It seems that everyone had a mission statement these days! I have even heard of families sitting down and writing one just for their family. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with having a mission statement but I do have a problem when a person or an organization writes a mission statement and either forgets it or does not live up to it.

A couple of years ago, I began thinking about a mission statement for myself and a set of values which would go with me as I reached out in an attempt to find a new ministry. What I came up with,”to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” was part of my bible reading time this morning. My mission is not original (I borrowed it from the Apostle Paul) but it is clear what I have been called to do as a pastor. The question now shifts to one of how and I measuring up? It seems that I am always asking this question but I think that it is important that we ask it ourselves as leaders.

In looking at what Paul says here in Eph 4, I see that he talks about our responsibilities in coaching (prepare), evangelism (body of Christ may be built up), teaching (knowledge), and discipleship (mature) but one aspect I missed until reading this morning (unity in the faith). Is Paul saying that we are charged as leaders with promoting unity in the local church and the church globally? I believe that he is suggesting this and it is a shame as leaders we often forget how important this is.

How often we forget our mission and why we have given our lives in service. I am thankful for the reminder this morning and I pray that my mission will always be in the back of my mind.

——————–

Questions for follow-up:

what is your mission statement?

what was Paul’s saying in Eph 4 about our role as leaders?

how do we keep our mission in front of us? how do we measure ourselves against our mission?