Church-Centered Missions: Understanding God's Strategy for the Great Commission

The Great Commission represents Jesus' final marching orders as the resurrected King. While many modern mission strategies focus on rapid growth and individual conversions, Scripture reveals that God's plan centers on local churches as both the means and goal of missions.

What is the Ultimate Goal of Missions?

The primary purpose of missions is to make disciples who worship the Triune God. When Jesus commanded baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He grounded missions in Trinitarian worship. God created the world to display His glory and made humans with the capacity for communion with Him.

How Does the Great Commission Connect to God's Bigger Story?

The command to make disciples of all nations connects back to God's original creation mandate. Where Adam and Israel failed in their calling to be God's representatives, Jesus succeeded as the perfect priest and king. Through His death and resurrection, Christ is establishing God's kingdom by calling people from every tribe and nation into fellowship with Him.

What Role Do Local Churches Play in Missions?

Baptism symbolizes not just individual union with Christ, but entrance into His covenant community - the local church. The early church in Acts demonstrates this pattern:

• New believers were added to the church through baptism
• They devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer
• They lived out their new identity together in community

How Do We Make Disciples Who Obey Christ?

Making disciples goes beyond conversion to teaching obedience to all Christ commanded. This happens primarily through local churches where believers:

• Learn to love God through corporate worship
• Practice loving one another in real relationships
• Experience accountability and spiritual formation
• Display Christ's glory through unity despite differences

What is God's Timeline for Missions?

Jesus promised His presence until the end of the age, indicating this mission continues until His return. While urgency is appropriate since people need Christ, we must follow His strategy of building healthy churches rather than pursuing rapid results through pragmatic methods.

Application

Consider these questions for personal reflection:

• Does your view of missions keep the worship of the Triune God as the central focus?
• How are you participating in strengthening your local church as Christ's mission strategy?
• In what ways can you better love and serve others in your church community this week?

Challenge: Choose one specific way to invest in your local church this week - whether through serving, deepening relationships, or participating more fully in corporate worship. Remember that building Christ's church is how we fulfill the Great Commission.