We are on the cusp of a new reformation that mirrors the fruit seen in Jesus’ ministry, reflecting his promise, “Greater things than these shall you do because I go to my Father” (John 14:12, paraphrased). As we abide in the Vine, Jesus said we progress from no fruit to fruit, more fruit, much fruit, and finally, fruit that remains. This progression happens when we embrace not just what Jesus accomplished on the cross but also how he lived and made disciples. Jesus commanded us to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), a mission that reclaims discipleship and places it back in the hands of ordinary people.
This reformation is about bridging the gap between clergy and laity, empowering people to be engaged in the Father’s business within their occupations. A minister’s occupation may involve leading a church organization, but their vocation is to “walk worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1). When churches equip their members with the patterns and practices of Jesus, ordinary people become capable of extraordinary things.
For today’s church to experience multiplication like the early church, we do not need larger buildings with more seating capacity; we need sending capacity. Many churches operate with an institutional mindset that serves their internal communities rather than embracing a missional approach that takes the church beyond its walls. The first Reformation focused inwardly, reforming the ecclesiastical nature of the church. Today’s reformation is outward-focused, emphasizing mission over institution. It challenges churches to be the outward expression of an inward kingdom, a “priesthood of believers” living in “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).
The world will not be transformed through bigger buildings, celebrity pastors, or memorizing more scripture—although these can have value. True transformation happens when God gives the increase. Paul reminds us, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7 NIV). Churches must prioritize aligning with the Great Commission, moving members out of the pews and into the streets.
The Missional Aspect of Church Assessment
When assessing the health of a congregation, its missional vitality is key. Many churches mistakenly measure their mission-mindedness by how much they give to missions or how many they send abroad. A more accurate assessment considers the congregation’s lifestyle, evaluating whether mission is an integral part of daily life rather than an occasional event. Being missional means every follower of Jesus lives out the Great Commission “as they go” (Matthew 28:19), making disciples in their everyday lives.
Jesus sent his disciples with the assurance, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV). He also said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Today, believers must embody this sending, becoming the visible expression of an invisible kingdom. Making disciples must be the DNA of every church, which is essential for its vitality and growth.
A Lifestyle of Mission
A healthy missional church connects people to God, his Word, and his people. It equips believers to live out a Great Commandment lifestyle, expressing love for God and others in ways that reach the broken, wounded, and lost. This lifestyle is fueled by daily encounters with God, his Word, and his people, keeping the fires of reformation alive.
Biblical spiritual health begins with a congregation that is Christ- and gospel-centered, reflecting Christ’s image in private, family, and corporate life. Size is not necessarily a measure of health, but a congregation’s vitality is evident when life in Christ becomes a lifestyle rather than a compartmentalized activity. True spirituality is not measured by attendance, giving, or memorization, but by a heart transformed by God, producing fruit through daily obedience.
Shifting Focus from Institution to Mission
Churches must move beyond institutional values, which often prioritize attendance, buildings, and cash over mission. As Jim Cymbala noted, “our focus on the ABCs” can lead to self-preservation rather than advancing the church’s mission. Instead, leaders should assess congregations through the lens of the Great Commandment (“Love the Lord your God . . . and your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (“Go and make disciples of all nations,” Matthew 28:19).
Paul’s instruction to equip the saints for works of service (Ephesians 4:11–12) highlights the importance of every believer’s role in the church. A healthy church empowers all members to serve, fostering a culture where discipleship is a shared responsibility. David Ferguson defines a healthy church as one where followers of Jesus, secure in their identity as his beloved, minister first to the Lord and then live out a Great Commission lifestyle empowered by Great Commandment love.
Forward to a Vibrant Church
Churches that plateau must redefine or realign their mission to thrive. Without this intentional shift, decline, decay, and death are inevitable. Growth strategies alone are insufficient; churches must focus on health, ensuring that every program and initiative aligns with the mission of making disciples who disciple others.
The mission of every local church is to cultivate a lifestyle of mission, impacting lives beyond the walls of the institution. Kingdom-minded leaders prioritize discipleship over systems and structures, viewing the church through the lens of the kingdom rather than the other way around. A spiritually healthy congregation reflects Christ in all aspects of life, moving from an institutional focus to a missional lifestyle. This shift ensures that churches remain relevant and vibrant, fulfilling their purpose in the 21st century and beyond.
The focus of the first Reformation was ecclesiastical. It had an inward bent to change the ecclesiastical nature of the church. It might have been described as God working in the people who made up the church so the church would reflect more readily the nature and character of the head of the church (Colossians 1, Ephesians 5). The church needed ecclesiastical reformation because the church’s people needed spiritual reformation. You might say this was God working in the church related to his purpose for the church. The church’s impact should be driven by an intrinsic, personal transformation, not by forms, systems, and structures. This reformation changed the people, and the church was reformed—realigned to God’s purpose of making disciples who disciple. Life is found in the people, not in forms, rituals, systems, structures, or buildings.
Today’s reformation is missional rather than institutional or ecclesiastical. This reformation is not inward regarding systems and structures. It is not about the church but rather the world. Consider how the church positions itself in the world to be the outward expression of an inward kingdom. A priesthood of believers driven by the principles of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17, NKJV) will transform the world. This world will not be transformed by constructing bigger buildings, making more rules, memorizing more scriptures, appointing celebrity pastors, or developing more remarkable academic institutions. While these are necessary and might be good, at times, good gets in the way of God. We become dependent on doing good when we need to be doing God. Paul writes when we do God, God gives the increase:
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:6–9 NIV)
This new reformation is about the world. It is outward in focus. Churches that have outward-focusing ministries are churches that are making a difference. Those who do not will plateau, decay, decline, and ultimately die. That is the life cycle of a church that moves away from being missional. Our tribe might say, “We need a revival!” That might be good, but more importantly, we need to align ourselves with the primary purpose of the church—to make disciples. You see, it is not just the altar that will alter our life. Daily encounters with God, his Son, his Word, and his people will keep the reformation fires of revival burning and move God’s people out of the pews and into the streets.
The key is to embrace the mission of Jesus and the way of Jesus. He’s just the best there ever was! For today’s church to experience the multiplication mentioned earlier, we do not need larger buildings with more seating capacity; we need sending capacity. Most pastors would say they have a missional mindset when talking about church. If that were so, would we not be multiplying like the first century church did as recorded in the book of Acts? We want to believe we are missional, but in most cases, we have developed an institutional mindset that serves the existing community of faith rather than moving the church outside the walls—saints in circulation.
IMAGINE: The Journey from Institutional to Missional Church will help you move from an institutional to a missional paradigm for life and ministry. This training course from the Great Commandment Network includes video presentations and special times for encouraging and sharing with one another in a safe environment.
Click the link below to access the video course that can assist you in moving from institutional to missional.
Imagine: Institutional to Missional Church On-demand (GCN) | Relations
– Bishop Scott Gillum / Florida State Bishop