Posted on by Paul N. Merideth · 1 Comment

Missional & Confessional

It’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and. We must be confessional and missional. That is, balancing both doctrinal fidelity and outreach evangelism. Indeed, it is challenging to be both, but the church needs both to thrive.

Paul Merideth

Our MISSION is the great commission. Matthew 28:28-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Thus, our assignment is to invite people to come to faith in Jesus Christ and receive the beautiful saving grace of God. We are to disciple them in their journey and be their sibling in Christ. We don’t force them; it’s their choice. But what a wonderful choice it is to put your trust in Jesus. And in our outreach, we strive to be persuasive, not abrasive; winsome, not offensive. As Bonhoeffer wrote on preaching the gospel, “A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a beautiful red apple or holding out a glass of water to a thirsty man and asking: Wouldn’t you like it?”

Our CONFESSION is the deity of Christ and the truth of God’s Word. We cannot be in the church of Christ unless we believe, like Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Also, it must be true that the church has a clear body of doctrine, “the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

Without respecting both our gospel mission and our sound doctrine, we will fail as a church. The good news is the Lord has blessed us with resources for both. We have the gift of his Word, and we have the gift of his Spirit. We have the content for our faith and the empowerment to share it. So let’s go tell the story of Jesus and be faithful in living it out.

  • 10th Week of 2024 Reading: PSALM 19:7-9 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.”
  • Prayer to God: “Heavenly Father, thank you for the beautiful gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Savior. Help us be committed disciples who submit to the authority of your Word. And help us reach out to our world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Use us as instruments for the advancement of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
  • Sermon Preview: I’ll be away on a mission trip, working with Christian friends in the South Pacific for the next few weeks. I hope to teach and preach in a clear, encouraging, and effective way. I request your prayers that my trip will be safe and successful. If you want, you can follow me on my mission trip on Facebook: Fiji Paul.