Can both be buzzwords around a church. But what in the world do they mean? Bill Clem is a Pastor near Seattle, Washington and he gives a fantastic definition of each. Mission is making a difference in the lives of people who aren't at church yet. Community is making a difference in the lives of those who are already at church. As a church, our job is to do both. To care for the people already present and to reach those who aren't.
Often we see churches that do either one or the other. Some churches are fantastic at being missional and reaching lost people, but then don't have solid community or a defined pathway of discipleship. Other churches have solid community, but aren't reaching out to lost people. Healthy and growing churches do both.
Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 - "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.”
He also have us the Great Commandment - "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The Great Commission is all about mission. Reaching those far from Jesus. The Great Commandment is about loving God and developing community. Around here at PLC we say it this way, "Love God, love people, influence the World". Mission and community. You simply cannot love God with your whole heart and not be on mission. And you simply cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being in community. Following Jesus requires both.
So what about you? How are you being missional in your life? Are you being intentional about developing community at church and away from church? Across all of our PLC campuses there are opportunities to be missional and to develop community coming up. I would encourage you to think and pray about how you can be missional and develop community. What is your next step?
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