There are two GREATS that we are led by as a church.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Through this passage we learn that Christ expects us to GO. We are to go and evangelize the love of God all over the world. Second, we learn that we need to make disciples. In other words, we must go from milk to meat. We must GROW in our faith. Finally, we must lead people to Christ as they watch us walk out our Christian faith. When we live our life on mission, we GET others to see the life of a believer and all of its benefits.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’a]">[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’b]">[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Through this passage we learn that Christ expects us to GLORIFY the name of the Lord. Through glorifying God's name we usher His presence into everything we are going through. As a church we want to take every opportunity God gives us to celebrate all that He has done for us. Whenever we gather together, we seek to be in His presence with joy written all over our face! Finally, we learn that we must operate in our GIFTS with our family. What better way to show God that we are truly gifted by Him than to serve in your gifts?!
As you can see we have our 5 purposes for our church within these two passages.
1. Membership (Get)- The purpose of Membership is to become a family of believers who simply want to do what God has called them to do. Understanding our spiritual gifts and benefits of membership guide our purpose.
2. Maturity (Grow) - The purpose of Maturity is to grow in our faith. We want to be a fellowship that seeks to understand what God wants us to do in every facet of life. No matter where life finds you, God has a wisdom for you.
3. Ministry (Gifts) - The purpose of Ministry is to serve the body of Christ wherever God plants you. This means operating in your gifts at home, on your job, in your social groups, and with The Mission Church. We know that every child of God is gifted. We want to support, develop, and join you in the ministry God is birthing through you.
4. Mission (Go) - The purpose of Missions is to go wherever God's love needs to be shared. We often say, you are the only Bible some people will see. Missions goes where there may not be a church or a even Bible, so God sends you!
5. Magnification (Glorify) - The purpose of Magnification is to elevate the worship and praise of God whenever we get together as a family. We want the presence of God to be felt. Whenever God inhabits our praise, we hear from Him in ways we never thought we could. He answers when we magnify Him. He heals when we magnify Him. He delivers when we magnify Him.
As a church we, we stay within these purpsoses. We don't stay stuck in tradition or history. We seek to keep the Bible relevant through the two GREATS. We seek to life on mission through the 5 purposes.