“Our Mission”

Series Title: The Master’s Plan Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 06/28/26 (4th Sunday Message)

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{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}

Message Title:

Our Mission

This month we have discussed different parts of the Master’s plan. We started with His Love.

how he wanted a perfect relationship from the beginning. and through our mistakes

sin entered the world.

and what he was willing to do for us because of his love.

Last week was Father’s day.

and we talked about using our influence to build a legacy… not just of money or wisdom

but a relationship.

Today we’re building more on that idea.

Our mission talks about what the Lord expected of us in his master plan. What his church was supposed to be and how it’s supposed to grow.

He has a mission for his church.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus told his disciples… his followers…

to go and make disciples don’t let it just be you.

make this bigger than you. teach others.

The Mission of the Church Is Not To Just Gather, It’s To Bring Others Into The Gathering

The purpose of the church is to fulfill the commission. making disciples of those who come in baptizing

teaching…

But there is a specific part that’s necessary for us all.

We should do more than just “go tell”

Our Mission Is To Bring Others To The Place Where They Can Grow

Here is why this is important:

Our Mission:

• Someone Brought You

Most if not ALL of you were witnessed to from someone else.

Someone invited you to church

Some of you might had been made to come Someone else prayed for you

Someone took time to answer your questions.

Part Of Our Mission Is To Share Not Only The Gospel, But To Bring Others TO Him!

John 1:40-42a

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

The FIRST thing Andrew did was find his brother… TELL his brother…

but ALSO - bring. Even the Woman at the Well!

John 4:25-26

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

Then after the woman had a conversation AND an encounter:

John 4:28-29

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

She told them…

but she did more.

She brought them to where he was. She shared what she experienced.

Where did she bring them?

To the place where she experienced him.

Most Of Us Are Sitting Here Today Because Someone Refused To Keep Jesus To Themselves

So because someone brought you…what should we do?

They had an encounter…

they believed in what they saw.

So what should we be doing?

Our Mission:

• Bring Them TO An Encounter

Andrew brought Simon to the place Jesus was

The woman at the well was going to bring people to where SHE had that encounter.

People Have To Experience Christ For Themselves. Our Mission Is To Bring Others To Where We Know He Is

John 1:43-46

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Phillip had met Christ the Lord. He goes and tells Nathanel…

Nathanael says…”Nazareth!? What good comes from that place?

Philip didn’t argue.

he didn’t defend Nazareth or the people he didn’t talk about stereotypes

Philip only has to say clearly. “Come and see.”

Many times we get into too much conversation when all we need to do is challenge someone to…

check it out for yourself Nazareth!?

I’ve heard nothing good comes from that place.

I’ve heard nothing good comes from those people. I’ve heard nothing good comes from that church.

But the Nazareth you heard about is EXACTLY where Jesus came from.

The church you HEARD about may be the place people are growing and learning the word.

Many Times People Will Go With What They Heard Over What They Know - Sometimes You Just Have To Tell Some One To “See For Yourself!”

Thomas had this same problem.

He chose not to come to the place he was supposed to be. On THAT day is the day Jesus showed up.

he didn’t have the experience… he heard about it.

he had to hear about an encounter instead of experiencing it

Some Of The Greatest Encounters With Jesus Can Happen In Places People Don’t Always Want to Visit

Our Mission:

• We All Grow Better Together

The church is not supposed to be a secret it’s not based on isolation

it’s based on family…

family that reaches out.

The church in Acts was based on more than the people in the 4 walls at that time.

Acts 2:42

They gathered

They learned together They ate together They prayed together

Our Faith Was Never Designed To Be A Solo Experience

This is why church matters. we’re stronger together

Acts talks about how they devoted themselves to teaching AND fellowship. Being together was just as important as the teaching.

They helped one another with needs… with encouragement

with prayer with learning

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Part of spuring others is bringing them to the encounter!

The Church May Not Be Perfect, But It’s God’s Chosen Place For Growth

This is where people need to be!

We are here to strengthen and build one another!

Our Mission:

• His House Should Always Be Growing

Jesus was always telling others to follow him. People did follow…

People left… In John 6:66

many people who were following Jesus turned away.

But it didn’t stop Jesus from the mission…

he continued to get others to follow him. and EVEN when he ascended to heaven…

he left the charge with his followers.

Don’t Stop Building

You don’t know who will listen

you don’t know who will come and leave later you don’t know who will never come

But we are to keep building.

keep telling people of our encounter… keep telling people where we’re growing…

Because eventually someone will come. and they’ll bring others as well!

His House Isn’t Just For Us Here Today. It’s For The People Who Are Waiting For An Invite!

As we close,

here are a few closing thoughts to end on.

Our Mission Closing Thoughts:

• The Gospel Was Never Meant To Stop With Us

You might be here every Sunday/Wednesday

You might be here once a month…

this may be your first time in a long time…

but you can always still bring someone with you

• We Are Not Just Called To Come To Church - We Are Called To Bring Others

We aren’t called to a silent gospel… this is where we grow together

this is the model of the Acts 2 church. they all helped one another.

the more people involved…

the more likely we can help one another.

• A Single Invitation Could Change Someone’s Eternity

Don’t think it’s not that serious

There are people who might come to Christ based on your invitation…

there are people who might turn their lives around based on that invitation. there are people who might become future Pastors and Evangelists

and influence 10s if not 100s or even 1000s because of your invite.

• Healthy Churches Don’t Just Gather People - They Send People To Gather Others

Always growing… always sharing always loving that’s the model

That’s the mission.

The Lord Refused To Leave Us Separated. We Shouldn’t Leave Others Separated.

Our Challenge:

Make Room For One:

not 10

not 50 just one

a family member a coworker

a friend

a neighbor

someone who hadn’t been to church in a long time someone who may had been here in the past

Because why…

We aren’t JUST inviting people to church.

We’re inviting them into a community where they can hear the gospel, grow in faith, be encouraged and become better believers.

Jesus told us in Matthew 28 to do more than just tell… to make disciples…

to help them grow.

Well what does that look like?

Andrew brought Peter to where he found Jesus

The Woman at the well brought the town to where she found Jesus Philip said “come and see”

We have to do the same.

Bring People To Where You Find Jesus