Most churches I work with have mission statements. After all, how will you know your church’s mission without a mission statement? What are we supposed to be doing? And so they go through the process of creating, composing, and publishing their mission statement. And it seems to work. The church becomes focused on accomplishing a particular mission and they rally around that mission. At least for a while. The common theme among nearly every church I have worked with is this: The life of the mission statement is limited. What I mean is, after a period of time, the mission becomes routine. Mundane. Meaningless to most people who attend the church. Here’s why: The church has rallied around a mission, not a purpose.
In order to be truly effective, a church must have more than a mission. It must have a purpose. Not just something to be done but a reason for being. If we dig into it, the two are not the same thing at all.
A Body
Most of us are probably familiar with 1 Corinthians 12. In this passage, Paul gives us a picture of the church that is much different from how most of us view it today. Paul builds on each concept he introduces to create an example of how the church should function as an entity. He begins with a discussion on spiritual gifts. The heart of this discussion is that each Christian has been given a spiritual gift or gifts. The gifts are not the same, but that’s not an argument for discrimination. It’s a purposeful distinction in God’s plan that we should not be alike. We are intentionally different in the gift(s) that God has given us.
Next, Paul makes a comparison of the human body with the church. He calls the church the body of Christ. Paul’s main argument in this section is that just as each part of our human bodies are different, yet designed to function together, the church – the body of Christ – is also made up of people who are very different, yet designed to function as one entity.
Paul carries this argument a little further in verse 18 when he says “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!”
In addition to emphasizing that our differences are God-designed and to be embraced, not scorned, Paul makes the statement that God has put each part just where he wants it. Since Paul’s intention here is the comparison of the physical human body to the church, the implication is that God has also placed people in the church just where he wants them based on their ability to function in the body (church).
He carries this point further in verse 27 when he says “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” In other words, God places people in specific churches based on where he thinks they will function the most efficiently to accomplish his purpose for his kingdom. That’s a novel concept in today’s consumer-driven world. We tend to choose a church based on what we like – which programs they have, how the preacher preaches, how close it is to where we live, what color the carpet is, whether the church has pews or chairs, a choir or praise band, or any combination of a hundred other considerations we take into account when we choose a church. But we won’t go there in this blog. Instead, I want to focus on the concept that God places parts in his church based on where he wants them.
Since God places parts in the church based on where he wants them, there are several things to consider based on that statement. First, the people in each local church are placed there because God wants them there. He has a specific purpose for each individual.
But God’s church is not made up of one local church. God’s church is global. That means that just as each person in each local church has a specific function to serve as a part of the whole, each local church should serve a specific purpose as a part of the whole as well.
If we carry this out to its logical conclusion, the churches in a community then serve a specific function as a group. Those communities then become part of that geographical region with a specific purpose and function. Geographical regions then become larger parts of the global “Body of Christ”. Each part has a specific, God-designed function and purpose to perform for the purpose of having a healthy body.
Mission, or purpose?
This is where a mission statement fails to deliver. Our body parts don’t complete missions. Missions are short-term. Our body parts were designed for long-term function with a specific purpose. That purpose extends beyond simply completing a mission. Mission sets its sights on a goal. On action. On accomplishment. On doing. Mission is the “What” of a church’s existence.
One of the consistencies that I have discovered while working with churches is the mission statement itself. Quite a few churches come up with their mission statement by mimicking the statements of other churches. In fact, the similarity of mission statements among churches is a little disturbing. For the sake of space, I won’t list the results here, but if you’re interested in seeing the similarity of mission statements, click here for a list of actual mission statements from churches around the country.
Purpose, on the other hand, is not about doing, it’s about being. Purpose is the “Why” of a church’s existence. Purpose is long term. It’s not about what I do, it’s about who I am. It isn’t about what I am striving to accomplish, it’s about why I’m here. There’s a huge difference. I may pastor a church, but that isn’t who I am. It’s what I do. Who I am encompasses much more than simply what I do. What I do is a very small part of who I really am.
Discovering the purpose for your church involves much more than creating a mission statement. Your purpose speaks to the very core of your church’s existence. Discovering your purpose is vital to the life and health of your church. How do you determine your purpose? Here are 3 things you can do to help you discern God’s purpose for your local church and also how that purpose fits in to God’s purpose in your geographic region.
Ask God. It sounds simple enough but you would be surprised at how many churches don’t start here when creating a mission statement. When determining your purpose, begin by asking God what he wants your church to do. Then listen. You may be one of those people who hear God clearly. If that’s you, then listen to his response to your prayer. If you are not one who clearly hears the voice of God it doesn’t mean he isn’t speaking. It just means that you’re having trouble tuning in to hear him. If that’s the case, pay attention to what you hear in conversations. Pay close attention to what you read in your Bible. Is there a common theme that seems to stand out to you? Ask God to give you clarity on what you are hearing.
Another helpful tool to determine God’s purpose for your church is to do some research on the history of your location. Remember, God places parts in the body where he wants them. Your location is not an accident. God has a purpose for you right where you are. The history of your geographic location can reveal some of the spiritual activity there. That can help you further your focus on your purpose.
For example, the city in which my church is located has a history of racial tension. Its early inhabitants were Quakers, which gives it a religious history as well. A famous battle in the Revolutionary War was held here, where the American forces stood their ground and inflicted tremendous casualties on the enemy. Although the Americans lost that battle, it is often cited as the determining reason for Britains surrender.
Now that you have asked God what he wants your church to do, and you have done some historical research into your location, you should begin to expand your perspective. God has revealed what he wants you to do, and also how that purpose fits into the spiritual activity in your area. You should have a good idea of your purpose locally. To see how your church fits into God’s greater purpose for your region, you should take a look at other churches in that region. What are they doing? Are there some churches which are very good at specific things? Is there something you feel is missing? How can your church fill a gap or complement what God is doing? This isn’t how most church leadership thinks. Other churches are viewed as competition. But we’re all on the same side. How does your church fit in with what God is already doing in your area? Invite some pastors to lunch to discuss what they are doing. Host a prayer meeting where local pastors can gather to pray over what God wants to accomplish in your area. God’s purpose is much bigger than your local church. Expand your perspective and begin to think regionally as well as locally.
Tom Rawlings
Tom Rawlings has been working with churches for over 30 years. If your church is having difficulty determining God's purpose for you, I can help. I can't hear from God for you, but I can help you hear by sharpening your focus. From researching history to helping connect with other churches in your region, I can be a resource to help you find God's purpose for your church. To chat more about it, just use the button below to contact me. Or give me a call! I would be glad to talk with you!
