Pastor Evan Rose -- Renewal - 1/12/2026

Rooted in One Mission

Why Unity Always Leads Us Outward

Unity is not the finish line of the Christian life.
Unity is the starting point for mission.

From the very beginning, Jesus did not gather His followers simply to enjoy fellowship together. He gathered them so He could send them. Unity was never meant to end with inward comfort—it was meant to fuel outward obedience.

When believers walk together in unity, the most important question is not, “What do we prefer?”
The better question is this:
“How can Christ be made known more clearly through us?”

When mission becomes the center, fear loses its voice, preferences shrink, and the glory of Jesus becomes our shared aim.

The Authority Behind the Mission

Before Jesus gives His disciples a task, He gives them a truth:

“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
— Matthew 28:18

The mission of the church does not begin with creativity, energy, or agreement. It begins with Jesus’ authority. He reigns. He sends. He defines the work.

That means the mission does not belong to us—it belongs to Him. And when believers unite around His command, unity gains clarity and courage.

The Shape of the Mission

Jesus’ command is clear and comprehensive:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20

The mission includes:

• Going — moving beyond comfort and familiarity

• Making disciples — calling people to follow Jesus, not just attend church

• Baptizing — welcoming new believers into the family of faith

• Teaching — forming lives shaped by obedience to Christ

This mission is not optional. It is the church’s central calling in every season.

A Mission for All Nations

Jesus says the scope of this mission is “all nations.”

From the very start, God’s heart has been global, multiethnic, and expansive. The gospel crosses languages, cultures, and backgrounds. When believers from different experiences walk together under the same gospel, they display the beauty of Christ’s kingdom.

Unity across differences does not dilute the mission—it strengthens it. It becomes a living testimony that Jesus truly is Lord of all.

The Promise That Sustains the Mission

Jesus ends the Great Commission with a promise we cannot miss:

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mission can feel daunting. Unity can feel fragile. Obedience can feel costly.

But we are never sent alone.

Acts 1:8 reminds us that mission is not carried out by human strength, but by divine power:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses…”

The Spirit empowers. The Spirit sustains. The Spirit unites.
Mission flourishes not through efficiency, but through Spirit-led obedience.

Why Mission Shapes Unity

When mission becomes central:

• preferences become secondary

• fear gives way to faith

• competition dissolves into cooperation

• and Christ’s glory becomes the focus

Unity driven by mission keeps the church outward-facing, prayer-dependent, and gospel-centered.