02/25/2026
THE MISSION
In the very first chapter of the Bible, God clearly articulated a precise purpose and plan for humanity; God’s image bearers were to expand His Kingdom into a global reign. God thus charged His unique, day 6 creation with subduing the untamed vastness of earth, exercising benevolent dominion over every living thing, and in turn filling all inhabitable creation with the fruitful multiplication of the pinnacle of God’s grand creation, sinless human beings. What a mission!
Eden itself served as the archetypal temple and prototype kingdom- a miniature of divine order amid creation's beauty- intended not as an isolated haven but as the starting point for a worldwide transformation. Through generations of godly offspring, nurtured in obedience and stewardship, the garden's glory was to spread like rivers branching from its source, turning the entire earth into a flourishing temple-garden where God's presence, peace, and righteous rule would permeate every corner. Man’s mission was set; expand God’s rule.
It’s a breathtaking design that was seemingly shattered with one indulgence of forbidden fruit. After Adam and Eve sinned, the plan went haywire. Stewardship became toil, relationship became strife, multiplication became pang-y, dominion became oppression, and most notably- the ensuing curse introduced the most seemingly impossible hurdle to man’s mission; death. How could fallen, sinful, death-destined people now fulfill such a grand, Genesis 1 mission?
Certainly man’s mission would be forever thwarted… right?
THE COMMISSION
Enter the gospel: Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God and the last Adam, has come to redeem and restore what was lost. After absorbing God’s wrath that had been reserved for His people, and putting sin to death, the King of kings offered a Great Commission to His people: "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 obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).
So has this ‘new’ Great Commission from Matthew 28 replaced ‘man’s mandate’ from Genesis 1? I’m afraid that seems to be the consensus. But upon deeper consideration, I’m not so sure.
The God who does not change has not changed His mission for His creation.
From the beginning, He intended to fill the earth with blameless image-bearers who reflect His glory and extend His righteous reign- the obvious problem? After sin, there are no blameless image bearers who reflect His glory to be found. That is, until Jesus Christ came to redeem our fallenness. Now, in light of the gospel, the Great Commission is how man’s mandate is realized. Since we cannot naturally fill the world with righteous people, sinners must first be reborn, baptized into union with the triune God, and taught to obey Christ's commands, so that renewed image-bearers can once again fill and subdue the earth- not through domination or self-reliance, but through surrendered lives that manifest kingdom culture, justice, and worship.
In this way, the Great Commission is the means by which God resumes His original plan: populating the world with faithful stewards who, empowered by His Spirit and presence ("I am with you always"), transform creation into the global paradise it was always meant to be, culminating in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells forever.
WHY IT MATTERS TO NEW SONG
Allllllllllll that to say, I'm excited to share with you an important update about our church's mission statement. The elder board has unanimously decided to refine our statement to more closely align with the timeless mandate given by Jesus Himself. Our new mission statement reads: "We exist to make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all the commandments of Jesus Christ." (Real original, huh?!)
The point is precisely that it’s not original. We have no intention of being original, quirky, or even unique. We have the intention, rather, of linking hearts and minds with thousands of other churches around the globe and through history who have all been given an identical, non-unique commission- go, baptize, teach, obey!
Although our previous statement of ‘Exalt the Triune God, Edify the Body of Christ, Engage the Hurting Lost’ has served us well- and does in fact embody our focus- the essence of that mission is actually much better encapsulated by the Great Commission. We exalt, edify, and engage when we’re being true to our Savior-delivered mission, going, baptizing, disciple making, teaching, and believing that He is with us until it is all accomplished, even to the end of the age.
The mission before us is as ancient as Eden and as fresh as the resurrection morning. God’s unchanging purpose- to fill the earth with image-bearers who reflect His glory and extend His righteous, life-giving reign- has never wavered. Sin interrupted the plan, but Jesus has not only restored it; He has supercharged it. Through the Great Commission, He invites us- ordinary, forgiven sinners in North Idaho- to become the renewed stewards who resume the original mandate. We do this not by our strength, clever programs, or sheer willpower, but by making disciples: going into the places God has already placed us, baptizing new believers into the name of our triune God, and teaching them- day after day, year after year- to obey everything Christ has commanded.
Here are a few ways I’d love for our New Song family to embrace this commission focus:
- Start where you are. Your daily routines are already mission territory. Pray for eyes to see the people God has placed around you- coworkers, classmates, baristas, teammates- and ask the Spirit for natural opportunities to share Christ.
- Live as renewed image-bearers. Let your homes, workplaces, and relationships display the beauty of obedience to Jesus: integrity, generosity, forgiveness, joy in hardship. People notice kingdom culture before they hear kingdom doctrine.
- Invest in the next generation. Discipleship begins in the home- teach your children to love and serve Jesus Christ, and mentor younger believers to do the same, so the multiplying work continues fruitfully.
- Prioritize gathering with the Saints. Come faithfully to worship, small groups, and all church gatherings that bring the body together. Every Sunday we are being discipled together- taught to obey everything Jesus commanded- so we can go and do the same.
- Celebrate every step. Every baptism, every new believer growing in obedience, every conversation that plants a seed, every act of service that reflects Christ- each one is progress toward the global paradise God is restoring.
We are not a perfect church, but we serve a perfect Savior who delights to use imperfect people. The task is great, but our King is greater, His authority is absolute, and His presence is constant. So let’s get on with it, together, with confident expectancy and contagious joy. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters of creation is now at work in us, turning our little corner of North Idaho into an outpost of the coming new creation.
