The Mission of the Church
The sermon emphasizes that Jesus advances God’s mission through the local church by providing clarity regarding its purpose, empowering believers as witnesses through the Holy Spirit, and exercising His power from His position in heaven. Listeners are encouraged to recognize their role as active participants in sharing the gospel and living out their faith in a way that reflects God’s mission for all nations and peoples.
And this morning, we turn to our New Testament reading in the book of Acts in Acts 1:1-11.
Let us stand for the reading of God’s word.
Acts 1:1-11 – ESV
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
That’s the reading of God’s words.
Let us pray.
Father, we ask at this time that you would bless our time together as we look at your word.
May you provide clarity for us as we seek to understand the mission of the church.
May your Spirit preach a better sermon than I can and cause us to be devoted to your work for your glory and the praise of your name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
Many of you are likely familiar with the concept of vision statements to some extent. Vision statements are crafted by companies, institutions, and corporations to articulate and clarify their primary objectives. Every business, regardless of size, operates with a specific goal in mind. They have a purpose, they are aiming towards something. For instance, in the auto industry, the usual aim is to repair vehicles, while in finance, the focus is on securing profitable returns for investors. Each company has its own goal, typically encapsulated within its vision statement. The purpose of this statement is to provide clarity on the business’s intentions or what it strives to achieve.
Consider Apple, for example; their vision statement is to produce the finest products on Earth and to leave a positive impact on the world. This vision encapsulates their ambition for their company, guiding them to create superior products and contribute positively to the global environment. This is the essence of their goal, their aim, their direction.
However, alongside vision statements, companies also possess mission statements. While the vision statement defines the ‘what’, the mission statement outlines the ‘how’. Apple’s mission, for instance, is to develop technology that empowers individuals and enhances their lives. This mission explains how they intend to achieve their vision of bettering the world through the best products—by creating technology that uplifts and enriches human existence. This is the methodology they employ to reach their goals.
Turning our attention to the church, we find that God has provided it with a vision statement as well, which was discussed last week. God’s vision for His people involves gathering individuals from every nation, tribe, and tongue to live eternally in His presence. This divine vision for the church is about an everlasting communion with God, in peace and harmony, where we will forever enjoy His presence and fellowship.
The question then arises: If this is the vision, how do we achieve it? What is the mission that leads us there? We know the vision, but what is the mission and how will it be accomplished?
In the opening of Acts chapter one, Luke writes to Theophilus, likely the sponsor of his writing project. He recounts in the Gospel of Luke how Jesus began His ministry of doing and teaching. Jesus’ actions and teachings were aimed at reconciling sinners to God, ultimately leading to the eternal gathering of His people with Him. Theophilus would have noted that at the end of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus ascended, leaving the question of how He would continue to fulfill God’s plan.
Jesus continues His mission by building the church through the church itself. He uses the church to complete the work He started. My main argument here is that Jesus propels God’s mission forward through the church, particularly through local congregations. This is the means by which God advances His mission.
Let’s examine how Jesus does this through the local church.
Firstly, He provides clarity
In verse four, Jesus instructs the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. The mention of the Holy Spirit was a signal to the disciples, well-versed in Old Testament prophecy, that the end times were near, which is probably referencing Joel’s prophecy about the Spirit’s outpouring in the last days. They asked Jesus if this meant the restoration of Israel’s kingdom, seeking to understand God’s plan amidst Roman oppression. Jesus’ response offers clarity, revealing, as Pastor Kevin DeYoung notes, that the church’s mission is centered on the church and the salvation of souls, not on national or civilizational transformation. The term ‘soteriological’ refers to the salvation of souls, highlighting the church’s unique role, which cannot be fulfilled by any secular organization.
In our era, there’s a tendency to engage in projects like building wells in Africa or aiming to create Christian nations. However, these are not the core mission of the church, which is soul salvation. The church’s power is spiritual, not political or societal. The New Testament church’s impact on the Roman Empire was through focusing on spreading the message of salvation, demonstrating that our primary aim isn’t cultural transformation but spiritual redemption.
Jesus’ response might seem dismissive of the disciples’ concerns, but in verse seven, He reassures them that knowing the times or seasons is not for them to know, as these are set by the Father’s authority. This answer not only provides clarity but also comfort, affirming that God is in control. The disciples, facing Roman rule, sought liberation, weary from oppression. Jesus’ words offer us comfort today, reminding us that in our personal struggles—be it health, employment, or mental health—God oversees all circumstances for His glory and our benefit.
God, through Christ, advances His mission by providing clarity: our mission is church-centric, focused on soul salvation.
Secondly, Jesus empowers this mission through the Holy Spirit.
He promises in Acts that the disciples will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This power isn’t governmental or coercive but spiritual, aimed at expanding God’s kingdom. The Ascension of Christ is crucial here; His departure allowed for the Spirit’s descent, ensuring His ongoing presence through the Spirit, empowering the church for its mission. The Spirit is the key agent, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and we are co-workers in this divine endeavor.
The Spirit empowers us to be witnesses, as Jesus states. A witness provides evidence, like someone witnessing a crime. We didn’t choose this role; it was given to us through our encounter with Christ. Brian DeVries highlights that being a witness to Christ is central to the church’s mission, defining our identity through our character and conduct, publicly evidencing the truth of Christ. We are all witnesses, living billboards of Christ’s majesty, proclaiming His message through our lives.
