When activities become routine, it can be easy to overlook their significance and simply run on autopilot. This can happen in many areas of life—including church. We can become so familiar with our traditions that we never stop to consider what the church is and why it exists. In fact, we may even forget whose it is and start to think it’s “our” church.
The first mention of the church in the New Testament is in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus said, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” This clearly shows us that the church belongs to Christ, and there will always be conflict involved in the growth. However, victory is assured because it is God’s power at work in the building process.
Although the Lord is the one forming His church, He’s enlisted us to participate in the work. That’s why, before He ascended to heaven, Jesus’ parting words to His disciples were, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is the unfinished task of the church, and it is still being accomplished to this very day.
We have a message to bring to the world—that God sent His only Son to earth to pay the penalty for sin with His death on the cross. He did this so those who believe in Him could be forgiven and receive eternal life (John 3:16). Our message is not about a thousand things. We have this one essential truth, and everything we do is because of it. If it’s not, then we are failing to accomplish what Christ called us to do. Unlike so many ideas and philosophies, our message never needs revising. It’s the same one Jesus spoke almost 2,000 years ago, and it still effectively and powerfully transforms people’s lives, no matter their culture or language.
Christ gave His church a mission to accomplish—to spread the gospel to every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). Even the church’s teaching and training through sermons, Bible studies, and Sunday school programs exist to equip God’s people. We must know the truth before we can pass it on to others.
Although the gospel is global in its outreach, it’s personal in its impact. No nation or people group is saved corporately. Faith in Christ and repentance from sins are personal issues. Each person must hear and believe the message in order to be saved.
The motivation for the church’s mission is twofold. First of all, Jesus commands us to make disciples and teach them to observe all His instructions (Matt. 28:19-20). If we call Him Lord, our desire and ambition should be to obey Him. Second, the condition of lost humanity should prod us into action. In the Scriptures, God describes the unredeemed as separated from Him, deceived, darkened in their understanding, helpless to save themselves, and hopeless without Him (Eph. 2:12; 4:17-18). How can we possibly keep to ourselves the only message with the power to transfer people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s Son?
Our methods for spreading the message of Christ are diverse (1 Cor. 9:16-23). We live in the most amazing time in history with multiple avenues available for reaching the lost. Ninety-five percent of the world’s population now has the opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language because of Bible translators, Christian radio and recordings, and movies like the JESUS film. In addition to this, about one-third of the world has Internet access, which has opened a way for them to hear and read the Bible and other Christian materials.
Here at In Touch Ministries, we are reaching the world in more than 50 languages with our television and radio broadcasts, which air on more than 2,600 stations globally. In addition, people around the world have 24/7 access to our messages over the Internet. More than one million magazines are printed each month in various languages, and the Messenger, which makes the gospel accessible to illiterate cultures and communities, is currently available in 55 languages.
Seeing such progress in carrying out Christ’s commission globally doesn’t cancel out our individual responsibility. This task is not given only to pastors and missionaries serving in various places around the world. We are each called to be missionaries in our own countries, towns, workplaces, schools, and families. It’s so easy to huddle together at church thinking we’ve done our duty, but Christ wants us to gather together to learn, grow, and encourage one another, and then go out and share the hope of salvation with the people we encounter each week.
What is God asking you to do to participate in the unfinished task of the church? Wherever He’s planted you, whether in another culture or in your neighborhood, you have a responsibility to proclaim His message. When you make yourself available to whatever He has in mind, He will empower and work through you to accomplish His will.