Ecclesiological

We believe missions must be Ecclesiological. That is, missions must be about the CHURCH. One effect the Gospel has on a people is the assembling of redeemed sinners into a community of Christians who have been saved by the Gospel and are being transformed together by the Gospel. Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Mt 16:18), and He has designed the gospel mission to go to the ends of the earth by the expansion and reproduction of local churches in concentric circles, from Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria, to Tempe, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. If followers of Jesus are to be obedient to all of His teachings (Mt 28:20), they will inevitably be members of local assemblies of believers (many of the New Testament commands for believers depend upon, or require, the existence and operation of local churches). We should never think of missions or attempt to “do” missions apart from a love for the local church and a desire to see biblical churches established, growing, and reproducing themselves. 1Tim3:14-15; Eph 1:22-23; Eph 2:11-22; Eph 3:8-10.