The Mission of the Church is to follow Jesus Christ in full obedience, to minister unselfishly in His name, and to share the Good News of His Gospel with people locally and around the world.
Five areas of importance in the Christian life – Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, Evangelism, and Worship.
My Life Purpose: I am to glorify God, disciple believers and evangelize the world. It’s amazing how quickly a church can forget its PURPOSE and as a result fail in its MISSION.
My Life Purpose is rooted in two foundational passages of Scripture:
My Life Purpose is rooted in two foundational passages of Scripture:
The Great Commandment. Mark 12:29-31 “The first of all the command-ments is, The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
The Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
It is my DUTY and DETERMINATION to lead Cornerstone to pursue God’s DESIGN so we do not fail in our MISSION.
· In communicating the purpose of our church it is important that we make it personal.
· Being a Christian means accepting and acting on our responsibility.
· I want to remind you of five biblical responsibilities that God has given to every believer!
1. God wants YOU to be an active MEMBER of His FAMILY. Ephesians 2:19 “Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;…”
· The purpose of FELLOWSHIP is to draw us closer to God. 1 John 1:3-4 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
· Following Christ is not just a matter of believing – it also includes belonging.
· The Christian life is not a solo act. Hebrews 10:22-25 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,.. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
· The biblical pattern was set in Jerusalem. Acts 2:42-47 “They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers… And all that believed were together, and had all things common;… And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people…”
2. God wants YOU to be a MODEL of His CHARACTER. 1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
John 13:15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
1Timothy 4:12 “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conver-sation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
· This is the purpose of DISCIPLESHIP.
Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,…”
Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
3. God wants YOU to be a MINISTER of His GRACE. Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
· A third responsibility of every believer is to be involved in MINISTRY. God expects us to use the gifts, talents, and opportunities He has given us to benefit others.
1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
4. God wants YOU to be a MESSENGER of His LOVE. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconcile-ation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
· Another responsibility of every believer is EVANGELISM.
Note Paul’s example in Acts 20:24, 31 “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God…Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
Note Jesus’ admonition in Luke 10:2 “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
5. God wants YOU to be a MAGNIFIER of His NAME. Psalms 34:3 “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
· We each have a responsibility to WORSHIP God. Worship is rooted in reverential love and devotion for God.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
CONCLUSION: God wants you to be . . .
1. A Member of His Family = FELLOWSHIP.
2. A Model of His Character = DISCIPLESHIP.
3. A Minister of His Grace = MINISTRY.
4. A Messenger of His Love = EVANGELISM.
5. A Magnifier of His Name = WORSHIP.
