One of the great benefits of belonging to a church is the friendship that grows among the members. Church becomes family. Even in very large congregations, you may not know everyone. Yet you know some of those in the family. And they know you. That is great! Relationships are powerful. They are important for the expansion of the Christian movement.
Sometimes, in order to do things differently, we have to see things differently. Even lifelong Christians need to see things differently.
When asked about “the main purpose of the church,” we give respondents four choices: (1) to teach people how to live the golden rule; (2) to be the moral backbone of society; (3) to make disciples; and (4) to provide a place of fellowship, to share God’s love with one another.
The first two choices result in 3 percent of the responses. The fellowship response was chosen by 57 percent of the Christians surveyed. Only 40 percent of the Christians reflected Jesus’ teaching that we are to make disciples. From a growth perspective, only four out of 10 people in most churches reflect Jesus’ primary mission of the church.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave His followers their purpose: “Go, make disciples.” This was not a command limited to pastors, church boards, or committees—or just 40 percent of those who attend church. When you have substantially lost your purpose, you have greatly removed your primary mission.
Contrary to popular opinion, reaching lost people for Christ is not the sole responsibility of your pastor. In fact, your pastor will never meet most of the unchurched people you know. It is not the pastor’s role to reach your neighbor. You are the one with the relationship, and that is powerful!
Dr. Kent Hunter is the founder of Church Doctor Ministries, a mission to help the local church renew, revive, and thrive. Church Doctors help Christians like you to renew the Christian movement and reach our world for Jesus.