The Mission of Tremont Temple
The mission of a church is like its North Star—no matter where a church finds itself in a given year or season, she wisely fixes her eyes on her mission in order stay on the path of faithfulness to Jesus. Though churches may articulate their mission in various ways, the Bible tells us what our mission is. Jesus gave it to the Apostles before his ascension, and the mission remains the same for churches today:
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:16-20
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” -Acts 1:8
Back in 2020, I sought to articulate our mission of making disciples at TTBC. From time to time over the years since, particularly when we’ve entered into partnerships for the gospel, I have sought to direct our gaze again to our mission. But our desire as elders is to do a better job as a church keeping our eyes on the mission, that we’ll more wisely and joyfully fulfill it in this generation. As members, it would be a fruitful endeavor if we became fluent in understanding our mission, to the point that we could articulate it and aim at it together. Below is the mission of TTBC along with the biblical foundations for it. Take the time to commit it to memory, that we would be a church that seek’s God’s glory through disciple-making.
Our mission, which is to make disciples must be centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. To that end, Tremont Temple’s mission can be divided into three great aims that we will strive for, with the help of God.
1. Gospel Culture: To maintain fellowship within the body, built on the foundation of God’s Word, marked by the fruits of sacrificial love, and forged in a unity that draws sinners to the gospel.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” -Ephesians 4:15-16
“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.” -John 17:20-23
2. Gospel Compassion: To serve Boston in many practical ways and to attend to the suffering of the “least of these” so that unbelievers see our good works and give glory to God.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” -Titus 2:11-14
“Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” - Galatians 2:10
3. Gospel Mobilization: To establish new churches and strengthen existing ones through the training and sending leaders so that the gospel will flourish in other places for God’s glory.
“…and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation…” -Romans 15:20
“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—” -Titus 1:5
As we consider the three aims, surely there is work to be done to be more faithful! However, by the grace of God, we can make progress. As William Carey, the missionary to India once said, “I can plod.” So can we!
