The Mission of the Church

I really felt compelled today to post about the mission of the Church.  In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus says -All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)  And in Acts Chapter 1 and verse 8 Jesus tells His disciples - you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.


So what does all this mean to us?  Especially us as HIT Men?  Well I would challenge us to think about the commands of our Lord and taking them seriously.  Jesus gave us the plan.  We as a group, a community of faith, a family of God, His Kingdom, His Body, the Church, are meant to follow these commands and to seek their fulfillment.  So as men we are to be a part of the local Church community as they seek to make Disciples, Baptize them, Train them and continue to expand into new Churches and areas of our regions and the world.


This is the mission Jesus gives to His Church.  As men we are called to lead in fulfilling this.  We need to be taking leadership roles in Evangelism, Discipleship, Church Leadership teams, Church planting initiatives, etc...  This is who we are to be.  Do not be afraid of this concept, most of us are not prepared for such things.  Our learning and growth in these things comes from being a part of them.  Jeff Reed from the BILD organization in Ames, Iowa says "Leadership Development does not happen in the Church apart from Church Planting", and I agree with him.  If we are not at least heading towards Church planting we will not be developing leadership because we will run out of leadership roles for people.  Church planting always makes new leadership roles available.


Men, get ready, we are called to lead the way in the mission of the Church.  Jesus command to us is not an option but a directive.  Let us follow Him together in obedience.


FIGHT ON!