Nature and Mission of the Church

This is part of a series of posts on my understanding of faith, ministry and the church. I would enjoy feedback and your response to my answers to these questions.

Question – Describe the nature and mission of the Church. What are its primary tasks today?

Response – My response begins:

Although the Holy Spirit is at work in the world with or without the church, I believe that the church is the place in the world where God can be found most fully revealed. The church is the gathering of persons who believe in the good news of Jesus Christ and seek to live in a way that witnesses to the world this belief and the reality of the kingdom of God. In this way, the church fulfills its mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ” (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2004. par 120). The church is a group of persons that are called by God, but also sent by God into the world. I believe that the church does not exist without being sent to spread the good news.

The nature of the church is also that of a worshiping community where the sacraments are given and received and the Word of God is spoken and heard. Also, perhaps more importantly, the nature of the church is to be missional people. The church is a part of the good news being sent to the world. This is a story that has continued for thousands of years and continues to this day. Without knowing the story of being a missional people, the church devises all kinds of other functional identities for itself. (Logan, James. “Evangelism in the Contemporary Church and World.” Wesley Theological Seminary. 17 September 2004).

Discussion

• How would you respond to this question?
• Where do you agree with my response?
• Where do you disagree with my response?