CHBC Connect for October 25, 2024
Purpose, Mission, Vision:
God in His wisdom created humanity and put them in community. The first community was the family. Then He made them into a nation, fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham. That people of God was always intended to bless “the nations,” literally, the people groups of the world. That covenant promise is being fulfilled in the spread of the gospel through the church.
God instituted and established the church, and He is continuing to build, empower, and bless the church. For what purpose has God done this? God’s eternal redemptive plan of the church is for His glory. Hebrews 1:3 says, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” This verse is speaking of Jesus, but we know that Christ is the head of the church, and we, the church, are His body. We exist for God’s glory to be visible, so that the world will bring Him glory.
His purpose for the church becomes our mission for the church. That mission is to extend the gospel to our neighbors and nations by personal witness, faithful prayer, and purposeful giving. It is our mission to share the gospel with others. As people respond to the gospel we are to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things He has commanded us. As these new believers grow in knowledge, they grow in the love of Christ, and desire for obedience to Christ. Our extension of the gospel, exaltation of Christ, and equipping of believers becomes a tightly woven net for the work of being fishers of men.
As the church fulfills its mission, the vision starts to become reality. The vision is what it looks like as the purpose and mission are fulfilled. The vision is a people of God, equipping believers, exalting Christ, and extending the gospel to the glory of God. The vision is real people doing regular life by God’s design and according to God’s will. Men and women, students and retirees, husbands and wives going to jobs, going to school, planting flowers, raking leaves, attending ball games, having dinners, planning trips, and all the rest. But doing all these things by His power, for His glory, and for the purpose of others knowing Him and loving Him.
By His Grace, and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
