Church, purpose and mission of

The church is called to praise and glorify God, to establish Jesus Christ's kingdom, and to proclaim the gospel throughout the world.

God's purposes for the church

To praise God

1 Peter 2:9 See also Ephesians 1:5–6, Ephesians 1:11–12, Ephesians 1:14; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

To share God's glory

Romans 8:29–30 See also Matthew 13:43; John 17:24; Romans 9:23; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Revelation 2:26–27, Revelation 3:4–5, Revelation 3:21

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

God will build his church

Matthew 16:18–19 See also Matthew 27:40 parallel Mark 15:29; John 2:19–22; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:21–22, Ephesians 4:11–13; Hebrews 3:3–6; 1 Peter 2:5

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

To challenge Satan's dominion

Ephesians 3:10–11 “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” refers to the powers of evil. See also Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 2:14

His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To go into the world in mission

2 Corinthians 5:18 See also Matthew 5:13–16, Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Philippians 2:15–16; Colossians 1:27

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

The church's mission

To preach the gospel to the world

Mark 13:10 parallel Matthew 24:14 See also Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47; John 10:16; Acts 13:47

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.

To do good to all

Galatians 6:10 See also Matthew 25:37–40; Luke 6:35; Acts 9:36; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; James 1:27; 1 Peter 2:12

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

Images of the church's mission

Matthew 5:13–16; John 15:5–8 Matthew 7:18–19; Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:9–10; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:6, Colossians 1:10; James 3:17; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34–35; Romans 13:12–14; Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–6

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

I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

The growth of the church

Numerical growth among the first Christians

Acts 11:21 See also Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14, Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31, Acts 9:42, Acts 11:24, Acts 12:24, Acts 13:49, Acts 16:5, Acts 17:4, Acts 18:8, Acts 19:20

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

The church is to grow to maturity

Ephesians 4:12–13 See also Philippians 1:6, Philippians 3:13–15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3

to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Aspects of growth

Growth in character: 2 Corinthians 9:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:10; 2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 6:1 growth in understanding

Prayers for the growth of the church

Ephesians 3:14–19 See also Ephesians 1:17–19; Philippians 1:9–11; Colossians 1:9–12; 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12

... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Visions of the church's final destiny

Revelation 7:9–10 John's vision of the church in glory. See also Matthew 24:31; John 10:16; Ephesians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Hebrews 12:22–23; Revelation 21:2

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”