What does it mean for a church to have a mission? At Grace Community Church, we’ve spent time refining our mission statement to better reflect our purpose and calling. After 30 years with our previous mission statement, we’ve crafted something that captures the heart of why we exist as a community of believers.
Our New Mission Statement
Our updated mission statement reads: “We exist to share God’s gracious love with our neighbors and the nations equipping real people by the Spirit to live as joyful, growing followers of Jesus.”
This statement is packed with meaning and purpose. Today, we’re focusing on just the first part: “We exist to share God’s gracious love.”
Why Do We Need a Mission Statement?
Think about planning a family vacation to the beach. If you simply told your family “we’re going to the beach,” they’d naturally ask which beach. There’s a big difference between a beautiful destination with crystal blue water and white sand versus a muddy coastline. The destination matters because it affects your mindset, what you pack, and how long you’ll travel.
Similarly, our mission statement tells us where we’re going as a church. It’s our target, our bullseye. Without it, we’re just wandering without direction.
What Does It Mean That “We Exist”?
The phrase “we exist” is a powerful statement of purpose. It means we’re not here to play games or treat church as a weekly hobby. This is a statement of existence – it defines who we are and why we’re here.
Biblical Examples of Purpose Statements
Scripture gives us several examples of purposeful mission statements:
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20): Jesus told his disciples they exist to make disciples, baptize, and teach others.
- Abraham’s Calling (Genesis 12:1-3): God told Abraham he existed to go where God directed and be a blessing to all nations.
- Jesus’ Mission (Luke 4:18-19): Jesus declared he existed to proclaim good news, freedom for prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind.
When you become part of a church, you’re not joining a social club or hobby group. You’re becoming part of a purpose that defines your existence.
What Does It Mean to “Share”?
Sharing involves two key components: giving and proclaiming.
Giving Our Resources
Just like teaching children to share their toys, we’re called to give of ourselves:
- Time: Volunteering in children’s ministries, serving in various capacities
- Talents: Using our unique gifts and abilities for God’s purposes
- Resources: Contributing financially to eternal purposes rather than temporary things
This isn’t about the church being greedy – it’s about giving you opportunities to invest in things that truly matter for eternity.
Proclaiming the Message
Sharing also means using our voices to tell people about Jesus. This requires us to move beyond just giving gifts to explaining the “why” behind our actions.
When you receive a present, the card often matters more than the gift itself because it contains the personal message explaining why someone cares about you. Similarly, we must tell people the story behind our love and service – the story of Jesus.
What Is God’s Gracious Love?
The heart of our mission is sharing God’s gracious love. First John 4:7-11 explains that love is the defining quality of people who know God, because God is love. God’s love became real when Jesus came to live among us and gave his life for us.
Why This Love Matters
God shared his love with us when we could never earn or deserve it. He sent his Son to die for people like us so we could have forgiveness and life. This is a story worth sharing – it’s why we exist as a church.
How Do We Share God’s Gracious Love?
Our church shares God’s gracious love through various ministries:
- Youth and children’s ministries training the next generation
- School partnerships bringing God’s love into public education
- Hospital partnerships providing spiritual care
- College Bible studies transforming young lives
- Embrace Grace supporting single, pregnant mothers
- Celebrate Recovery helping people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups
- Community partnerships meeting practical needs
Every ministry in our church should be focused on this central mission of sharing God’s gracious love.
Living for This Mission
Have you ever heard someone say “I live for this” about their passion or hobby? What if we had a church full of people who said, “I live for this” about sharing God’s gracious love?
Imagine if people in our congregation said:
- “I go to work and earn a paycheck, but I live to share Jesus”
- “I handle my daily responsibilities, but I can’t wait for another opportunity to share God’s gracious love”
- “I live for this”
If we had a church full of people with that attitude, our city would be transformed.
Life Application
This week, examine how you view your involvement in church and sharing God’s love. Instead of treating faith as a hobby or weekly add-on to your life, consider what it would look like to truly “live for this mission.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I see my church involvement as optional or as central to my existence and purpose?
- How can I better give of my time, talents, and resources to share God’s gracious love?
- Who in my life needs to hear about God’s gracious love, and how can I share both through my actions and my words?
- What would change in my daily routine if I truly lived with the mindset of “I live for this”?
The challenge isn’t to feel guilty about what you’re not doing, but to allow the Holy Spirit to convict you about stepping into the purpose God has for your life. Let’s move from treating our faith as a side activity to making it the central mission that defines our existence.
Recent Comments