Understand Your Mission

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.’ ” (Matthew 22:38-40)
      Passage: Matthew 9:35-38

        According to many studies of churches in America, around 80% of churches are either plateaued or declining. While there are many reasons given for that, one of the key reasons is that many churches have lost a sense of their true mission and purpose. It is human nature to turn inward and focus on maintaining buildings and caring for our own members. They may try to do some social kinds of work that make them feel good, but they do not intentionally share the gospel to lead non-believers to become followers of Jesus.
        When Jesus began his public ministry, Matthew 9 tells us that He went around teaching and preaching and healing. By His very actions, Jesus showed that the compassionate ministry of meeting human needs was connected to proclaiming the good news of salvation. He said that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Look around your own community. There are thousands of people who do not know Christ. Pray for yourself and your church to understand that loving people involves both ministering to their needs and sharing the gospel.      

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)