Mission Statement: is a brief statement of the purpose

We have all heard the term used in the business world as well as churches and ministries also have mission statements. Today, individuals develop their own personal mission statement to live by.

Many times the mission statement might be a slogan a catchy phrase that grabs your attention. Now in this case, the mission statement lies just underneath the slogan or phrase. The true purpose is hiding behind it.

In the book of Matthew in chapter 4 we find Jesus beginning to preach. In other words he was launching his ministry. Even before he began calling his first disciples Jesus announced his mission statement.

In verse 17 of chapter 4 of Matthew he said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
As soon as I read this verse I personally immediately think of John 3:16. But even better yet, verse 17 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus began his ministry as a loving God that had a simple mission statement. "REPENT". Now I know for many of us when we hear the word repent we think of walking down to the front of a church and confessing our sins and giving all of garbage and junk in our lives over to Jesus.
What is interesting is "REPENT" in the Hebrew language translated means; to change the way you think.
Jesus mission statement would disturb many, would upset many, would anger many, we put a scratch on how many thought and taught, more importantly Jesus was asking the religious to follow him.

Ex. If you are like the millions of staunch republicans and democrats who eat drink and sleep whatever their party is doing on a day to day basis – if someone showed up at your doorstep and told you that you had better change the way you think because your political views were wrong, would that not tick you off a little?

Better yet, let's say you keep God in a box and you believe that only your denomination is right. Again, you are staunch in the way you believe and if others don't believe the way you do, they are flat wrong. So, what happens when two guys on a bike show up at your house and try to tell you that you that you don't know the whole Jesus story, that you have missed part of it. Now, you have got to admit this would really anger you. Right? (Now, I know someone is going to write me and tell me that you would invite them in and talk with them and teach them the truth.) However, there are the thousands who have slammed the door in these people's faces.

Back to Matthew. Jesus has just said, "you people have better change the way you think. Drop any belief that you may have in your cranium right now and follow what I am teaching. You see, I have come not to condemn you but to save you."

With this teaching the angry became murderous. All Jesus did was come to save man from being eternally separated from God. The second part of Jesus mission statement; "for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus mission statement was so important to him that he DIED for it. He then overcame death and gave you and me our very own personal mission statement: Matthew 28:19/All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I guess my point to today's rambling is,

 

"What is your mission statement?"