THRIVING WITH A PURPOSE

Ephesians 1:7-10
Matthew 28:18-20

We continue our exploration of what it means to thrive as Christians and the church.  We've learned that thriving begins with sending our roots deep into our relationship with God through Christ.  Now, our thoughts turn to reaching out our branches high and wide, but before we do that, we should be clear on our purpose for doing so.


"We're on a mission from God."

In the movie, "The Blues Brothers," Jake and Elwood Blues are divinely inspired to take up the mission of saving the orphanage where they grew up.  All they have to do is raise $5,000 in a very short amount of time, and they're going to do that by "getting the band back together."

Having a mission or purpose is a good thing.  It's part of human thriving.  In the article "The 4 Step Path to Human Thriving" by Joe Brewer and Michel de Kemmeter (October 12, 2013, Environment, Political Mind, Social Movement), "Every human being needs a sense of purpose to thrive."

As a Christian, I believe our calling or purpose comes from our experience of God's love in relationship with Christ and others in the Body of Christ.  As our knowledge of who God is and who we are in Christ grows, we begin to develop a greater sense of our place in God's plan.

  ... With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  

Ephesians 1:8b-10 (NRSV)

While Jake and Elwood were on a mission to save their childhood home, St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage, God is on a mission to save the world through Jesus Christ by redeeming the relationships broken in Humanity's fall into sinfulness between God and humans, humans and the natural world and humans with each other.  Because God so loves the world, God offered up His Son, Christ Jesus, as a sacrifice to save it.

Unfortunately, some churches have forgotten about God's plan and have taken up the mission to save the church itself.  All ministries, resources, time and service are inwardly focused on keeping the church's doors open, the building in repair and the lights on.  "Evangelism" is about filling the pews so the church budget can be met.  The people of the church may see themselves as friendly, but they are not intentionally and actively inviting and welcoming others into a relationship with Christ.  They are fearful to take risks, often saying "no" to the Holy Spirit's leading.  They stagnate and slowly die.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                    Matthew 28:18-20 (NRSV)

In what is commonly known as "The Great Commission", Jesus gives the church its mission.  This is not merely suggestion of what we should do if we have the time to get around to it.  It is a commandment, a duty laid upon every Christian and the Body of Christ to make God's mission our mission.

When a church makes God's mission it's mission, every lay person, staff member, group, team, committee and board understands that, each in their own way, serves the mission of God.  Such a church sees the ministry of hospitality and invitation as happening inside and outside the church.  "Discipleship" is understood as a cradle to grave ministry.  Their resources and efforts are focused both inward and outward.  In fact, there is a dynamic sense of movement as people are introduced to Christ and their faith intentionally nurtured by the church and then sent out to take Christ to the world.  The Christ others see in these Christians attracts them, and they are invited to meet Christ in the community of faith.  These are churches who say "Yes!" to the Holy Spirit's leading and are thriving.

Where there is no vision, the people perish ...        Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)

Without the mission of God to guide us and give us a God-revealed vision of who we are and what we are about, we are not going to thrive.  As Christians, we were created to be more than ordinary people, just getting by.  It's time to do more than just survive.  It's time to make God's plan our plan and thrive.