The growth of a Church, of any size, depends on a clear mission. 

It’s something I encourage every Church to work on before doing everything else. The reason I’m saying so is what you read about in the following lines. 

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Any organization can relate to what I’ve just said. 

Five dangers that come with the lack of a clear mission

You focus more on the present:

• Lack of a clear mission will hold you only on what you have, where you are and people you have now. 
• You’ll fear the idea of getting out of your comfort zone. 
• You wouldn’t want any change. 

You fear the future

• Lack of a clear mission will not let you take any risks. 
• The future, for you, will mean losing what you have now for good. 
• The future is scary because you don’t want to think about it. 

You waste your limited resources

• Because of lack of a clear mission, you may end up using your limited resources for things that won’t help you or your Church (any organization) grow. 
• You use what you have based on what feels right at the moment. 
• You don’t know when and how to say no to activities and projects that require the use of your limited resources. 

You end up in unhealthy relationships

• Lack of a clear mission can damage relationships. People can step on each other’s toes because there are too many directions you (or your Church) are taking at the same time. 
• Because you don’t have a clear mission, your communication may also be affected. Conflicts often arise when there is repeated miscommunication between two people or within an organization. 
• You won’t know your message if you don’t have clarity on your mission. 

You don’t grow.

• All the four dangers lead you or your Church to decline. In other words, no clear mission no growth. 

So, now how do we establish a clear mission? 

Your mission results from who we are

Read this Scripture (Matthew 5: 13-16): 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. NIV. 

There are two phrases I want to bring to our attention, which give us an idea of who God wants us to be: 

• You are the salt of the earth (verse 13). 
• You are the light of the world (verse 14). 

I know you may have heard of the sermon on the mount a few or many times. But, the phrases help us get a sense of the foundation for our mission.

Being matters more than doing. You can’t do if you don’t exist. Can you?

It’s for the same reason why Jesus wants the disciples (including us today) to start first with being.

Of course, it’s going to be later that Jesus would then give the disciples the mission (read Matthew 28: 16-20).

[click_to_tweet tweet=”A lot of times, we want to start with the mission before delving into who God wants us to be. ” quote=”A lot of times, we want to start with the mission before delving into who God wants us to be. ” theme=”style3″]

Being the salt of the earth and the light of the world is exactly where we should all start. 

Doing so enables us to be: 

• Relevant as Christians and God’s Church. 
• Of greater impact wherever we are and located as God’s Church. 
• Visible and a safe place for all. 
• The only source of God’s Light. 

Your mission is threefold

First, your mission is to help people see God’s Light in you

Jesus, in Matthew 5, is talking about “your light.” 

In reality, it’s not “our light,” but “God’s Light.” 

Your mission, therefore, is for you to do all your best to help people, you encounter in life and know, see God’s light that is in you. 

Two things here I want to share with you. 

• First, make sure God’s Light dwells in you. Otherwise, you won’t have any light to help people see. John talks about Jesus Christ as the Light of the world (John 1). Those who believe and receive Jesus Christ, not only do they become children of God, but also receive God’s Light in them. 
• Second, make sure God’s Light dwells in your Church. Here’s where you, as a Church, need to develop some strategy on how to have God’s Light be real in each of your programming, meetings, worship services, and so forth. Otherwise, when people visit your Church, they won’t see God’s Light. 

Second, your mission is to help people see your good works

If there is something most mainline denominations are known for it’s what we do. 

I don’t think we have any problem when it comes to helping the poor, defending the weak, caring for the sick, etc. 

However, the question is: “do people see our good works as things we do in the name of Jesus Christ?” 

Do we justify what we do as actions and deeds we are known for because of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible as God’s Word? 

I’ve heard of Churches that remove crosses, bible or Christian study materials from their Church’s classrooms because they don’t want to offend people who meet for AA group or English as a Second Language class. 

Allowing AA groups to use your Church building, or having people come to learn English at your Church are good works.

Actions (works) speak louder than words!  Let them see why through your works and everything you have in your building. 

Third, your mission is to help people give glory to God, our Father, who’s in heaven

Our ultimate mission is to lead people to a place where they can give glory to God, our Father, who’s in heaven. 

It’s our mission that people come to believe in the good news and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

It’s our mission to help people stand before Christ, at the end of time, justified and righteous as a result of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. 

In summary

No clear mission, no growth. Your mission results from who we are. Our ultimate mission is to help people to experience the assurance of their salvation, and eventually give glory to God, our Father, in heaven.