A Church with a Purpose
Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why do I exist?†or “What am I here for?†These questions pose the question of purpose. When people don’t feel a sense of purpose, they tend to experience life as boring, useless, and not worth much. Such thoughts can lead to serious depression, even psychosis, and eventual destruction.
Paul says, “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.†(1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT) Have you noticed how a person can change when purpose enters his or her life? A promotion at work with new goals and challenges. A new love in a young man or maiden’s life. A challenge to reach a goal, or complete a project. If this can happen to an individual, can this also happen to a church?
Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Church, says, “Absolutely nothing will revitalize a discouraged church faster than rediscovering its purpose.†(p. 81) How does a church become intentional and focused in what it does? What drives a healthy church? Is it driven by tradition, by personality, by finances, programs, buildings, events, by the pastor, or a small group of elders? Where does it find its focus? In the Bible? In Jesus? In my interpretation of the “correct truth?â€
The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.†(Proverbs 29:18 KJV) A church without a purpose and mission eventually becomes a museum piece of yesterday’s traditions. (Warren, p. 87) People are attracted to people who have direction and purpose in life. So too, churches attract people when they have a healthy intentional ministry that meets the relevant needs of people who seek some form of stability and direction in their own chaotic lives.
I would like to invite you to join me as we seek to discover and revive our God-given purpose for our church here in McMinnville. We plan to meet on Sabbath evening, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. It will be an inspirational time of prayer and seeking direction from God. My prayer is that we as a church will discover the true reason for our existence, and what that one purpose is that God is calling us to. God’s promise to Israel was, “And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me.†(Jeremiah 32:39 NLT)