Discovering Our Mission What is a mission Merriam

Discovering Our Mission

What is a mission? �Merriam Webster defines it as, “ a specific task with which a person or a group is charged. ” �What we will be seeking to discover is our Church’s mission this morning. �What is the task God has given our church here at First Baptist?

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 1. The mission dictates the ministry’s direction It tells the church where we are going. 2. The Mission formulates the ministry’s function It helps us define what really matters. It answers the questions ▪ ▪ What are we supposed to be doing? What function does the organization exist to perform? What is the primary thing that God has called us to do/accomplish? What are we attempting to do for God and our people? In short, what matters? It should cause people to nod and think, “Yes, that is what we must be about. ”

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 3. It helps our church focus on the future, not the past. Though we can not predict the future, we can create it, and that is the job of the mission. No mission, no future. We don’t drive a car by looking in the rear view window, we drive it looking ahead through the windshield.

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 4. The mission provides a guideline for decision making. It helps set boundaries and tells us what the church will/not attempt to do. When to say yes/no Sometimes people come to pastor and staff with ideas of new ministries that could lead the church away from its direction. Clear shared mission protects pastor and boards from involvement innumerous tangential activities. Reply can now be: Thanks so much for your interest, but that would lead us away from our mission.

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 5. The mission inspires ministry unity. Communicates a unifying theme to all members. It draws them together as a team. It serves to get everyone on the same page. Christ prays in John 17: 20 -23 for you and me who believe in Christ to be one. 6. The mission shapes the strategy. The mission will direct our strategy. The key activities we plan and strategize must be to fulfill this mission.

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 7. The mission enhances ministry effectiveness. When the people understand what the church is trying to accomplish, they become more effective in their efforts. 8. The mission ensures an enduring organization. As the years progress, pastors, staff, and the church will change. But an effective mission endures beyond the years.

The importance of having a mission – 9 Reasons – 9. The mission facilitates evaluation. You know how to evaluate because the direction the mission affords you. Ex. The church’s mission is to make disciples. So you would say, “show me the disciples”. The church that fails to examine its people and its effectiveness as a ministry in light of its mission does itself an injustice. How will the church know it is fulfilling the mission? How can it improve without formal evaluation? Not only what you evaluate gets done but gets done well! No one enjoys evaluations (living under the lenses of scrutiny, but evaluation will improve any ministry).

Defining A Mission – What it’s not. �People confuse a mission with a purpose. The purpose of a church as an organization is very different from its mission in a number of ways. The mission answers the “what” questions: What are we supposed to be doing? What is our divine, strategic intent? What does God want us to accomplish while we are here on earth? Purpose answers “why” questions. Why are we here? Why do we exist Why do we want to make disciples? The answer is “to glorify God”. “To Glorify God” is the purpose. The purpose focuses on God. The mission focuses on people

Mission is focusing on the people in the community. � The church’s mission helps it to position itself in the minds of those who live in the community and reach out to it. They should know not only where the church is located in the community but why it is there. � The answer for the community is that the church is there to make a difference – a positive difference that contributes to the community. � As his representatives are we communicating a Godhonoring image to the community? � When our image is good this glorifies God and His reputation is good. When our image is bad, however, his is bad – you misrepresent him to the community.

Defining A Mission – What it is. It is a broad, brief, biblical statement of what the ministry is supposed to be doing. There are five key elements. 1. A Mission is Broad – a good mission must be broad, comprehensive and expansive. It is possible for a mission to be too broad though that it doesn’t say anything. If a church says their mission is to glorify God. Glorifying God is the church’s purpose, not it mission. The concept does not communicate what the church will actually do. The average parishioner as well as many pastors do not know what it means to glorify God.

5 Key Elements to a Mission 2. A Mission is Brief – if the mission is not short, people will not remember it. � No more than 75 words. � Mission statements in the bible are short – no longer than a sentence. � Moses’s mission was to lead God’s people, Israel, out of bondage in Egypt; Ex. 3: 10. David’s mission was to shepherd Israel and become their ruler – 2 Sam. 5: 2. Nehemiah’s mission was to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem – Neh. 2: 17. � The leadership of a ministry should be able to catch the church’s mission statement in a single, concise sentence. Drucker says that the statement should be able to fit on a tshirt. If the mission is not short the people will not remember it.

5 Key Elements to a Mission 3. A Mission is Biblical – a mission for a church must be based on the Scriptures. God determines the church’s mission. �The question is, What does God say the church’s mission is? The answer is the Great Commission. �The great Commission proactively involves the church in making and maturing disciples at home and abroad. Making disciples involves the church proactively pursuing lost people, evangelizing them, and helping those new Christians to mature - to become like Christ.