Heidelberg Catechism question thirty-two asks why we are called Christians, answering that by faith, we share in Christ’s anointing, called to confess His name and offer ourselves as living sacrifices of thanks. This anointing calls us to be witnesses in various ways: through gospel living, where our lives reflect God’s truth; and defending the gospel, standing against falsehoods. We also engage in gospel inquiries, spreading truth globally, which is why we support missionaries. Gospel speaking involves us declaring the truth as ambassadors, sharing the message with neighbors and coworkers, teaching our children about God’s work through Christ, and proclaiming the gospel in worship every Sunday through various means.
Our approach to witnessing goes beyond simply sharing the story of our redemption; it involves integrating our testimony into both our lifestyle and our speech.
There’s a popular saying, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words,” which contrasts with the historical precedent set by God, who has always communicated through spoken word throughout history.
God’s method has consistently been verbal communication on a global scale. We must use words because they are crucial in explaining the rationale behind our way of life. People won’t grasp this on their own.
Therefore, we are tasked with vocalizing the gospel, to guide others in understanding the hope we find in Jesus Christ. This is no easy task.
Yet, another dimension of witnessing is through enduring hardship for the sake of the gospel. I believe this is one of the primary hurdles for Christians, particularly in Western cultures, where the pursuit of comfort is common and discomfort, especially for the gospel’s sake, is shunned due to its unpopularity.
We need to remind ourselves that through our suffering, we bear witness and reveal God’s glory in our vulnerability. When we face trials for the gospel, we are actively testifying. We are asserting that God’s significance and glory surpass our personal life, our reputation, and even our desire to be accepted by others. This is indeed a formidable challenge.
The question then becomes, are we committed witnesses? Are you a committed witness? We must keep in mind that the church’s mission is uniquely its own. There isn’t another institution we can rely on for this purpose.
It might seem simpler for us as Christians to push for beneficial legislation, thinking that good laws will lead to societal improvement. The belief is that people will recognize the value of a structured society. However, we often mistakenly transfer the church’s missionary responsibility to governmental bodies, expecting them to foster societal welfare.
True transformation of culture, however, occurs only through the transformation of hearts, something beyond the government’s capability. No other entity can achieve this. Only the church has the mandate to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit serving as the evangelist, the one who plants churches and defends the faith, convicting hearts.
Thus, we are called to be faithful witnesses. Will we rise to the occasion as faithful witnesses? Will our daily lives reflect our commitment to this witness? What activities do we choose to partake in? Will we stand firm in defending the gospel, or will we retreat in fear? These are all challenging aspects for us to consider.
We all desire safety, happiness, and tranquility, yet we are empowered by the Spirit of God to advance His mission, enabling us to be witnesses.
Thirdly, the text also highlights that Jesus is advancing God’s mission through His authority.
As detailed in verses nine through eleven, after imparting His instructions, Jesus ascended. In Matthew 28, He declared that all authority in heaven and on earth was bestowed upon Him.
So, what is Jesus doing at this moment? He is governing and reigning from heaven, which we refer to as the ascension and session of Christ. In heaven, Jesus is actively fulfilling God’s mission by empowering His church through His Spirit, allowing them to spread His teachings.
Everything Jesus started to teach and do, we continue in His name through the power of the Spirit.
After His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out into the world and proclaim His authority. This should instill in us the highest level of confidence in our mission. With Jesus in control, we are free to engage in this mission, knowing He supports it from above.
The mission isn’t solely dependent on us; it’s not contingent on our weak attempts or susceptible to unraveling due to our errors. It resides in God’s hands. One might ask, if it’s in God’s hands, why should we participate? It’s His mission, after all. But our love for God motivates us to take joy in His work, just as Jesus found joy in doing the Father’s will. As the church, we are called to find joy in fulfilling the Father’s will.
This morning, Jesus is advancing His mission by providing clarity, empowering us to be witnesses, and through His sovereign rule.
So, the reality is, we are all on a journey towards a destination. The church’s vision is clearly laid out for us, a vision from God. We are destined to be with God eternally, in a community that includes people from all nations, tribes, languages, and ethnic groups. By God’s grace, this diversity is present in our community.
God has set our objective and now invites us to partake in His mission. The question is, will we commit to this mission for God’s glory?
Perhaps you’re here today without a relationship with Jesus Christ or an understanding of the mission. You might feel your life lacks direction, purpose, or meaning, believing that your current pursuits will lead to happiness.
But let me assure you, the ultimate goal God has for His people promises everlasting, glorious joy. We find delight in God’s mission because it is the sole path to true, everlasting joy, unmatched by any earthly endeavor, found only in Christ.
Therefore, let’s look beyond just the mission. How are we aligning our decisions, our time, money, energy, prayers, and strength with being faithful witnesses to God’s mission in Christ Jesus?
If we are on track, let us press on. If not, let us be reminded today that we have been anointed. The reason we are Christians is that we have been anointed by Christ to participate in God’s mission.
Let us pray.
Father in heaven, we thank you for this your word.
We ask that you would bless him for your glory and the praise of your name.
May we be a church that is on mission, empowered by your Spirit to live for your glory and the good of our neighborhood.