God's Design for the ChurchSample

The Church’s Task in the World

An important question for church leaders to ask is simply, ‘What is the task of the church?’ We must understand the mission of our enterprise – because if we aim at nothing we’ll definitely hit it.

Sadly, many people see the church as a place for social activities and entertainment. For others, church is just a place they can have their needs met. It’s problematic, unrealistic, and unsustainable for people to arrive at church expecting to be amused or to have certain needs met. It’s wonderful to enjoy church, and of course many of our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met through our church communities. But Jesus didn’t establish His church to indulge our consumerism. The church doesn’t exist to serve us. Rather, the church is where we can participate with others to achieve an external mission. We need to be focused primarily on a world that needs the good news of Jesus, rather than on the comfort of our congregants.

Jesus, the head of the church, outlined the church’s task in what’s known as the Great Commission. We know that Jesus’ first disciples followed His instructions because we are the believers at the ends of the earth who have been reached with the good news! And Jesus’ words are still relevant to the church today. Our primary task is to preach the gospel to unbelievers. We’re called to be a going church – a church ever on the move to seek and save the lost.

Although the church in Africa is well established and thriving, African churches aren’t typically mission-minded. However, the truth is that we are carrying the gospel baton and have the responsibility to pass it on to people across the street, across the continent, and maybe even across the world.

Jesus’ Great Commission also tasks the church with welcoming those who have come to Him through repentance and faith, discipling them and baptizing them. Be encouraged to ask a more mature Christian to mentor you. Back yourself to disciple a younger believer too. And if you haven’t yet been baptized, lead by example and consider this as your next step of obedience. Furthermore, the task of the church, as laid out by Jesus, is to ensure that believers gathering together are being taught God’s Word. As leaders, we need to establish rhythms of learning so we’re ready and unashamed to teach others well.

Celebrate what God is accomplishing through the global church: many are repenting, being baptized, and growing in their faith as they are knitted into local communities. May we continue to partner with Jesus, building churches that are set apart from the world. May we recognize where and how our local churches are falling into the sinful patterns of the predominant culture, and may we seek to instruct people rather than entertain them. May our Christian communities be salt – preserving the truth and bringing out the flavor of God’s grace – and light – pushing back the darkness with the brilliance of God’s love.