First Mennonite Church
April 13, 2025
The Church and Its Mission
Text: Ephesians 1:3-14
The church and its mission. What is the purpose of the church’s existence? What was and is in the heart of God for the people he has redeemed through the saving work of Jesus Christ? Is the church only there to secure a place in heaven for the believer? Or, is there something more for the church’s time here on earth?
What do you say is the church’s mission, purpose, and reason for existence in this world? Why would God want First Mennonite Church of Paso Robles to exist at this time in history?
I want to hear your answer!
Ephesians 1:3-14
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
So, the first reason God created the church is for “the praise of his glory.” We have been saved through faith in Christ to exalt the marvelous goodness of God. In chapter two of Ephesians, Paul says that while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, “but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” The church exists to worship God and to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ, the head of the church. And how do we give praise and worship to God? It is through everything we do and we say. We worship God not only when we sing hymns in church; not only when we bow our heads in prayer. We worship God, not only when we come to church but in everything we do and say and everywhere happen to be. That means we honor God when we take care of our children; when we interact with our friends and neighbors, and when we go out to get our groceries. It is when we offer our talents and gifts to honor God. It is when we post something on social media platforms. We honor God by guarding ourselves about what and how we say and do things. Here Paul says that the church is for the praise and glory of God, now and in that final day when Jesus presents us to the Father. Jesus will present us to the Father as the fruit of his sacrifice on Calvary. God the Father will be glorified by his Son that his life, death, and resurrection were not in vain. We are the fruit of his labor and the people he redeemed through his sacrifice. But today, we honor the Father, and the Son, as we also are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the first reason the church of Christ exists is to praise and worship God. The second is that all believers live as a community. Believers are called to live in close relationships with one another. The New Testament has various ways to communicate this idea; thus, the church is referred to as a living organism—a body, the body of God. The church is compared to a body because of the diversity of its members. Each body part is not only different—eyes are different from feet and so on, but each member has a particular function. However, regardless of the difference in shape and functionality, each healthy member of the body works and serves to nourish the body. In other cases, the New Testament describes the church as a house—a spiritual house, built with living stones upon Christ the Rock and secure Foundation. Hear what the Apostle Peter says about this metaphor about the church as a house: “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1Peter 2:4, 5).
A predominant metaphor implicitly used for the church is that of it being a family. When the New Testament writers greet, make their appeal, and exhortation, they use “brothers” and “sisters,” when referring to the people they are addressing. Jesus used that same metaphor when he said that his mother, brothers, and sisters are those who the will of the Father” (Matthew 12:50). We are a family, thus we should not shy away from referring to each other as “brother” or “sister.” This is the language and part of the culture of God’s people.
The reason behind each of these metaphors about the church as a community is to emphasize a life of close relationship among the believers. As a body, we serve the Lord with the gifts, talents, and resources we have as we work together in the church. As a house, we are being built to become a spiritual house where God dwells, is worshipped, is made known to the world, and becomes a refuge for everyone seeking God. As a spiritual house that we are, we build each other on Jesus, the foundation, which means Jesus’ words and example become the building material—not tradition nor human wisdom.
However, the most important reason why the church is referred to as a community, family, spiritual house and the body of Christ is because each member of this community, each member of this family, and body and house can find its God-given purpose and its life and growth by remaining in relationship with one another. As a community, we are called to care for one another.
New Testament writers gave instructions for mutual care. Paul, James, and Peter gave these instructions:
- Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).
- Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
- Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13).
- Accept one another (Romans 15:7).
- Serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13).
- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other (Ephesians 5:32).
- Pray for one another (James 5:16).
- Encourage one another (2Corinthians 13:11).
- Be patient with one another bearing each other’s burdens. Be kind and compassionate to one another (Colossians 3:13).
- Admonish one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3:16).
- Love one another deeply, from the heart (1Peter 1:22).
All of these instructions can only be put into practice in the context of the church community. We certainly can forgive our neighbor or anyone who wrongs us on the street, but these instructions were given to help Christian communities live according to the teachings and example of Jesus. These instructions were necessary because those who received the gospel message needed to know how to relate to one another within the diverse fellowship of believers.
Sometimes people wonder why it is necessary to go to church. Their argument against going to church is that they can pray to God at home or anywhere else other than the church. And that is true. However, what such people often want to avoid is being with others, as the saying goes, “They like Christ, but not people.” However, this is what John says: God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister (1John 4:16, 19-21).
Through sharing together in worship, prayer, fellowship, and doing ministry together, we grow in our faith in the Lord, and in the knowledge of the Bible. It is through our interaction with our fellow brothers and sisters that we learn patience, to receive and give support, and counsel. It is in the fellowship where God speaks to us and extends us his mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.
The third reason the church exists is to serve in the name of Christ. Outreach or evangelism, as the task of spreading the gospel is often called, is actually our desire to show the love of Christ to others. Evangelism or outreach should not be motivated by the desire to grow the church nor to secure financial stability for the church, or any other reason, but should be out of love for those who need to hear about Jesus Christ. Jesus’ final command to his disciples according to both Mark and Matthew is that they go and make disciples of all nations. Outreach is an essential part of our mission. Sharing the gospel is just as important as worshiping every Sunday, just as having fellowship and caring for one another in the church.
Therefore, any mission statement for First Mennonite Church has to include these three areas: worship of God, community life, and outreach with the gospel message.
Please submit in writing a mission statement for FMC.
Today, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Part of community worship, community life, and proclamation of the gospel is by participating in the Lord’s Supper.
The apostle Paul said, 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
By participating in the Lord’s Supper we declare we are one with the Lord and with each other. And we give thanks to the Father for giving us Jesus who gave himself a sacrifice on the cross for us. But also, every time we eat the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim Jesus’ death on behalf of the world and we do so until the day Jesus returns once again. I want to invite everyone to participate in the Lord’s Table. Amen!
Pastor Romero