What’s the Purpose of Church?
A Holistic View of God’s Mission
In many conversations over the years, I’ve encountered the question: What is the purpose of church? It's a question with layers, one that often sparks debates about what the primary focus should be. Some say it’s about worship, others argue it’s about evangelism, while still others emphasize discipleship or the administration of sacraments. While there are certainly other ways we can frame the mission of the church, I believe these four purposes provide a solid foundation to understand the broad scope of God's work through the church.
The Fourfold Purpose of Church
Worship God
At the heart of every gathering, the primary purpose is to give glory to God. Worship isn’t just singing songs or lifting our hands; it's a life surrendered to Him, recognizing His greatness and responding to His goodness. Worship is about aligning our hearts and minds with God’s truth, acknowledging who He is and who we are in light of Him.Disciple the Saints
The church exists to equip and build up believers. Discipleship is about more than just teaching; it’s about cultivating a deeper relationship with Christ, fostering spiritual growth, and helping believers live out their faith in every area of life. The church is a place where Christians are nurtured and challenged to mature in their walk with God, so they can reflect Christ more fully.Administer the Sacraments
The sacraments—baptism and communion—are vital expressions of our faith. They’re not just rituals; they’re tangible means of grace. Through baptism, believers publicly identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Through communion, we remember and celebrate the body and blood of Christ, which was given for us. These practices strengthen our faith, connect us to the global body of believers, and remind us of God's promises.Reach the Lost
Finally, the church is called to be a light to the world, sharing the gospel and making disciples of all nations. Evangelism is a key purpose of the church, as we are commanded to go and make disciples. Reaching the lost means actively pursuing those who are far from God and demonstrating His love and grace to them through our words and actions.
The Tension Between Our Gifts and Preferences
As church leaders, it’s easy to prioritize one of these purposes over the others based on our own personal gifts, experiences, or preferences. Evangelists, for instance, may feel the pressure to focus the church's energy on outreach and evangelism. Worship leaders might feel compelled to make worship the central theme. Meanwhile, those passionate about teaching and discipleship may focus primarily on spiritual formation.
But here’s the thing: all four purposes matter—and none of them can be neglected or minimized. Our natural tendency is often to gravitate toward what we’re passionate about, but we must recognize that God's design for the church encompasses all of these purposes. Worship, discipleship, sacraments, and evangelism are all interwoven, each reinforcing the other. We cannot fully be the church God intends us to be if we leave out any of these elements.
A Shift from "Self-Centered" to "Christ-Centered" Vision
I was recently reflecting on an early version of our church's vision statement, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was something like: "To release people’s potential in Jesus." While I understand the sentiment behind it, there was something off about it. The focus was more on the self than on Jesus. It framed our purpose in terms of what Jesus could do for us, rather than what we, as His followers, are called to do for Him.
It reminded me of Irenaeus’s famous saying: "The glory of God is man fully alive." I do believe this is true—but the key is, we don’t become fully alive by aiming at our own flourishing. We become fully alive by aiming at God’s glory, by seeking His will and His kingdom first. Along the way, we discover that pursuing God’s purposes leads us into the fullness of life that we long for.
Church: A Relational Community Living Out God’s Purpose
Church is not just an event or a service; it’s a relational community of people who are called to live out God’s purpose for their lives. The church isn’t a building or a program—it’s the people of God, gathered and scattered, living out God’s mission in the world. It’s a living, breathing expression of the body of Christ.
One of the biggest sources of conflict within the church often isn't moral or doctrinal disagreement. More frequently, it’s a matter of gift conflict—each person sees the world through the lens of their own spiritual gifts. As Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12, some members of the church might see things from the perspective of a foot, while others view the world like a hand or an eye. The challenge is learning to appreciate and work together, recognizing that God has created us with different roles and functions, all essential to the health of the body.
Are We Fulfilling God’s Purposes in Our Gatherings?
So, when we gather as the church, whether on a Sunday or at any other time, it’s important to reflect on these four purposes. Are we fulfilling God’s mission for the church in our gatherings? Are we worshipping God with all our hearts? Are we equipping believers to live out their faith? Are we administering the sacraments with reverence? And are we reaching out to those who don’t yet know Christ?
These are the questions we must ask ourselves as leaders, as church members, and as followers of Christ. The purpose of the church is not limited to any one of these four aspects; all of them matter and contribute to the vibrant, multifaceted life of the church. By keeping all of these purposes in view, we can more fully live out the mission that God has entrusted to us.
Let’s remember that the church is God’s creation, and His purposes for it are rich and expansive. Our goal should be to live into all of them, in every gathering and in every area of life, so that we might glorify God and fulfill His mission in the world.
What about your church? Do you think these four purposes are being fulfilled in your gatherings? Let’s strive to align our lives and ministries with God’s purposes, and together, let’s live out His calling for the church.
