The document discusses the importance of developing a biblical mission statement for a church or ministry. It outlines key elements that make up an effective mission statement, including being broad, brief, biblical, and clearly stating what the ministry is supposed to be doing. It also discusses different types of mission statements and provides guidelines for crafting a mission statement, including determining who the ministry will serve and how, writing the statement concisely, and making it memorable. Finally, it stresses the importance of communicating the mission widely to stay focused on fulfilling the Great Commission.

1. Malphurs Chapter 4
Developing a Biblical Mission

2.  The Importance of the Mission
The ministry’s mission is important because it
affects the church in a number of essentila ways.
Nine of them follow:
1. The Mission Dictates the Ministry’s Direction
2. The Mission Formulates the Ministry’s Function
3. The Mission Focuses the Ministry’s Future
4. The Mission Provides a Guideline for Decision
Making
5. The Mission Inspires Ministry Unity
6. The Mission Shapes the Strategy
7. The Mission Enhances Ministry Effectiveness
8. The Mission Ensures an Enduring Organization
9. The Mission Facilitates Evaluation

3.  The Definition of a Mission
What a Mission Is Not: A mission statement is often
defined as a statement of purpose. However, the
purpose of a church as an organization is very different
from its mission in a number of ways:
1. The purpose answers different questions. It answers
the why questions: Why are we here? Why do we exist?
What is our reason for being? The mission, however,
answers the what questions: What are we supposed to
be doing? What is own divine , strategic intent? What
does God want us to accomplish while we are here on
earth?
2. Purpose is different from mission because it is broader
in scope. The mission of the church, as well as its
values, vision, strategy, and other concepts, is
subsumed under its purpose.
3. The purpose of the church is doxological: to honor or
glorify God ( Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 6:20; 10:31). Thus it is
abstract. The mission of the church is practical.

4. 4. The focus of purpose and mission is different. The purpose focuses on
God. The mission focuses on people.
5. The purpose is for those within the church and those living in the
community, whereas the mission is only for those in the church.
 What a Mission Is
Defn: A broad, brief, biblical statement of what the ministry is
supposed to be doing. There are five key elements.
1. A Mission is Broad-a good mission must be broad, comprehensive
and expansive.
2. A Mission is Brief- if the mission is not short, people will not
remember it.
3. A Mission is Biblical-a mission for a church must be based on the
Scriptures. God determines the church’s mission. The question is,
What does God ay the church’s mission is? The answer is the Great
Commission. The great Commission proactively involves the church
in making and maturing disciples at home and abroad. This was the
church’s mission in the first century and continues to be its mission
in the twenty-first century. Making disciples involves the church in
proactively pursuing lost people, evangelizing them, an helping
those new Christians to mature , to become like Christ.

5. 4. A Mission Is a Statement
5. A Mission Is What The Ministry Is Supposed To Be doing
 Three Kinds of Missions
1. A Conscious versus an Unconscious Mission-Most churches have a
mission whether or not they know or can verbalize it. The mission
needs to move from unconscious to conscious.
2. A Personal versus an Organizational Mission-While the church as a
whole has a mission, most individuals have a mission in mind for
the church as well. Personal missions may conflict with the
church’s mission but the church’s mission must prevail.
3. A Shared versus an Unshared Mission-A shared ministry mission is
essential to the church’s effectiveness. It is important to take steps
to get as many people as possible on the same page.
4. A Correct versus an Incorrect Mission-The Savior has determined
that the correct mission is the Great Commission. Any mission other
than this is disobedience and a violation of Scripture.
5. An Actual versus an Aspirational Mission- Goals, values and mission
must align for a mission to become actual when the church starts
with an aspirational mission.

6.  The Development of a Mission-The strategic
leadership team should craft a statement for the
church. There are four guidelines for developing the
mission statement:
1. Determine What Your Church Is Supposed To Do-
Whom will you serve? How will you serve these
people?
2. Write the Mission Statement-What words
communicate best with your target group? Do
people understand what you have written? Does
your format convey well your mission?
3. Make the Mission Statement Broad and Clear-Is the
statement broad enough? Is the statement clear?
4. Make Your Mission Statement Brief and Simple-Does
the mission pass the T-shirt test? Is the mission
memorable?

7.  Develop of the Mission, con’t
Process-Three options for developing the mission
statement:
1. Option One : Identify Your Current Mission
Statement- identify and if necessary, correct
your current mission statement.
2. Option Two: Develop A New Mission Statement-
develop a new mission statement that is
unique to your ministry. Focus on “what should
be” by addressing your current values and
following the Great Commission.
3. Adopt An Existing Mission Statement-you may
decide your best option is to adopt a mission
statement that has been created by another
church.

8.  The Mission Challenge- The mission challenge is
not only to develop a biblical mission but to
remain focused on that mission. To accomplish
this, the strategic leadership team, the staff,
and especially the senior pastor must be
passionate about the mission statement to fulfill
the Great Commission.
 The Communication of the Mission-It is important
that you communicate or propagate the mission
as well as the values. Even though you have a
statement that is clear and memorable, if you
fail to make it known to your people, it
accomplishes little beyond the efforts of the
strategic leadership team.