Who are the Most Important people for the Church?

As many churches are seeking either a new direction, or revamping their vision and mission statements, we have to be a church that asks, “Who are the most important people for the church?” What is priority number one for our churches? Is it the people who are in the pews, making them happy, or is it the people outside the church? Is it our desire to have butts in the seat or see people come to know God? 

I think we have to sit and ask, what is the calling of EVERY church? Each church called to their specific community and neighborhood, but what is every church called to do?

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

-biblegateway.com-

We are to teach people of all nations, so all people, what Jesus has taught us, and make disciples. This combines the need to build people up in the faith as disciples, but also teach people the ways of Jesus that they do not already follow.

This makes me ask, what is a disciple? I could give you a definition, but why not one that isn’t my own. The verb “to make a disciple” comes from Μαθητης, with a simple definition. Disciple, pupil, follower. Μαθητεύω (matheteuo) is the Greek word for “ to make a disciple.” So then what does this mean to us when it uses this word?

This is saying that we are to make people who follow Jesus and pupils and learn what Jesus taught; we are told to make disciples. Not teach those who are already disciples. Make disciples. Tim Keller says, “A Christian is one who has been drawn into a healing relationship with God in order to be sent out to reveal his image and saving grace to others.” ( Missions Sermon by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Church March 15, 1992)

The most important people for the church are not the people in the pews, but the people who do not know the love and saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wrestled with this, and thought about what about the people who are in the church. The church is called to train and uplift the people in our church in the faith, but if we focus all that we have on the people we currently know Jesus, then we will never reach the people who matter most. Thanks be to God for those who have come to know the Lord, but our hearts should break for those who do not.

So I started by asking two questions. Who are the most important people in the church, and what is the calling that is shared by every church? We have the hope of Jesus Christ, and we cry out, “Come quickly Jesus.” When we say this, do we realize how many people do not know Jesus, and that without him they have no hope.

Our calling as ministry leaders, small group leaders, or followers of Jesus is not to be happy with all those around us who know Jesus, but long for the world to know him. Where is our Kingdom Vision, where is our heart for what God longs for, where do we place our desires for the church?