1
Mission Breakdown – Why A Mission Statement?
What do you want to be? I’m sure you’ve asked yourself that question before.
When I was a little boy, I used to dream about being an actor. I dreamed of having
my own television variety show like Glenn Campbell or Mac Davis. My dad loved
those shows. I dropped it when my parents discouraged acting. “That’s no life for a
family man,” they’d say. I thought of being a school teacher, but my father said,
“Teachers are a dime a dozen and don’t make any money.” I allowed my parents’
approval to direct my career choice, not a personal sense of mission. So I went off
to be an engineer, because they make money. It was not my calling. I spent more
time partying and playing guitar than I did at the art and skill of engineering.
The King James Version of Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the
people perish.”
Good News Bible says, “A nation without God's guidance is a nation without
order.” (GNT)
Without an understanding of why we exist, what we are to do, and where we are
going, an organization is weakened and aimless. Remember the time of the Judges
in Israel. They forgot about God’s mission and did their own thing.
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 17:6)
If God isn’t guiding this ship, it’s a recipe for disaster. Without a divinely inspired
mission statement, clear and easy to remember, church members draw their own
conclusions as to what is important and what to do.
“Church is for the kids.”
“Church is a place to learn the Bible.”
“Church is about friends and family.”
“Church is a place to worship God.”
“Church exists to meet my family’s spiritual needs.”
“Church is supposed to keep its members happy.”
“Church provides ways to serve others.”
Do you see how this is a recipe for chaos? The church needs a mission we can all
get behind.
2
According to business author Maryalene LaPonsie, a mission statement provides at
least three benefits:
 Focus organizational activities
 Ensure proper branding
 Encourage employee excellence
To put it another way, a mission statement provides focus, identity and inspiration.
A mission statement acts as a guiding principle, providing an identity which
empowers members and focuses the activities of the church.
Everybody needs a mission to guide their lives. Everybody needs some kind of
picture of a hoped for future that drives them. I think of Frank Sinatra’s song “New
York, New York.”
Start spreading the news
I am leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
What do you want to be a part of?
These vagabond shoes
Are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city
That doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap.
When we have a mission, it guides us. Many achieve their dreams by hard work
and never quitting on the mission they set out to fulfill.
A mission statement provides identity. Christians often think of themselves as
“saved” or going to heaven. It’s part of our identity. The mission of the church
doesn’t say we are to make disciples so they can go to heaven. It says we are
making disciples to transform the world. How do you think of your identity as a
follower of Jesus Christ?
“I try to do the right thing?” “I help others as often as I can?” “I’m forgiven and
saved by the cross of Jesus Christ.” What is your identity?
3
When the mission to make world changing disciples becomes your identity, you’ll
find your focus shifting. Disciples who follow Jesus make more followers of Jesus
who in turn make more followers of Jesus. When enough people are following
Jesus, the world will be changed by the love and goodness of God.
A mission statement guides us by giving us a focus for all our activities. A mission
statement gives an identity. And mission statement gives inspiration. From that
inspiration comes energy.
John Lennon: "When The Beatles were depressed, thinking, the group is going
nowhere, ...I'd say, 'Where are we going, fellas?' They'd go, 'To the top, Johnny!'
And I'd say, 'Where's that, fellas?' and they'd say, 'To the toppermost of the
poppermost!' and I'd say, 'Right!' Then we'd all cheer up."
The Beatles thought of themselves someday topping the pop charts and that’s
exactly what they did. They shared a vision of where they wanted to go and that
gave them inspiration to pursue it. Through all the ups and downs, that idea gave
them energy, passion, and drive to achieve the goal.
The mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world.” How does the thought of transforming the
world with the love of Jesus Christ inspire you? Does it frighten you? Bore you?
Does it cause you to doubt that the church can ever do anything to change the
world?
In 2004, Alvin Schmidt published a book called Under the Influence. It’s been
rereleased under a new name, How Christianity Changed the World. Schmidt
describes how the church has impacted western culture over the centuries. Slavery
has been outlawed and governments continue to pursue ways to stop illegal human
trafficking. It was the the work of the church that brought slavery to an end in
England and the United States, and soon the rest of the world followed. It was the
belief in the sacred value of human life, that the church established orphanages to
care for abandoned children, a common practice. Through the work of the church,
the Emperor Valentinus outlawed infanticide and child abandonment throughout
the Roman Empire. Our fight against abortion is rooted in the sanctity of every
human life coming from God. This is but a few examples of how the church has
changed the world. The benefits we enjoy through Workers’ Rights, Healthcare
and Education, can trace their origins to the church.
Can you be inspired by the thought of working to make a better world?
4
We’ve all been formed by consumerism. Burger King had a commercial years ago
in which they told the consumer they could have their burger the way they wanted
it. “Have it your way,” the ad encouraged. The “Have it your way” mantra has
become an incredible reality with a constant proliferation of options lifted up for
the consumer. 50 years ago we all had a basic telephone at home. Now there are
more phone options, colors and covers and cellular service packages that you can
personalize just about anything. Today you can buy a coke can with your name on
it.
We are constantly catered to and encouraged to have it our way. We bring that
same consumer attitude to the church. If we don’t like something with church “A”
we go and buy our religious experience at church “C” down the road.
Regardless of what happens to be our personal preferences, the only opinion that
matters is that of the One we call “Lord.” Jesus established the church with one
thing in mind: saving the world.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
You are the body of Christ, the very vessel that God is using to save the world.
Now consider the state of our world? Consider the state of our neighbors? How are
we doing at saving the world?
Families are falling apart. Children are growing up without the kind of emotional
support they need. Drug and alcohol abuse and overeating sends our neighbors to
an early grave. War eats away at the stability of our world. The environment is
reacting to decades of abuse. The problems seem insurmountable. What can we do
about it?
According to one statistic, less than 10% of people born in the last 20 years are
connected to God through church. If children hear the name of Jesus in our society
it is more likely as a curse word, than a name that gives them hope. Hopelessness
covers many in our nation like a dark cloud. People are literally dying from
despair, while churches argue over things like the color of carpet, or worship
styles. While our neighbors struggle from a hopeless worldview, the church is
focused on keeping members happy. Instead of church being focused on saving
lives through the power of the gospel, we are focused on maintaining programs.
It’s going to take a God-like mission to save the world!
5
Jesus gathered His disciples and gave them a world changing mission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.” (Mat 28:18-20)
This is what the church calls the great commission. How can we change the world?
How can we solve all the world’s social ills? It will take the power of God. But the
power of God is exactly what Jesus has given to the church. All authority is given
to Jesus, not some. All authority in heaven and earth, the spiritual and the physical
realms are under the Lordship of Jesus. And Jesus promises to be with us always as
we carry out this mission.
As we invite others to hear the gospel, the authority of heaven and earth is with us.
As we welcome those who respond to the gospel into fellowship in Christ, the
authority of God is with us. As we teach how to follow Jesus, His wisdom and
love is with us. When we pray for healing, the power of God is with us. With the
authority of heaven and earth the church of Jesus Christ is on a mission to make
the world more like a place where God lives and reigns. The transformation of the
world begins with you. When you are transformed by the Spirit of God, then
families begin to change and churches begin to change and communities, regions,
and nations begin to change.
As we continue to rest, read and reunite during this 40 Day Sabbath, I ask you to
seek first, above all, the Lord. This is a holy time. Seek the Lord. And know that
the Lord saved your life for a purpose. That purpose is that He might inhabit your
life, and through you, serving with His church, He might save the world.
More about Christ Jesus inhabiting your life next week.