According to Scripture, the mission of the Church is astonishingly simple. Win the lost. Make disciples who are strong in faith, capable of repeating step one.
Jesus didn’t leave His followers with a complicated organizational blueprint. His final command was unmistakable: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Before ascending into heaven, He also declared: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)
The Church exists to bring people to Christ and then mature them into followers who can do the very same for someone else. Again, Salvation. Discipleship. Repeat. That’s the strategy Jesus entrusted to His Church.
Modern churches have become consumed with everything except these two priorities.
We have become masters of producing services while failing to produce disciples. We fill calendars with activities but often neglect the Great Commission. We celebrate attendance while overlooking transformation. We measure success by crowds instead of changed lives.
If a church faithfully preaches salvation but never intentionally disciples believers, it is only fulfilling half of Christ’s commission.
This is no different than a church that pours itself into Bible studies and internal growth while rarely reaching the lost, it is also missing half of Christ’s command.
From the very beginning, the Church was called to do both.
The first-century believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, and breaking bread (Acts 2:42), but they also proclaimed Christ boldly, and “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
Notice the balance. They reached the lost; they built believers. They repeated the process. Everything else flowed from that mission.
Yes, the Church should feed the hungry (Matthew 25:35). Care for widows and orphans (James 1:27). Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Love one another deeply (John 13:35). Serve the poor with generosity and compassion.
But these are not replacements for the early church design, they are expressions of it.
Compassion authenticates the message, it does not replace it.
The Church was never commissioned merely to create comfortable Christians. It was commissioned to raise disciples who make disciples. If our ministries are not leading people to Jesus or growing them into mature followers who can lead others to Him, then no matter how polished our organization may be, we have drifted from our primary assignment.
The Church does not need more distractions, we need to return to our first calling.
Preach Christ.
Win the lost.
Make disciples.
Modern culture should be increasing more and more challenged. Why do we do the things we do, because this was the design and intent, or because this is how it has culturally evolved?
I will die on this mountain, in good company.
-Devin
Devin Osborne
The Early Church
