Missions in the Local Church
A few weeks ago, we began a series of articles discussing the importance of missions at Grace Chapel. The timing aligns with the elder’s recent release of our purpose and methodology for missions. In this document, we write,
“Our purpose for missions is the local and global spread of the Gospel message to establish lifelong followers of Christ in biblically sound and doctrinally aligned churches…(see full statement here: Grace Missions.pdf)."
Moreover, the elders remain near the end of our approval process for our first missionary family. The final steps require a visit to our church with a presentation of their work. This presentation will take place after our Sunday service on August 23rd. After the presentation, a member of our elder team will schedule an on-site visit in the future.
While exact details of their ministry cannot be released publicly, they work covertly in a rural area of Southeast Asia training pastors, strengthening churches, and translating important Biblical materials. We are truly blessed to have the privilege to partner with these missionaries.
For these reasons, I wanted us to continue our study of missions. Last week, we saw how missions is about worship. We pursue the world-wide spread of the Gospel for God’s eternal glory and praise. Simply, this means our every endeavor must be focused on obeying the Lord. Today, I want to discuss the important of the local church in the Great Commission.
Together is Better!
Now, missions can evoke a variety of responses. Some think: I could never do that! Others imagine: Maybe I could go? Still more: I will go! Even some ask: How can I help? Perhaps, if you know a little more about missions, you may start thinking of faithful missionaries throughout history: Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor, many more. These are all natural and understandable responses, but they all reveal one common theme. When we talk about missions (and evangelism), we often think in individual terms. Yet, missions is first about the local church.
You see such church-driven missions even in the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:16–20, we read,
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…”
We looked at worship last week. Today, we are talking about “all authority.” Here Jesus gives His very authority for the Great Commission. Authority is a powerful word in the original language meaning power, ability to accomplish, or, even right to rule—jurisdiction.
Simply, Jesus says I will ensure this mission is accomplished! In the past and today, many have taken this authority as personal and private empowerment for evangelism and missions. While an aspect of the message can apply to an individual in principle, the primary meaning applies to the disciples. This is seen even in the command: Make disciples! The verb is not in 2nd person singular, but 2nd person plural. The literal translation reading something like: “Go, Therefore and you all make disciples.” See the difference, this is a corporate command. We must consider missions.
Furthermore, this authority comes from Jesus to the apostles, then from the apostles to the elders of the church (Eph 2:19–22, 4:11–16; Acts 14:23, 15:2, 4, 22; Titus 1:5). So, technically, the authority is granted to a local church under Godly leadership.
You can see the importance of the local church in our mission statement:
“Our purpose for missions is the local and global spread of the Gospel message to establish lifelong followers of Christ in biblically sound and doctrinally aligned churches.”
Our purpose speaks of “our” desire—the desire of our church, Grace Chapel. While establishing churches, speaks to the final outcome of our process. Yes, we seek to save souls—“establish lifelong followers”—but the ultimate goal for missions is local churches establishing local churches—starting, supporting, and strengthening Godly congregations around the world. This is the only way to fulfill the command to “make disciples,” not to mention how else can you by yourself: go, baptize, and teach. This is the effort of a body of believers.
“Me” to “We”
This reality moves the center of missions away from “me” to “we.” What will we do to aid in the missions endeavor? In For the Sake of His Name, David M. Doran writes,
“Missions cannot be properly addressed apart from the context of the local church. Individual believers engage in missions, but I would contend that they must do so in connection with the local church. Each local church will be accountable for how they obey the Scriptures, so we must give energy to understanding how to apply them to the church’s missions program. Both our pragmatic culture and church tradition often fight against thinking biblically, so we must work to hold ourselves accountable to the Scriptures."
Did you read that? Believers must engage in missions in connection with the local church.
This means spin-off bible studies, non-profits, or mission endeavor mean nothing apart from how they support the efforts of the local church. In our hyper-autonomous, independence-obsessed culture, such thinking is almost anathema. You mean: If I want to do a Christian work, I must depend upon the local church? Yes, this is the only conclusion from the Great Commission authority. In Ephesians 4:11–12, Paul writes,
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
The pastors and teachers equip the saints. The word equip is not some sort of general preparation, but rather a work with clear purpose and direction. In fact, the word is a medical term meaning “setting a bone.” In short, the elders are doctors. They diagnosis the problem and provide the necessary treatment. In short, church leadership says: this is where we are going and this is how we get there. Then, the saints can serve!
Can you imagine trying to self-diagnosis and treat your own broken leg or arm? Such a process would be a vain and foolish effort. For our study, this means a “ministry” without the direct support and oversight of the elders is really no “ministry” at all. Or, put it in other terms, such a decision sucks the authority out of missions. For such a pursuit fails to depend upon Biblical leadership and build up the body as a whole.
Not Plan-B
The Church is no secondary thought in the eternal plan of God (Eph 3:7-13). Jesus Christ came to build the Church (Mt 16:18) which He ultimately purchased with His own life (Acts 20:28; Eph 5:25-27). Jesus Christ has saved (Eph 2:1-9) and equipped the Church (Eph 4:7-16) for the good works of sanctification and service prepared for her before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:9, 2:10; Titus 2:11-13).
Simply, the Church is primary in the plan of God (Eph 3:7-11), precious to the heart of Christ (Mt 16:18; Eph 5:25-27), personal to the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28) and pivotal to the life of every believer (Eph 4:11-16; Heb 10:19-25).
These eternal truths are also seen so clearly in the fact that the Great Commission was ultimately given to the Church (Mt 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8) and while individuals engage in spreading the gospel the task of baptizing new converts and teaching them all that Christ has commanded is inseparably linked to local Church ministry (Acts1:6-8; 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 5:1-11; 5:42; 6:1-7; 8:1-4; 9:31; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; 14:21-23; 15:1-41; 16:1-5; 18 c.f. 1 Cor 3:4-17; Rom 15:14-29).
One cannot Biblically accomplish this monumental task, as directed by God, apart from the work of the local church. Mission work disconnected from local church ministry is divergent from what Scripture teaches.
Therefore, the primary nature of the local church in our global Mission is nonnegotiable to the health of our overall ministry at Grace. Next week, we will discuss both theologically and practical we will accomplish this mission together.
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