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Glory · The Church
The church exists to make disciples of Jesus and to be, before the watching world, the people of God: witnesses to Christ, salt of the earth, lights in a dark place. The risen Lord gave the mission Himself, and the Spirit supplies its power. We speak the gospel with words and adorn it with lives that make those words believable.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/the-churchs-mission-in-the-world · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Matthew 28:16-20
As you read: The mission is not just to convert but to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Acts 1:6-11
As you read: Jesus defines the church's task and ties it to the Spirit's power, not human strategy.
6Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
11who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
1 Peter 2:9-17
As you read: Peter tells scattered Christians who they are, and why: to proclaim the excellencies of the One who called them.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
15For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
After His resurrection, Jesus gathered His disciples and sent them out: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and 'teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.' The church does not invent its own assignment; it receives one from its Lord, who closes it with the promise, 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'
“Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”Matthew 28:19-20
'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses.' The disciples wanted to know about restoring the kingdom; Jesus redirected them to power for witness. The church speaks about Christ everywhere, from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth, only as the Spirit empowers it.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.””Acts 1:8
“Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.””Luke 24:49
'We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us.' The ministry of reconciliation is not delegated to professionals; God makes His appeal through ordinary Christians who beg others, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.
“We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”2 Corinthians 5:20
“But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.”2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus calls His people 'the salt of the earth' and 'the light of the world,' a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Good works are not the gospel, but they are its evidence and advertisement: they are seen 'that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' Peter echoes it: conduct among the nations can silence slander and bring glory to God.
““You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.”Matthew 5:13-14
“Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 5:16
“having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.”1 Peter 2:12
'You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession,' and the next clause gives the reason: 'that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.' Even everyday speech carries the mission: 'Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.'
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”1 Peter 2:9
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”Colossians 4:6