Want to know ‘how much you know about what it means to ‘Be a Christian’? Take this short quiz and find out!
- Why did Jesus come to earth?
- What is Jesus’ mission?
- What is Jesus’ ministry?
- What is Jesus’ purpose?
- What is Jesus’ method?
- BONUS question: Why are you on earth?
(Answers below. Give yourself 25 points for each correct, or nearly correct answer and 10 points for the BONUS question.. Have fun. And, yes, you may ‘grade on a curve’.)
Why did Jesus come to earth?
For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. John 18:37
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
What is Jesus’ mission?
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. John 4:34
1 Peter 2:15 “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
What is Jesus’ ministry?
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
“Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23
(“Ministry” is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning “to serve” or douleuo, meaning “to serve as a slave.” In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry. He came to serve, not to be served. (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45))
What was Jesus’ Purpose?
“I will build my church” Matthew 16:16
What does Jesus promise to build? His church. Anything else? No. He promises to build no other earthly institution. He attaches the personal pronoun my to no other earthly entity. He sums up His entire mission as church building. This is His chief concern. What is Jesus doing, incarnation and post-incarnation? He is building His church.
What did Jesus mean when He used the word, “build”? From Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Greek word is, ‘oikodomeó’ which literally means ‘to build a house’. It is used as ‘to erect a building, to build; figuratively, to build up ones character, to edify and encourage. Literally, it means to “build someone up, helping them to stand, strong and sturdy.
What did Jesus mean when He used the word, “church”? From Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Greek word, ‘ekklésia’, means an assembly, a religious congregation. It is used to describe an assembly or a congregation as The Church which is the whole body of Christian believers.
Ekklēsía describes’ a people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, the mystical body of Christ. It is the total body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
What is Jesus’ method?
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” John 12:32
NOW, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF:
(Each answer gives an additional 10 points each)
Why are we on earth?
We “reside as strangers and aliens, scattered throughout” 1 Peter 1:1
For this purpose we have been born again, and for this reason we reside in the world: to testify to the truth. We are to testify to Jesus because He has told us, “I am the Truth.” John 14:6
Why are you on earth?
What is your Mission?
We are to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
What are you doing to accomplish your mission?
What is your Ministry?
“Go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:8-14
What are you doing to accomplish your ministry?
What is our Purpose?
Jesus said, “I will build my church” Matthew 16:16. This is our purpose, also.
What does Jesus promise to build? His church. Anything else? No. He promises to build no other earthly institution. He attaches the personal pronoun my to no other earthly entity. He sums up His entire mission as Ekklēsía, building up a people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, the mystical body of Christ. It is the total body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. This is our purpose, too.
What are you doing to accomplish your Purpose?
What is our Method?
“And, if He is lifted up from the earth, He will draw all people to Himself.” John 12:32
We are to lift up the name, the life and the example of Jesus.
What have you done to accomplish your Method?
“Going to church” is important, but, it is not the reason, mission, ministry, purpose or method of Jesus. In fact, much of what takes place in and around the church buildings in postmodern religion, has little to do with the real reason, mission, ministry, purpose or methods taught and demonstrated by Jesus. So, what are we doing? What is the point?
If church has become rote, boring, static, ritualistic or just a habit, then maybe it’s time to break free! Let’s begin, again, to follow Jesus.
Let’s BE the reason, DO the mission and ministry, HAVE the purpose and USE the method of Jesus, and let’s live again!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 