The church today is experiencing mission drift and decline by getting distracted from what Jesus primarily commissioned us to do. The mission shift is also shaped by human assumptions on the difference between our cultural situation and that of the first century. A church mission statement is insufficient and may remain on a wall if there are no practical steps towards it. Mission statements do not create church health. They have the potential to create mission clarity.
Jesus’ mission statement is as good as His ministry and spiritual alignment. Jesus did not invent or substitute a mission statement for the problem of ignoring or compromising the Scripture. Jesus’ mission statement is not just pleasing to the ear, it is thoroughly biblical, redeeming, renewing, and missional. Jesus’ mission statement is ready-made in the Scripture: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Is 61:1-2). The fourfold purpose that characterised Jesus Christ’s ministry offers a missional manual and continuity to be fulfilled by the true church, the community of Christ’s faithful followers, as long as it is on the earth.
Jesus Christ, the One anointed by the Spirit, is the Lord’s Servant of whom the book of Isaiah speaks. Jesus, anointed by the Spirit, is beyond the symbolism of pouring or applying oil over an individual appointed, commissioned and empowered for spiritual service and ministry. The anointing oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not anointed with literal oil but with the Spirit himself. Jesus’ mission statement warns that church service, ministry, and leadership without the anointment with the Holy Spirit will be limited to human power and human efforts, a broken cistern.
Jesus’ mission statement echoing Isaiah’s promises is intentional with good promises to four groups of people. Jesus, sent by His Father, states the purpose of His Spirit-anointed ministry “to proclaim good news to the poor . . . freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18–19). Furthermore, he says, speaking to his Father, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). Mission sending implies mission authority. He who is sent must obey the commission of the sender (Jn 4:34; Jn 6:38, Jn 5:30). The church’s mission today, like Jesus Christ’s mission, is to do as sent into the world and commissioned by Jesus Christ to do. Jesus’ mission statement is a reminder that the church’s mission is to glorify God by living the Gospel. The warning is that Jesus could only fulfil His mission because God had anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was sent to save that which was lost, ‘to proclaim good news to the poor’ (Lk 4:18). Jesus’ mission statement reveals that, beyond economic poverty, there is much spiritual and moral poverty. The reflection is that ‘The poor are not always poor. On the contrary, they are often rich in faith.’ “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5). Lack of material things is not a sign of poverty because one can be rich in ‘faith and progressing economically.’ To such people, contentment is a great gain: ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, a man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness’ (1 Tim 6:6-11).
Jesus’ mission statement to proclaim freedom for the prisoners of the devil is a mission manual for the church today to free people by liberating those who are possessed by demons, just as Jesus did. We are in an age where many are turning to ‘spiritism, witchcraft, and mind-reading and are bound in some way by evil spirits.’ Jesus’ mission statement calls for church and leadership renewal to bring freedom to people enslaved by their sin and evil or trapped by the troubles and cruelty of the world. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). The church is to proclaim spiritual freedom just as Christ’s salvation includes emotional and physical relief from life’s problems, addictions, hate, violence, hypocrisy, envy, greed, and many other sins. There are also prisoners of wealth blinded by their riches and power, like the rich young ruler who needs to be free from the love of money.
Jesus’ mission statement as a mission manual to the church today on healing covers the whole person, both physical and spiritual. Jesus’ mission statement brings to the limelight the church’s mandate to open the spiritual eyes of those blinded by the world and Satan so that they might see the truth of God’s good news (Jn 9:39). Jesus’ mission statement is exemplified through His ministry of preaching and healing was designed to meet every human need. That ministry now continues through Christ’s Spirit-filled followers and churches. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can recognise and respond to the terrible needs and misery that have resulted from sin and the power of Satan. Jesus’ mission statement is a missional manual for the church to bring hope and help to those who are enslaved to evil, broken-hearted, spiritually blind and physically distressed.
