Before we discuss how to restore the "Mission" of the church, it needs to be made clear exactly what the mission of the church is. Many people have the mistaken belief that the church is or should be nothing more than a social, benevolent, organization ready to give hand-outs to every man that comes begging for help. But people who hold these beliefs seldom enter the church building.
The church is a divine institution with a divine purpose. Its primary task is to carry out that which Jesus came to do: "To seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) God's only power to save is the Gospel (Romans 1:16). The church is that body which upholds, teaches, defends and contends for that gospel (1 Timothy 3:15). This is the only mission of the church--to go with the authority of Christ and "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commanded..." (Matthew 28:18-20). To this end (1) the gospel was preached (2) the needy were helped (Galatians 6:10; James 1:27), and (3) saints were edified.
If we are going to "Restore" the "Mission" of the church today, we must first of all recognize and accept the New Testament as our only authority, guide or creed, From no other source can we accept instructions for the work of the Lord's church. This is only common sense because Jesus has ALL authority, and His WILL is contained in the New Testament.
Again, for us to restore the mission of the church, we must recognize the fact that souls are "LOST IN SIN," dying and crying out for the gospel of Christ, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23). Yes, sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), but man needs God.
For the mission of the church to be restored, it must be impressed upon the minds of ALL Christians that reaching lost souls is an urgent matter that demands our first and foremost attention. As Paul admonished Timothy we need to "Preach the Word" be instant, in season and out of season ..." (11 Timothy 4:2-4).
Restoring the mission of the church must become a personal aim and goal for every Christian. Like the Apostle Paul, we have a debt to pay to all mankind (Romans 1:14-17). We also owe a great debt to our Heavenly Father.
Of course, for the mission of the church to be fully restored, we must become a reality in the mind of EVERY Christian and not just a theory. Many, today, doubt that the church or its mission can be restored as it was in the first century. But with help and strength from the Lord we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
The mission of the Lord's church can be full restored if YOU do just what Jesus expects of YOU.