Missio CrossWay: Conviction 10 - Evangelism, Mercy, Pastor Training, Church Planting

We have identified God’s mission to redeem a people for the praise of His glory. We’ve said there is a direct correlation between God’s mission and the church’s mission. The church exists to execute, in some divinely ordained respects, God’s mission. We are to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. We are to reach people from every tribe, tongue, language, and nation for the glory of Christ.

Components of the Church’s Outward Mission

So how does the church execute its mission? How does the Bible define the nature and scope of the church’s outward mission? What components does it include? From our understanding the church’s outward mission includes four components: (1) evangelism; (2) mercy ministries; (3) pastor training; and (4) church planting.

(1) Evangelism

Evangelism is the church’s responsibility to proclaim the good news of the gospel to those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ. It involves publicly speaking the message of the gospel to all who are in darkness. It is the responsibility of every member of the body of Christ.

[pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, Acts 4:29

(2) Mercy Ministries

Where evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel, mercy ministries is the demonstration of the gospel in practical deeds of mercy. It is helping those who are in need financially, physically, socially, and psychologically. Often it includes speaking the message of the gospel to those who need mercy.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints 2Corinthians 8:1-4

(3) Pastor Training

Pastor training is raising-up, equipping, and deploying elders who are to shepherd the church. God calls elders to provide the primary leadership for the people and mission of the church. They are to guard their life and doctrine and their primary means of leadership is through the effective handling and teaching of God’s word.

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2Timothy 2:1-2

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15

(4) Church Planting

The fruit of effective evangelism, mercy, and pastor training is not only the growth of the church numerically, but the planting of new local churches. New Christians result in new congregations and new elders are raised up to provide the primary leadership for these new churches. The church in the New Testament grew this way.

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Acts 15:36

... Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:40-41

CrossWay Exists

Let me end with a summarizing statement of how the elders of CrossWay view the nature and scope of our mission as a church. The nature of our mission refers to what God has called us to do as a church. The scope of our mission refers to the breadth of what God has called us to do.

We believe the nature of our mission as a church is to bring glory to God through the transforming of lives by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though we recognize a primacy, urgency, and responsibility to reach our immediate context with the gospel, we also recognize that by our very church nature, from our inception, we have an inherent responsibility to reach the nations with the gospel. We believe these callings are not at odds with one-another but compliment each other; God calls us to do both. God will direct our paths locally and globally according to His timing. We believe that as God matures us as a church and as He increases our resources, expands our influence, multiplies our capacity, and provides opportunities for gospel ministry, we have a calling and responsibility to obediently follow God’s leading locally and globally. We exist by God’s grace and for God’s glory.