I have a question regarding the Church’s purpose. I was in Church on Sunday, and I heard my pastor speaking on the purposes of different churches. For example, some churches teach prosperity as their main outreach, that is what they do. He said that our church’s main purpose was to seek the presence of God, which to our church is even more important in saving the lost. This somewhat confused me. Shouldn’t the main purpose of every church be to spread the Gospel and save the lost? What is the main purpose of the Church?
According to Matt. 28:19-20 the purpose of the Church is to “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.” John 20:21 agrees. On the first night of His resurrection, the Lord told His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
The Church is the body of Christ, and His life on Earth is the model for the Church. He was in the world but not of it. He devoted Himself to teaching people about the Kingdom of God. He was not concerned with programs or property or material wealth and yet never lacked for anything. When His time on Earth was over He ascended to the Father.