First Mennonite Church
May 25, 2025
Defining a Mission Statement for FMC
The goal for us today is to define the mission statement for our congregation. The mission statement has the purpose of laying down the general framework of what we believe is God’s will for us. This is not only important for us as an organization, but a mission statement also reinforces our sense of identity as God’s holy people. It also provides the guidelines for everything we need to be and do.
After these past couple of Sundays of considering the three general areas of the church’s mission, we understand that the church exists to worship God. In worship, we acknowledge that we belong to God. In worship, we give thanks and praise to God, who has received us, cleansed us, and granted us the promise of eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ. In worship, we surrender to Jesus as Lord of our lives. As Psalm 115: 1, 17-18 says
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord.
Or as the apostle Paul says: 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. (Ephesians 1: 12, 13).
Therefore, the first reason we exist is to worship God. When we gather for worship, we declare Jesus’ lordship over our lives, that we surrender to him in gratitude for his salvation. When we gather, we lift up the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The second purpose of the church, according to the New Testament, is for it to nourish the faith of those the Lord has called to form it. This we do by studying and obeying the word of God and by encouraging one another to grow into the likeness of the Lord. The church, as the body of Christ, has the obligation of ensuring that each of its members learn and embody the character, spirit, and mission of Christ. This process is called “discipleship.” It is an ongoing task; it never ends. Again, as the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:11-16.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The third part of the church’s mission is to proclaim the good news of the gospel and to make disciples. Reaching out to others with the gospel message is as important as coming to worship on Sundays and every activity of mutual support and care we the church have. Outreach is not a project nor something only done for a period of time. Reaching out with the gospel message should be in everything the church does. It is ongoing and intrinsic (embedded into the very nature) in every aspect of church life.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The handout this morning is a collection of mission statements of various congregations. As you can see, some are very brief, while others, a little longer. There are some stated in several paragraphs. Some are single-focused, while others are clearly tripartite.
Proposed Mission Statement for First Mennonite Church:
To worship God and to grow in Christ with the purpose of sharing the gospel with everyone, in both words and deeds.
Please write your suggestion below. Thank you.
Pastor Romero