The Primary Purpose of the Church

The Primary Purpose of the Church
Author: Ian Young, Middle School Director
The Parables of Jesus - Part 10
What is the primary purpose of the church?

Missionary Bruce F. Hunt shared the following thoughts as he addressed a seminary in Philadelphia in 1957, “The first proposition that I would have you consider is that the work of the church is missions. That is, the work of the church is not primarily self-preservation, the perfection of organization and equipment, the improvement of the membership, or several other firsts that people might propose.”

The primary purpose of the church is to be on a mission to seek those who are lost and lead them to salvation that is found by faith in Christ alone. When we lose sight of that and become an inward-facing group that meets together to listen and discuss everyone else’s need for Jesus, we become more like the Pharisees than the Son of Man, Jesus.

We can see what the Son of Man is like through the three different parables shared in Luke 15. The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and The Parable of the Lost Son reveal that His heart is to seek and save the lost.

The father ran to his son who was lost, embraced him, was filled with compassion, and without delay threw his son a huge celebration, welcoming him home.

Jesus is sharing these parables in response to the “religious elite.” In Luke 15:2, the Pharisees and scribes were complaining that Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” as if eating with them would be any different.

This is why I believe Jesus capped off the first parable in Luke 15 (The Lost Sheep) by saying, “I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.” (Luke 15:7), or in other words, ninety-nine people who do not think they need to repent and ask for forgiveness. Jesus then proceeds to double down on this with The Parable of the Lost Coin, where He again states a similar message, “I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10).

In the final parable addressing the Pharisees and scribes, The Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus illustrates the joy in heaven and in the presence of God’s angels when someone comes to believe in Him when the lost son comes home after losing all he had by living in a sinful and foolish way.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.”
– Luke 15:21-24
The father ran to his son who was lost, embraced him, was filled with compassion, and without delay threw his son a huge celebration, welcoming him home. Displaying to us how God reacts with compassion and celebration when anyone comes to Him and showing us again His heart to seek and save the lost.

Let us share that same heart, that same desire, putting away our judgments and criticisms of others and go and seek those who are lost and lead them to the merciful and pure love of Jesus.

Recent

Archive

 2023

Categories

Tags

1 Timothy 4:3-4 1 corinthians 13 3 tips Barb Bible Christ centered friendships Christ-centered friendships Christ Control David Deuteronomy 31:8 Elijah Gideon God's Word God's faithfulness God's will God\'s Word God\'s will God\\\'s will God\\\\\\\'s will Gods Word Gods voice Gods will God Good Samaritan Isaiah 41 James 1:22 James 4:14 Jesus is coming Jesus Jonathan Live at Peace Matthew 26:38-39 Philippians 2 Psalms Romans 6:9 Scripture Significant Others Talented Word of God You Say a mother's prayer a mother\'s prayer a mothers prayer abandon abby conner acts 1:8 acts 2:42-47 acts adam etris adam adulteror advent andrew archer andrew angels sing anger anguish anxiety apostles appreciation archer arch are you prepared art of neighboring attributes austin michels austin authorities authority baptism barabbas barb barnhart barnhart be a friend be still be strong and courageous beauty from ashes becoming fearless betrayal better neighbors better be brandy gibson brandy bruce lane bruce cancel culture cancel care carols celebrate others christianity christian christmas church defined church design church circles clinging to jesus colossians 1:13 community compassion concentric circles conflict connection courage created for community crisis in israel cross crowd cultivate the soil daughter death debt delaney deuteronomy 31:6 devotional devotion discernment do not fear doers don't panic don\'t panic do early church easter elderly empathy encouragement end times ephesians 3:14-23 ephesians5:21 eternal impact eternal life eternal security eternity etris exhausted extended family face to face faithful in the small things faithfulness faith family famous last words father fear less series fear less fearless fear forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving forsaken foundation four tips free from sin freedom freely given free friendships friendship friends friend garden of gethsemane generosity generous get ready gibson gifts give thanks gloria good works gospel government grace and truth grace hill grace grateful gratitude great commission greed grief grieve with others groups haring he has come he will be called heart heaven hell helping hill holy week homecoming hope huggins ian young ian identity immovable in all things in christ inspired invitation israel jamie huggins jamie jill wargo jill john 8:1-11 john 8:10-11 john josh rhodes josh joy judas judgemental judgement judge katie lemley katie key relationships kim sheets kim kingdom of heaven kinsman redeemer lane last supper legacy lemley light of the world light listening live generously logos love one another love loyalty luke 10:42 luke 23:34 made new marriage martha matthew 22:37-39 matthew 23:24 matthew 6:3-4 mediator melissa parker melissa mercy michelle lemley michelle trimmer michelle michels money neighbor new family new year new o holy night overcome evil with good parables parable parenting parents parent parker peacemaker peace people of god people persistence philippians 4:6-7 philippians point of church point possessions power of the past pray like paul prayer life prayer plan prayer pray prepare promises of God provision purpose quality time race read reconciliation recreated redeemed redeemer rejoice relationship with God relationships relationship religion religious leaders remember response resurrection retaliation return revenge rhodes riches roger sealey roger role model romans 12:12 romans 12:15 romans rules salvation sealey second coming secure selfish separation sermon on the mount serve Jesus serve others serve serving others serving set free shame share the gospel share the truth sharing the good news sheep and goats sheets signs sing sin social media sower speak spiritual gifts spiritual leaders spiritual relationships stand firm still strained straining out gnats and swallowing camels strength submit support take time talents thankfulness thanksgiving thanks the dishonest manager the good samaritan the lost coin the lost sheep the lost son the parables of jesus the persistent widow the plot the point of church the primary purpose of the church the prodigal son the purpose of the church the rich fool the sheep and goats the sower the talents the ten virgins the two foundations the wedding banquet the word of God the word through thick and thin throught thick and thin tim haring tim treasure tribulation triggered trimmer truthiness truth two foundations two lies and the truth ukraine unbelievers uncertainty unclean victorious victory volunteer wargo wealth wedding feast weep what's the point? what\'s the point? what\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s the point? whats the point whatsthepoint when we pray who am i who i am who we are work worry wronged you are forgiven young