What is the Church and its Mission? It’s necessary that we firmly know what makes a church a church and what it should be after (its mission) so that we are putting our hands to the plow in the right field and in the right way.
The Church is . . .
1. A Commissioned Company of Disciple-Makers (Matt. 28, Acts 1)
We are called to “make disciples” which means that we are called to reach people (in our own neighborhood, in St. Louis regionally, and beyond) with the gospel and train them to know and do all that Jesus taught us to know and believe and commanded us to do.
2. A Coinonia Community who do life together (Acts 2:42-47)
We are called to be devoted to being together to hear the teaching of Scripture, to worship God together, to care for one another’s practical needs, and to enjoy doing life side-by-side—as the early church patterned for us.
3. A Construction Center for coaching (equipping the saints for the work of ministry), and counseling (speaking the truth in love to one another) (Eph. 4:11-16)
Leaders are called to equip every church member for the individual ministries that God has given each one in the use of their spiritual gifts (Coaching), and each member is called to counsel one another (to speak the Truth in love). The result is that the church becomes an effective organism, resembling Jesus’ body and grows to maturity, loving God and loving others.