THE MISSION OF THE RISING STAR CHURCH OF CHRIST
In Luke 19, a certain chief tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus. Jesus told him that he must stay at his house. But when others saw that Jesus was staying with him, they complained for they considered him a sinner. It was then that Zacchaeus said, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” Jeus replied, And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (9-10).
After Jesus had died for sins, was buried and then resurrected the third day according to scriptures, (SEE 1 Cor. 15:1-4), He remained on the earth for another 50 days before His ascension to heaven. It was during that period of time that Jesus commissioned His disciples to Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Amen. Mat 28:19-20.
The mission of Jesus was to seek and save the lost and after His death he commissioned the disciples with the same mission. This is our mission today. It has not changed. We are to carry the gospel to those in our neighborhoods as well as across the oceans.
Another aspect of the mission of the church is in building itself up as a body of Christ. Jude 20 tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith.” Timothy was sent to the Thessalonian brethren to encourage them, 1 Thess. 3:2. Encouragement comes through education and fellowship. In education we “remind” folks continually of the truth. “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” 2Pe 1:12. We are commanded to “Preach the Word” 2 Tim. 4:2. Encouragement also comes through fellowship. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Heb 10:24-25. Our assemblies promote both education and encouragement.