Ed Stetzer: God’s Mission Has a Church: An Interview with Ed Stetzer

TT: What does it mean for the church to be “missional”?

ES: Spurgeon once said, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” Though we might want to clarify the language, the impulse is what we need—every Christian is called to live on mission. So, to be missional means that a church realizes it exists to join Jesus in God’s mission in the power of the Spirit.

Mission is rooted in the identity of God Himself. God is on a mission, and Jesus is the embodiment of that mission. Jesus identifies Himself as being sent more than forty times in the gospel of John. Then, near the end of the gospel of John, He says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21).

The church is sent on mission by Jesus. It’s not that the church has a mission, but rather that the mission has a church. We join Jesus on His mission.

A missional church is one that seeks to engage all of the church in the activity God has for them—His mission. Our goal should be to move them from just sitting in rows to living in such a way that they are engaged in the work God has for them.

That mission might be in, through, or beyond the church, but it is ultimately rooted in obedience to Christ and obedience to His call. Keep reading