When the risen Jesus gathered his disciples, he said, Go and make disciples of all nations. His words are given to all who would follow Jesus. He gives the church its mission to proclaim the gospel to the nations. However, it’s easy to forget this. It’s easy to think that the Church is all about me. That Church exists to meet my needs. Certainly, we need to worship together, pray together and commune together for our edification and to glorify our God. But we can’t stop there and fail to see the full teaching of scripture on the church’s mission. The church exists foremost for the glory of God. And as the body of Christ, we are sent as ambassadors to bring the message of our King to the world.

Our mission is the same but aspects of it will look differently because God places us in various spaces and communities for a purpose. Some of us may be called to the ends of the earth, but most of us are simply called across the hall, into the workplace or around the block. But each of us is invited to participate in God’s redemptive plan for the nations. 

This is most clearly seen in Acts 2. After Pentecost and the outpouring of the Spirit we are told that these early believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer. They shared what they had with one another, cared for the poor, and lived with radical generosity. The early church didn’t grow exponentially because of fantastic programs or marketing. They grew because people saw a community that lived out the love and the mission of Jesus in tangible ways as the gospel was proclaimed and shared. 

Friends, what might it look like for us to rekindle a passion for mission? I believe it starts with prayer. So, let’s pray and ask God for a heart that is moved by his mission to reach the lost and broken hearted. Let’s pray that God would open our eyes to the needs of our community and that he would strengthen us to live sacrificially to bring the gospel to bear in Astoria and around the world.