Mission Festival (3)

Most organizations are formed for a very specific purpose.

PTA

Fire Department

Schools

Hospitals

FFAF

Lion’s Club

VFW

You may belong to one or more of these organizations. What is the purpose of the organization that you are a part of? I belonged to a modeling club for almost 20 years. No, I didn’t model clothes. This club is a plastic modeling club and our purpose is to encourage one another in our modeling endeavors and to promote the hobby of building plastic modeling. I belong to another group as well. It is the same group that you belong to. It is our congregation, St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church or Grace Ev. Lutheran Church. Our church has a purpose as well. It is the same purpose of the larger organization that we belong to called the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. Like other organizations, we also have in writing what our purpose is and what it is that we are to be focused on.

Passages on the purpose of the Holy Christian Church.

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

1 Peter 2:9–12 NIV9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Matthew 5:14–16 NIV14 “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.

Titus 3:4–8 NIV4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Our purpose as stated in writing.Note how the Christian church has historically followed God’s commands on its purpose.How has our congregation been fulfilling its purpose?

Worship services

Christian Education

Visitation

Outreach

Church website and Facebook page

Personal witnessing and acts of kindness on the part of individual members.

What can we expect to do in the future?How can you be a more integral part of it?

1 Peter 4:7–11 NIV7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Final thought. Sometimes a local branch of a group is unable to fulfill all of the purposes of the wider group to which it belongs. Such is the case with the local congregation. Our relationship with the WELS affords us the opportunity to be a part of a larger group carrying out God’s purpose.

Be informed.

Be involved.

Pray, encourage, and support.

Illustration: When I first started in the ministry, I was a home missionary. We moved 1700 miles away from home to a place where I knew no one. We didn’t even have a congregation. It would have been easy to get homesick and frustrated when it may have seemed as though we were all alone. But we weren’t alone. We had the support of fellow Christians. One memorable example was a complete stranger who wrote me letters of encouragement. Even though we never met, the connection we had was a source of inspiration. It has been over 30 years and I don’t remember his name and although I probably still have his letters, I don’t know which box or filing cabinet drawer they are in. But I still do remember that I looked forward to receiving his letters and the encouraging words and prayers on our behalf.

It is one thing to pray in general for all missionaries (which is also effective). But it much more personal to contact them in person (now so much easier by internet) and give them words of encouragement and name them in your prayers.

This month is known as “Pastor Appreciation” month. Either most members don’t know it or choose not to demonstrate it. I am very grateful for the ones who do take the time to express their appreciation. Sometimes I think it was invented by church supply companies to increase sales in October. It certainly isn’t in the Bible to set aside a month to thank God for our pastors. October is also traditionally when many congregations have a Mission Festival because it is often centered around a harvest theme. Why not combine the two? Use our focus on missions in October to show your appreciation to the missionaries that God sends out into the world to carry out the work of the church on our behalf? Amen.