget what we are here for. I know that it happens to me. But I find that focusing on God’s plan for our lives and His Great Commission helps to bring the joy back into ministry and service. Jesus gave his followers a mission and then gave them the power of the Holy Spirit, and the world was forever changed. We are also part of this world-changing mission.
Accomplishing the mission can mean stepping out of our comfort zone and taking risks for God. It can mean sacrificing something that you want for the sake of another. It can mean doing difficult and challenging things as we trust in God’s power and give Him the glory.