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Bring the Gospel to Every Table, Everywhere

Bring the Gospel to Every Table, Everywhere

Ian Simkins
Ian Simkins on Spreading the Gospel to Every Table, Everywhere

When the church is only an event…

The sanctuary becomes a theater.
The people become the audience.
The music becomes the entertainment.
The preaching becomes the keynote.

This perspective is far too common in our modern age. We risk reducing the sacred gathering to a mere event, an experience to consume rather than a communal mission to partake in. But church, in its truest form, is so much more than this.

When church is the people, both gathered and scattered…

The sanctuary, the people, the music, and the preaching transform into vehicles for healing, restoring, equipping, and sending forth disciples. This shift in perspective aligns with the biblical vision of what the church is meant to be: a vibrant community on a divine mission.

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Consider the purpose of a car. It isn’t merely to fill it with gas; it’s to journey somewhere. Gas is essential, but it serves a larger purpose. Similarly, the purpose of the church is not merely to fill us with information or inspiration. It’s to equip us to go somewhere—to live on mission, wherever we are.

The Gathering: Preparation for Mission

The gathering of the church is profoundly important. It is a time of worship, learning, and community. But it’s not the whole picture. It’s the prelude to the greater mission: to bring heaven to Earth, to push back darkness wherever we encounter it.

Church isn’t a building. Worship isn’t just music. Prayer isn’t for the experts. Ministry isn’t just for pastors.

These truths remind us that the essence of church goes beyond the confines of our weekly gatherings. Worship is a lifestyle, not a genre of music. Prayer is a conversation with God accessible to all believers, not a ritual reserved for the spiritually elite. Ministry is the work of every Christian, not just those with a title or position. And mission is not an add-on to our lives—it is our life.

From Attending to Being

Church isn’t an event you go to; it’s a family you belong to. This distinction is crucial. We won’t change our world by merely attending church services. We’ll change it by being the church, living out our faith in every aspect of our lives.

Being the church means embodying the love of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. It means serving others selflessly, advocating for justice, and sharing the hope of the gospel. It means living with a sense of purpose and urgency, knowing that we are part of God’s redemptive plan for the world.

Living on Mission

The call to live on mission is not a new concept. It echoes the Great Commission given by Jesus to His disciples: “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” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV). This mandate is not confined to the four walls of a church building; it extends to the ends of the earth.

As we gather each week, let us remember that our time together is meant to refuel us for the mission ahead. Let our sanctuaries be places of deep worship and profound encounter with God, but also launching pads that send us out into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

In closing, may we shift our perspective from merely attending church to being the church. Let us embrace our role as a family on mission, committed to living out the gospel in every corner of our lives. In doing so, we will see God’s kingdom come and His will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

 

 

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Books for Worship Leaders

The 5 Words of Worship

Before We Gather Zac Hicks

WorshipOlogy Kurtis Parks

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