Why We Exist: Our Mission

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The following text is from a message Pastor Dawson preached at Shining Light Baptist Church regarding the Mission of Our Church.

“The Mission of Our Church”
Matthew 28:18-20

As I mentioned last week, I want to preach a message dealing with the Mission of Our Church. Often, others will ask why we don’t have bake sales to raise money or sell chicken dinners when we need money to do things. Others wonder why we don’t give to everybody that comes knocking on our door. Still others think the Church is some “Social Organization” similar to welfare that should provide and advocate “Social Reform” and give to everyone in need! By the way, the Church is not an “Organization” at all it’s an “Organism” it’s alive!! I’m here to tell you today, that none of those assumptions are true.

Tragically, far too many people including “SAVED” people, don’t have any idea what the Mission of the Local Church is—that’s why many don’t get involved!!! And the ones that do get involved, often have never been a part of an Independent, Fundamental, KJV Bible Believing, Bible Practicing Baptist Church—so it’s all new to them—it was to me!!

This morning we are going to begin taking a look at what the Mission of Our Church is so we can all understand what it is, see that it is of God, that it is Bible and get involved when it comes to fulfilling our Mission.

First of all Our Mission is to:

I. Evangelize the Lost – We must see people Saved.

For that to happen we must:

a. Go “Go ye therefore” Math 28:19a

“Go” means to proceed, move or get busy! “ye” means you, yourselves or basically all of you people! In order to Evangelize the Lost or see them Saved we must Go!

But we must also.

b. Gather “teach all nations” Math 28:19b

We “Gather” them one at a time and teach them how to be saved or disciple them!

So in order to Evangelize the Lost to see people Saved WE must all GO and GATHER!

Then WE must:

II. Enlist the Laborers – We must see them Submerged

That’s how we “Gain” members

Gain “.baptizing them.” Math 28:19c

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

Acts 16:31-33 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

There are three basic ways in which we Enlist the Laborers

1. Submersion – Baptism by Immersion

2. Submission – Profession of Faith(Saved/Baptized)

3. Similar Faith Transfer Letter

So in order to Evangelize the Lost to see people Saved, WE must all GO and GATHER!

To Enlist the Laborers WE must encourage them to be Submerged to GAIN new members!

Then WE must:

III. Enlighten the Laborers – We must see them Schooled

We School them by getting them.

Grounded & Growing “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Math 28:20a

We must be able to teach what we have been taught!

Jesus was always teaching notice.

Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Mark 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side.

Mark 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue.

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching.

Mark 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching.

Luke 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching.

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching.

Luke 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple.

So in order to Evangelize the Lost to see people Saved, WE must all GO and GATHER!

To Enlist the Laborers WE must encourage them to be Submerged to GAIN new members!

To Enlighten the Laborers WE must be involved in Schooling them to get them Grounded & Growing as Jesus Commanded!

Then WE must:

IV. Equip the Laborers – We must see them “Perfected” for the purpose of Serving

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (The Perfecting = Maturing; The Work = Ministry; The Edifying = Maintenance or Building Up)

The Goal of every Christian should be pleasing the Lord with his life that should include – “Good Works.”

When Paul got saved over in Acts chapter nine and verse six he said right away “.Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” You will find him getting Saved, being Submerged, joining with the Saints, being Strengthened and Preaching the Savior.

I mentioned we must see them “Perfected”, we are Perfected by the Word and thru the Performance of the Work
Notice what the Bible states about “Perfecting”.

a. Perfected by the Word – Perfecting or Maturing takes the Power of the Word of God which means “Perfecting” comes as a result of…

1. Study from Scripture – 2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.”

2. Which can keep you Separated from Sin – Ps 119:9 – 11 “.that I might not sin against thee.”

Once we begin to Study and apply Scripture, it will enable us to flee and not fall for Sin! We have the Holy Spirit within us and we have to literally violate Him to Sin! However, many have seared or scarred their conscience and now they are callous to His prompting because they keep practicing a particular sin.

3. Which allows you to be Successful in Service – Jos 1:8 “. thou shalt have good success.”

So first we are Perfected by the Word, but it is for the Performance of the Work of the Ministry or Good Works! We are not saved by “Good Works”, but we get “Perfected” or “Matured” as we “Work.”

b. Performance of the Work or “Good Works”

Notice what the Bible states about “Work”

1. Created unto Good Works – Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2. Zealous of Good Works – Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

3. Maintain Good Works – Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

So in order to Evangelize the Lost to see people Saved WE must all GO and GATHER!

To Enlist the Laborers WE must encourage them to be Submerged to GAIN new members!

To Enlighten the Laborers WE must be involved in Schooling them to get them Grounded & Growing as Jesus Commanded!

Then to Equip the Laborers, WE must involve them in Serving by Performing Good Works.

Then WE must:

V. Exalt the Lord – We must see them Satisfying the Savior

There is only one way we can Satisfy the Savior, that is when we.

Glorify Him – Glorifying God is our main Goal!

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

a. We can Glorify Him by Submitting – 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

b. We can Glorify Him by Suffering – 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

So in order to Evangelize the Lost to see people Saved WE must all GO and GATHER!

To Enlist the Laborers WE must encourage them to be Submerged to GAIN new members!

To Enlighten the Laborers WE must be involved in Schooling them to get them Grounded & Growing as Jesus Commanded!

Then to Equip the Laborers, WE must involve them in Serving by producing Good Works.

Then WE can Exalt the Lord Jesus Satisfying our Savior by Glorifying HIM! That is the ultimate Mission of Our Church—to Glorify God!

But in order to Glorify Him we must be Saved, Submerged, Schooled, Serving and then we can Satisfy our Savior by reaching others and doing it all over again until HE comes!

How are you doing in the Mission our Church?

Purpose for the Savior (do it all for the Savior – HIM)

Are you:

I. Evangelizing the Lost – Are you Saved

II. Enlisting Laborers – Are you Submerged

III. Enlightening the Laborers – Are you Schooled

IV. Equipping the Laborers – Are you Serving

V. Exalting the Lord – Are you Satisfying the Savior

How can you get involved?

Purpose to be Surrendered for whatever needs to be done

Purpose to be a Servant

Purpose to be a Soulwinner

Purpose for the Savior do it all for the Savior – HIM