Working Toward the Mission
by Gene Z.
MC Midweek Sept. 6, 2023
As we work to grow God’s kingdom, we really focus on two things – the health of God’s church at Mt. Carmel Baptist (internal) and reaching the lost in the world beginning in neighboring communities (external). Let’s examine some of the ways that we can make progress against these objectives.
Many times in recent months, we have heard about three metrics that track the progress of healthy believers and a healthy church – the Great Commandment, the Great Commission and the Great Mandate. We see in Mark 12:28-32 that Jesus says that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. In a church headed in a healthy direction, we can see evidence of that love. We need to remember that the term ‘neighbor’ extends outside of the church as well. This is how we live out the Great Commandment.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says that we must GO – go and make disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In order to do that, we need to evangelize. It is important to invite people to worship with us. It is even more important that we share the Gospel with others. Do it boldly, without confrontation, and then let the Holy Spirit water the seeds to generate growth.
The Great Mandate illustrates the need to make disciples, to equip people to minister to others who also need to know Jesus. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11-12 that Jesus followed the will of the Father in doing this, and as we do this, we build up the body of Christ.
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church has adopted the mission statement of “Invite, Invest, Involve.” In applying the previous Scripture citations as noted above, we go out and invite others to become part of the body of Christ. When people make the decision to worship with us in God’s church, we invest the time and talents God has bestowed on us to train people as they learn how to serve. As relationships with Jesus grow and develop, we involve people in opportunities to minister to others. Together, we experience true joy in growing God’s kingdom.
INVITE, INVEST, INVOLVE!
