Questions small churches must ask - 5

For the past week I have asked a series of questions that small churches need to ask and answer as they move forward. Today will be the last question, and I believe it is the most important one. "Who are we here for?"

Answering this question is vital to answering the other questions. If your church exists for its current members then you probably don't have to change anything. You can just keep doing what you've been doing and everyone should be happy. But, if you answer that your church exists for those outside the Kingdom of God then most likely many things will need to change.

I believe the Bible teaches that the church exists primarily for those outside. Yes, the church provides believers with a place to worship and to learn more about God, but our main role is to reach persons who do not know God as their personal Lord and Savior. That is the Great Commission which I said earlier this week is the mission of every church regardless of size. If we are not reaching people for Christ we are failing in our primary task.

The church was never intended to be a hotel for saints but a hospital for sinners. It is to be a place where hurting and broken people can find healing. It is to be a place where those who have been marginalized can receive love and acceptance. Most importantly, it is to be a place where people can find a relationship with Jesus Christ that will prepare them to live now and forever.

Once you answer this question you will be ready to develop your church budget and plan your programming. If you exist for those outside the congregation then both the budget and ministry programs should reflect that. If you exist to keep your current members content then the budget and programming will reflect that as well.

Most small churches would answer this question by saying they exist to reach those outside the Kingdom of God, but what is their actual practice? Where is the evidence this is the case? Many small churches have not seen an adult receive Christ as Savior in years (decades?). I once spoke with a pastor whose church had not baptized anyone in 50 years! We know how to say the right things, but what are we actually doing.

This question leads to tough conversations. In fact, all the questions I've posed this week leads to such conversations, but these need to happen if our churches are going to offer relevant and biblical ministry into the 21st century.