Old Paths for a New Day

Introduction

There are times and seasons of life in which it is essential to evaluate and reflect on where we have been. October 3, 2007 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Highland Avenue Baptist Church. I believe this is the time for us to evaluate and reflect on our past so that we might have a future that honors the Lord. What I will present here is not intended to be new or original. As you reflect on these ideas, you should not expect to find anything that is novel. My aim is not to invent but to re-discover some old truths and bring them into a sharp, clear focus for this time and season.

The Vision

My vision for the Highland Avenue Baptist Church is that we be a people focused on one task and fueled by one purpose.

Focused on One Task: Making Disciples of All Nations

Our world is a busy place filled with busy people. There are events and activities going around the clock. In many ways, the world never sleeps. With so much activity and so many options available to us, we can expend a great deal of energy and effort while accomplishing very little that is of real value. What we need is something to guide us in our activities. We need a mission. A mission is a specific task with which a person or group is charged.

The mission of the church was given by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20. In that passage of Scripture, we read that the mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations. This is the task with which we have been charged.

Arising from this one task, are two primary areas of ministry: Evangelization and Edification. Making disciples of all nations begins with the proclamation of the gospel message. We are commissioned by Christ to evangelize the world. We must focus on taking the gospel to all the people of the earth. We are to be witnesses of Christ at home and abroad (Acts 1:8).

Making disciples also involves teaching those disciples to observe all that Christ has commanded. We are commissioned by Christ to build up (edify) the body of Christ through faithful teaching of the Word of God, through fellowship, and through prayer (Acts 2:42).




Fueled by One Purpose: Magnifying God in All Things

I have always been told that anything worth following and pursuing should be something that has a clear and definite purpose. If that is the case, then the church should give careful attention to understanding its purpose. When I refer to purpose, I am referring to that which we set up as an end to be attained. Purpose is the goal at which we are aiming and the object we are seeking.

What is the church’s purpose? What end are we hoping to attain? What goal are we aiming for? What are we seeking? According to Scripture, our chief purpose is to magnify God as the all satisfying object of life and eternity. In other words, our purpose is to magnify God. Through worship, discipleship and evangelism we seek to magnify the greatness of God (Psalm 34:3; Matthew 5:16; Romans 15:5-13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 2:12).

The magnification of God is the fuel which drives our mission. We execute our task of making disciples not to boast in numbers of conversion, numbers of baptisms or numbers of church members. We make disciples that the LORD our God might be magnified in our lives and in all peoples of the earth.

Arising from our purpose is the area of ministry called exaltation. In many respects, the other areas of ministry (Evangelization and Edification) revolve around this ministry. Human beings were created by God to be worshippers. God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Ministries of evangelization and edification are essential to our mission. The ministry of exaltation is essential to our purpose.

Conclusion

As our church approaches its 70th anniversary, I pray that this vision for our church will become one that is shared by every member. Moreover, I pray that this vision will take shape and form in how we do ministry together. I pray that it will help us to think about where and how we need to reorganize what we do for more effective ministry. It is essential that we align our practice with our purpose and mission. The practical structure and operation of the church must be governed by its purpose and mission. Otherwise, the practical structure and organization will stifle our purpose and mission.

Let us then prepare our hearts and minds to be renewed for a new era of ministry. Let us step forward with a clear vision of our purpose and our mission. Let us commit ourselves and our church to be focused on one task and to be fueled by one purpose.