As we begin this new year, let us continue to discover the New Testament church as seen in the Scriptures by asking the question—what is the church’s purpose?

The church is the called-out people of God and their first and primary purpose is to love God. When Jesus was asked by a lawyer, “Which is the great commandment in the law?”, He responded, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:36-37). The church’s purpose is to place God first in their lives. In Jesus’ sermon on the mount, He instructed His followers, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

As members of the Lord’s body, we sometimes become consumed with seeking after everything except “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Money, clothing, food, valuables, status, et cetera take precedence over the commands of God, just like the hearers of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. When we do this, we become just like the people of the world and allow the cares of this world to take priority, forgetting that the Father knows we need those things to survive. “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:32).

Sometimes, we need to slow down and remember that our purpose is not to gain as much as we can, nor is it to provide for our families their heart’s desire. We and our families do not need the latest and greatest of everything. Our worries should not be, “Can I pay the next payment on that $40,000 car or truck or provide a $100,000 house for my family to live in?” Let us never be like the man who said, “I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’ (Luke 12:18-19). Rather, as the church, our purpose should center on being rich toward God and becoming the “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We accomplish this by loving Christ and keeping His commandments. “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Our purpose is simply to be the church Christ built and to understand that our citizenship is in heaven. Paul recorded, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:17-20).

Our purpose is to help people understand that this place is not our home; we are on a journey that has two paths—one that leads home and the other that leads to being lost (Matt. 7:13-14). Our objective is to seek those who are going down the wrong path before they reach their destination! “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Do you understand your purpose or are you among the lost?

Just something to consider.