I’m not trying to be all existential by asking that question, but rather practical. What is the purpose of your church, of any church for that matter? How we answer that is incredibly important, and there are many different ways to answer it. You could say we exist to give glory to God, and that’s a very good answer. But then I could ask how do we give God glory! You could say we exist to disciple people, which is very Matthew 28, ‘go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Mt 28:19-20)’

The problem is that many people think the church exists for them, to meet their needs, take care of their families, and provide enjoyable programs. But while the church exists to disciple and encourage and equip it members, it also exists to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus. In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables about God’s desire to reach the lost. Jesus says we should be willing to ‘leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one [sheep] that is lost, until we find it. (Lk 15:4)’ And we should be willing to ‘light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until we find [the lost coin]. (Lk 15:8)’ And that ‘while [the lost son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Lk 15:20)’

Does your church exist to leave church every Sunday to look for the lost? Does your church shine the light of Jesus, and sweep your local community, diligently seeking the lost? Is your church eagerly looking for the lost to come home? And when you see the lost do you feel compassion and run to embrace them? I believe whole-heartedly that the church exists to reach the lost, but I’m nowhere near as committed and passionate as the picture Jesus paints of God’s heart. God wants to reach the lost. The Apostle Peter says ‘God is patient… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)’

Jesus’ mission was to leave the glory and perfection of heaven, to enter into our broken and sin-stained world, in order ‘to seek and to save the lost. (Lk 19:10)’ Jesus’ mission was to save the lost, to save you and me, as well as our family, friends and neighbours. And our mission is exactly the same, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus, to hold out the word of life, and to use every means to ‘save some. (1 Cor 9:22)’

But what about those who fear that focusing on reaching the lost we neglect discipling the found? However, reaching the lost and growing believers are not diametrically opposed. In fact, nothing will grow you more than investing your life in reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus. And nothing will fill you with more joy than seeing people far from God responding to God’s word, repenting of their sin, and joining you in bringing glory to God as they reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus.

If our churches exist to reach the lost for Christ (and yes, that is our motto – Reforming to reach the lost for Christ), how is that reflected in our preaching, in our ministries, in our budget, and in the daily lives of our members? The truth is most of our effort is spent investing in those who are already saved and have eternal, while we invest very little time and effort in those who are lost and facing an eternity without God. Maybe it’s time we shift from an ‘us-mentality’ and make it about ‘them!’