God is calling us to an amazing mission and future. In this 3-week series, we’re asking “why do we exist?” and “what is God calling us to?” We are called to lead generations to Jesus. All of us.

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:1-12; Matthew 28:18-20; Judges 2:10

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Short Clip

In March, 1921, a meeting was held with one sole purpose. To consider the possibility of a new congregation in Bluffton, Indiana.

In June, 1921, the first gathering of First Church of Christ happened underneath a tent. 

My friends, this church exists because a group of people in 1921 decided that they wanted to see a church thrive and reach this community with the good news of Jesus Christ.

And today, as we kick off 2019 and begin a new series called, Mission: Advance, we take a step forward just like every generation who faithfully followed Jesus has done in the past.

In this series, we are going to ask a similar question that the group in 1921 asked: what is God calling us to?

Jesus, Great Commission, Building His Church

When Jesus entered this world as a human being, He healed the sick, He taught the masses, He went to the outcasts, He called people to follow Him, and He, ultimately, died for the sins of the whole world. 

And then He rose from the dead, He spent time with hundreds of people as an alive, formerly dead, man. 

And just before He ascended into heaven to take His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, He told His closes disciples these words:

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This was His rallying cry. This was His answer to what next? This was His answer to what is my purpose? 

This was His mission continuing. 

As you go, make disciples—baptizing them and teaching them.

And ever since then, Jesus has been building His church through the faithfulness of His followers. 

Jesus’ church has been making disciples. 

What began thousands of miles away from Bluffton, Indiana has infiltrated the vast majority of the world.

God’s good news of Jesus Christ has spread. The church has expanded. And God’s family has grown larger.

Friends, we are a part of this story.

So why do we exist as a church?

What is our why? This is vital for us to answer in a way that grabs us, that propels us, and that pushes us. 

Because when we lose our why, we lose our way.

What is God calling us to?

What is next?