Worship, Mission, and Community
Chris Seidman
Part of This Is Us
September 17, 2023

This Is Us

Worship, Mission, and Community
September 17, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Three Aspects of What It Means For Us to be a Church …

  • Worship
  • Mission


Mark 3:13-15 (NIV)
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him (worship) and that he might send them out (mission) to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.


Mark 12:29-31 (NIV)
“The most important one … is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (worship) The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (mission)


Mark 14:6-7 (NIV)
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me.”


Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him (worship); but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples (mission) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting (worship), the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (mission).” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Third Aspect of What It Means For Us to be a Church …

  • Community

Acts 2

  • The story begins with a picture of the church in prayer/worship. (Acts 2:1-13)

  • The story transitions to a picture of the church on mission. (Acts 2:14-41)

  • The story then transitions to a picture of the church in community. (Acts 2:42-47)


Acts 2:47 (NIV)
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.


Micah 6:8 (NIV)
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


Revelation 2:4 (NIV)
“You have forsaken the love you had at first.”


Margaret Mead
Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.