5 Key Elements to a Mission 4. A Mission Is a Statement �The church must articulate and communicate its mission edict to the congregation. Christ verbalized this statement and Matthew recorded it as a written statement.

5 Key Elements to a Mission 5. A Mission Is What The Ministry Is Supposed To Be doing. �Christ predetermined the church’s mission: “Make disciples. ” (many churches in America have veered from this command). 1. What is the church’s mission? 2. What are we supposed to be doing? 3. Why are we not doing what we are supposed to be doing? 4. What will it take for you to change and do what you are supposed to be doing?

The 5 Kinds of Missions 1. A Conscious versus an Unconscious Mission Most churches have a mission whether or not they know or can verbalize it. The mission needs to move from unconscious to conscious. Core Values will reveal it. 2. A Personal versus an Organizational Mission While the church as a whole has a mission, most individuals have a mission in mind for the church as well. Even new members have their own agenda. Personal missions may conflict with the church’s mission but the church’s mission must prevail. 3. A Shared versus an Unshared Mission A shared ministry mission is essential to the church’s effectiveness. An unshared ministry mission leads to disunity and holds potential for disaster, pulling people apart, not together. This must be addressed with the congregation.

The 5 Kinds of Missions 4. A Correct versus an Incorrect Mission The Savior has determined that the correct mission is the Great Commission. Any mission other than this is disobedience and a violation of Scripture. 5. An Actual versus an Aspirational Mission Goals, values and mission must align for a mission to become actual. If evangelism is not a core value (Great Commission) then the team would need to rediscover their values. Even if the mission statement is aspirational in nature to a certain extent, we need to make sure the church culture changes to fit this.

3 Options for developing our mission statement Option One: Identify Your Current Mission Statement and if necessary, correct your current mission statement. 2. Option Two: Develop A New Mission Statement that is unique to your ministry. Focus on “what should be” by addressing your current values and following the Great Commission. 3. Option 3: Adopt An Existing Mission Statement. You may decide our best option is to adopt a mission statement that has been created by another church. 1.

4 Guidelines for Mission Statement development 1. Determine your church’s purpose – For churches this is clear and simple. It is to make disciples (Matt. 28: 19) Whom will you serve? (business world says “who is your customer? ) make a profile person. Young, Old, Multi ethnicity, unchurched? Churched is sheep stealing. How will you server them? (customer needs. ) Unbeliever = Salvation. Believer = Sanctification. ▪ Ex. Our mission is to share the good news of Christ with the people of the New Hope Community and beyond. If we ask, “Whom will we serve? ” Clearly the target is those in the community. It also answers “how will we serve these people? By sharing the good news of Christ.

4 Guidelines for Mission Statement development 2. Write your mission statement What words best communicate it? Do people understand what we have written? Does the format convey well the mission? �Here are three formats that can help getting us started: The mission of First Baptist Church of Bethany is to ______________ Our mission is to _____________ First Baptist Church of Bethany seeks to _____ (These formats are simple and straightforward)

4 Guidelines for Mission Statement development 3. Make our mission statement broad but clear � Is the statement broad enough? It is supposed to be broad, comprehensive and overarching. It summarizes all you do as a church. � Is the statement clear? The crucial test for clarity is the “people test”. As you develop the mission, ask people I the congregation what it means. If they do not get it then it is not clear.

Examples Of lack of clarity in a mission statement: � Ex. No. 1, Grace Church exists to provide an environment where people can discover a love for God that is real and relevant. (ask what does this mean? Is discovering the love of God the same as evangelizing? Or is it worship? � Ex. No. 2, Our mission is to glorify God by responding to the Savior through exalting him as Lord, edifying his church, and evangelizing the world. (the problem is the term “glorify” it is so broad that it isn’t clear. The mission of the church is not to glorify God. That is a purpose, not a mission) � Some churches simply state that the Great Commission is the mission of the church. The problem is we are assuming everyone in the congregation knows what the Great Commission is. � Even the word ‘disciple’ is confusing for some. These are Ambiguous churchy words to some.

4 Guidelines for Mission Statement development 4. Make your mission statement brief and simple. Does the mission pass the t-shirt test? The most common error is to include a how statement along with the mission statement. (ex. Faith Community Church exists to make disciples by loving Christ, loving one another, and living to reach our would for Christ. – the how portion is used with the preposition by. ) Is our mission memorable? ▪ You should be able to read it, turn your head away or close your eyes and remember it. *Pass out Handouts for Mission Development