Now days, almost every company has a mission statement which is basically a declaration of that companies goal and purpose for existing. In chapter two of the book "Family to Family," Dr. Piper suggest that Christian family ought to have a mission statement. Moreover, he says:
“Clearly, you must be intentional about submitting to Christ as the center of your family. A family’s mission statement will serve as a centerline and guardrails for your family on the road through life. You may not know exactly how the road is going to turn, but you will know when and if you have strayed from the centerline of your faith (Piper, p. 25).”
The previous statement is a suggestion that asks us to choose if we wish to have a mission statement. If the decision is made to do so then a guideline would facilitate the goal.
When creating a family's mission statement, the question we must ask is if Jesus’ Mission will be our purpose and if it is then the following verses reveal to us what was Jesus’ mission.
John 17:20-26 says: "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Jesus said in Luke 19:10:
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
While speaking to Pilate in John 18:37, Jesus says: "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
How would this impact each ministry of the local church, if every family would develop such a mission statement? Certainly if every family had a mission statement then it would create a unity of vision, and all members would be working towards achieving the same purpose. Could this be a strategic emphasis? Yes this could be strategic emphasis because if a body becomes one in their vision and goals then this could impact each ministry of the local church due to the concentrated effort and unity to achieve the purpose of Christ which is revealed in the foregoing verses.
References:
Holy Bible (ESV)
Piper, J. Lee, V. (1999). Family to Family, Leaving a Lasting Legacy
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