Purpose and mission of church

God’s purposes for the church

To praise God

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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To share God’s glory

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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God will build his church

Matthew 16:18–19 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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To challenge Satan’s dominion

“rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” refers to the powers of evil.

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To go into the world in mission

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

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The church’s mission

To preach the gospel to the world

Mark 13:10 ESV

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

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To do good to all

Galatians 6:10 ESV

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

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Images of the church’s mission

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A fruitful plant in a fruitless world:

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Salt in an insipid world:

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Light in a dark world:

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The growth of the church

Numerical growth among the first Christians

Acts 11:21 ESV

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

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The church is to grow to maturity

Ephesians 4:12–13 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

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Aspects of growth

Growth in character:

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Growth into Christ:

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growth in understanding

Prayers for the growth of the church

Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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Visions of the church’s final destiny

John’s vision of the church in glory.

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