Jesus’ mission statement goes beyond a literal calendar year. The Good news is that “Now is the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:19). This is a period when spiritual salvation is available to all who accept Christ’s message, receive His forgiveness, and give control of their lives to Him.
Jesus’ mission statement is as good as His ministry and spiritual alignment. Jesus did not invent or substitute a mission statement for the problem of ignoring or compromising the Scripture. Jesus’ mission statement is not just pleasing to the ear, it is thoroughly biblical, redeeming, renewing, and missional. Jesus’ mission statement is ready-made in the Scripture: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Is 61:1-2). The fourfold purpose that characterised Jesus Christ’s ministry offers a missional manual and continuity to be fulfilled by the true church, the community of Christ’s faithful followers, as long as it is on the earth.
Jesus Christ, the One anointed by the Spirit, is the Lord’s Servant of whom the book of Isaiah speaks. Jesus, anointed by the Spirit, is beyond the symbolism of pouring or applying oil over an individual appointed, commissioned and empowered for spiritual service and ministry. The anointing oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not anointed with literal oil but with the Spirit himself. Jesus’ mission statement warns that church service, ministry, and leadership without the anointment with the Holy Spirit will be limited to human power and human efforts, a broken cistern.
Jesus’ mission statement echoing Isaiah’s promises is intentional with good promises to four groups of people. Jesus, sent by His Father, states the purpose of His Spirit-anointed ministry “to proclaim good news to the poor . . . freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18–19). Furthermore, he says, speaking to his Father, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). Mission sending implies mission authority. He who is sent must obey the commission of the sender (Jn 4:34; Jn 6:38, Jn 5:30). The church’s mission today, like Jesus Christ’s mission, is to do as sent into the world and commissioned by Jesus Christ to do. Jesus’ mission statement is a reminder that the church’s mission is to glorify God by living the Gospel. The warning is that Jesus could only fulfil His mission because God had anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was sent to save that which was lost, ‘to proclaim good news to the poor’ (Lk 4:18). Jesus’ mission statement reveals that, beyond economic poverty, there is much spiritual and moral poverty. The reflection is that ‘The poor are not always poor. On the contrary, they are often rich in faith.’ “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5). Lack of material things is not a sign of poverty because one can be rich in ‘faith and progressing economically.’ To such people, contentment is a great gain: ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, a man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness’ (1 Tim 6:6-11).
Jesus’ mission statement to proclaim freedom for the prisoners of the devil is a mission manual for the church today to free people by liberating those who are possessed by demons, just as Jesus did. We are in an age where many are turning to ‘spiritism, witchcraft, and mind-reading and are bound in some way by evil spirits.’ Jesus’ mission statement calls for church and leadership renewal to bring freedom to people enslaved by their sin and evil or trapped by the troubles and cruelty of the world. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). The church is to proclaim spiritual freedom just as Christ’s salvation includes emotional and physical relief from life’s problems, addictions, hate, violence, hypocrisy, envy, greed, and many other sins. There are also prisoners of wealth blinded by their riches and power, like the rich young ruler who needs to be free from the love of money.
Jesus’ mission statement as a mission manual to the church today on healing covers the whole person, both physical and spiritual. Jesus’ mission statement brings to the limelight the church’s mandate to open the spiritual eyes of those blinded by the world and Satan so that they might see the truth of God’s good news (Jn 9:39). Jesus’ mission statement is exemplified through His ministry of preaching and healing was designed to meet every human need. That ministry now continues through Christ’s Spirit-filled followers and churches. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can recognise and respond to the terrible needs and misery that have resulted from sin and the power of Satan. Jesus’ mission statement is a missional manual for the church to bring hope and help to those who are enslaved to evil, broken-hearted, spiritually blind and physically distressed.
Jesus’ mission statement goes beyond a literal calendar year. The Good news is that “Now is the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:19). This is a period when spiritual salvation is available to all who accept Christ’s message, receive His forgiveness, and give control of their lives to Him.