Sunday's Message: The Great Ends of the Church - The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity

As a denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has some guiding principles that shape our mission. They’re called The Great Ends of the Church, six statements written in the early 20th century that guide both the vision and work of the Presbyterian Church. And that’s going to be our focus during this series. You see, during the next six weeks, we’ll look at each one, seeking to understand what it means and how we can accomplish it within our community. 

• August 11 - The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity
• August 18 - The shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God
• August 25 - The maintenance of divine worship
• September 1 - The preservation of the truth
• September 8 - The promotion of social righteousness
• September 15 - The exhibition of the kingdom of heaven to the world

On Sunday, we started the series by looking at the first great end of the church: the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity. Below is the text and a recording of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page. 

Now for the next six Sundays, we’re going to be looking at something called The Great Ends of the Church. You see, way back in the beginning of the twentieth century, teaching and ruling elders wanted to get down on paper exactly what the Presbyterian Church should be doing, which, in and of itself, makes a lot of sense. I mean, if we don’t understand our mission, we’ll never be able to accomplish it. And so, in 1910, the United Presbyterian Church of North America adopted six principles and put them in their constitution, you know, their Book of Order. And I’ll tell you, over the last century, these brief statements have been considered so clear and helpful that, as the denomination has changed over the years, they’re still part of our constitution today. As a matter of fact, if you got your hands on the most recent Book of Order and looked up F-1.0304, this is exactly what you’ll find:

F-1.0304  The Great Ends of the Church

The great ends of the Church are:

• the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;
• the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
• the maintenance of divine worship;
• the preservation of the truth;
• the promotion of social righteousness; 
• and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. [The Book of Order, 2024-2025]

You see, these are the six principles that provide direction not only for the whole church, but for each congregation. In other words, this sort of summarizes the work we’ve been called to do right here in Sligo, Pennsylvania.

And since they’ve been approved again just last month by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I thought it might be a good idea to spend a little time talking about what they mean and why they’re important and maybe most important of all, how they can be done by us, right here and right now. 

And this morning, we’re going to kick off this series by looking at the great end number one: the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity. And to do that, we’ll use some passages from the New Testament to discuss what this “great end” means and why it’s important and how it might actually be done. Now that’s the plan.

For example, what does it mean to say that we’re here to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I’m talking about the good news of his life and his death and his resurrection, a message that can offer salvation and peace and hope not just to us but to all humanity. In other words, what does it mean to say that this is part of our purpose as the church? Of course, if we want to find some kind of support in Scripture for us doing this kind of thing, we really don’t have to look much farther than the end of the first gospel. I mean, just listen to what the Evangelist Matthew wrote as he was describing Jesus’s last conversation with his disciples up on a mountain in Galilee:

Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. [Matthew 28:18-20, CEV]

Now, for Jesus, that was what proclamation was all about. You see, as we’re out there living in the world, we have the opportunity to share with the people we meet along the way, folks who may not know about who the Son was or why he came and who may not know about the love the Father showed to his people in the past and will continue to show to them as they move into the future and who may not know that right now the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our world, how it’s flowing around and within everything and how it’s through the Spirit that we’re able to feel and understand and trust. I’m telling you, it’s through us that people can begin to accept the reality that they are loved by the creator of the universe and can start to figure out how they might respond. You see, the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity, that’s what we’re here to do.

And why is this important? Why is it important to communicate the good news of the Father’s love and the Son’s life and the Spirit’s presence to those around us? I mean, why has God taken the time and made the effort to put us here, in this place, at this time, to help folks understand that since they will be saved, they can experience some of that salvation right now? In other words, why is the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity part of our purpose? Well, I think the Apostle Paul offered an excellent reason in his letter to the Romans. He wrote, 

All who are acceptable because of their faith simply say, “The message is as near as your mouth or your heart.” And this is the same message we preach about faith. So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.

The Scriptures say no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved.

How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. [Romans 10:8-15, CEV]

You see, according to Paul, it’s through this gospel, this good news, this message of salvation that, on one hand, people can begin to feel hope as they approach God, confident that, because Jesus is Lord of the entire universe, they can feel a real sense of comfort just knowing that their ultimate destinies are in his hands and sure that when they decided to put their trust in his gift of undeserved grace and unconditional love, their decision will not have been made in vain. You see, on one hand, when they understand the good news, people can begin to feel hope as they approach God. But that’s not the only reason it’s important, because, on the other hand, when they understand the gospel, they’re also going to feel a genuine sense of unity as they consider others, in other words, a new kind of connection with their brothers and sisters, one that’s not based on race or language or status, but one that’s grounded in divine mercy and compassion and acceptance. Of course, as Paul wrote, they’ll never know all this, unless someone tells them. And you know, that’s why I think the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity is important.

And as to how can we do it, in other words, how can we share the gospel in a way that gives the Spirit plenty of room to work and folks plenty of space to respond, well, according to what we find in scripture, I believe there are three ways it can be done and let me briefly share with you what they are. 

You see, first, I believe we can share the gospel through the words we use, and I’m talking about the words we use both as individuals and a community. For example, through every sermon preached, every lesson taught and every conservation had we can teach people about who Christ is and what he’s done and why we can trust. And thanks to the internet and social media, we don’t even have to be the ones talking; we can still provide the people we know the opportunity to hear words that can absolutely change their lives. And in that way, we’ll really be doing what the Apostle Paul talked about in his second letter to Timothy:

When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you to preach God’s message. Do it willingly, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. The time is coming when people won’t listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well. [2 Timothy 4:1-5, CEV]

I’m telling you, first, we can certainly proclaim the gospel through the words we use.

But, you know, second, we can also share it through the actions we take. In other words, through the work we decide to do, we can follow the example of Jesus Christ himself and show people what grace and mercy and love is really all about. As a matter of fact, we can apply to ourselves and our faith that old saying I remember hearing about a million times when I was a  kid: actions speak louder than words. And I’ll tell you, when we do, when we decide to show what we believe, I think we’ll be living what Jesus challenged his disciples to do:

You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.

You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:13-16, CEV]

I’ll tell you, let’s decide that from this point on, we’re going to be a bright and salty church right here in Sligo, because that’s the second way we can proclaim the truth.

And finally, I believe we can do this same thing through the values we hold, and I’m talking about those qualities that we’re developing on the inside, attitudes that are going to have a profound impact on what we say and how we act. As a matter of fact, this might be the most important of all, because let’s get real, our values are going to determine our words and shape our work. And what kind of values will communicate the gospel to others? Listen to what Paul wrote the Colossians:

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. [Colossians 3:12-17, CEV]

People on the outside will be able to see the one we really follow by what we value on the inside. And I think that’s the third way we can share the good news. 

And I’ll tell you, that’s really important to know, especially for Presbyterians, because that’s the first great end of the church. You see, right here and now, we have the chance to share the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the presence of the Holy Spirit to men and women who may never know the truth if not for us. And as a congregation and as individuals, we can do it through the words we use and the actions we take and the values we hold. And even though next week we’ll talk about what the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God is all about, right now, let’s focus our attention on the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humanity.