What is the Task of the Church?

Every pastor and every church leader must answer the question: What is the task of the church? The  answer to this question determines the churches priorities, activities and budget.

For some the answer will be that of community service. Their emphasis will be to partner with organizations that are doing good deeds in the community. Surely, the church should do good.

For some the answer will be that of preservation. Their focus will be to determine what is best for themselves. Surely, the church should be preserved.

For some the answer will be that of building itself up. Their focus will be bigger buildings and better programs. Surely, the church should be built up.

For the scripture the answer is found in the Great Commission.

And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  

Matthew 28:18-20

Satan's greatest tool is to get the church to do good things when God wants His church to do His thing. The Great Commission is God's "thing" for the church. This is what we are to be doing. Yes, we will do good things when we do the Great Commission. However, we do not always do the Great Commission when we do good things.

It is the church's never ending task to win people to Christ, Baptize those we have won to Christ and teach them the things He  has taught us. The measure of our work will not be found in the good we have done, the preserving of our existence or the size of our buildings and programs. The measure of our work will be in the people we have won to Christ, baptized and led to maturity in Him.

Attempting to Connect the Dots...

Wayne