Renewed for Mission

The vision of Waypoint church is “Gospel Reorientation for the Suburbs”. And this is because we believe the church should radically reorient the way we view and interact with God, ourselves, and our community.

One of the aspects of our suburban life we hope to reorient our relationship with is consumerism. We are surrounded by the message “the more goods and services you consume, the better your life will be.” And unfortunately many people apply that principle to their view of the church. They see the church one dimensionally, as one of the places where they can receive goods and services.

But the church has two-dimensions to it. People come to the church in order to receive discipleship. So yes, we do offer a type of “service” meant to renew individuals and radically reorient their hearts, minds and goals. But that reorientation isn’t an end in and of itself. God reorients people through the church, so that they would go back out into the world as ambassadors of Christ.

If you view the church as a consumer, you see it one-dimensionally, it exists “for me.” But if you see the church two-dimensionally, you realize it exists “so that” you can be sent out to make an impact in their neighborhoods, community, and the world! There is a cycle to the church, we come in for renewal and our sent out on mission:

A “for me” or a “so that” church?

A “for me” church draws people in by providing more and more programmatic offerings. It attracts people by catering to their consummeristic desires. The image below shows people outside the church being drawn into the circle by the attractiveness of ministries oriented to serve them (an inward focus):

A “so that” church draws people in, renews their hearts, reorients their thinking, and then sends them out into the world to impact others with their faith. The inner circles exist to build momentum, momentum that sends people out into the world. And as they go out in the world, they bring others into the inner renewal loop (an outward focus):

Becoming a “so that” church isn’t a call to become something new: it is an invitation to rediscover who God has always been calling his people to be. It’s a call to rediscover the mission God has called us to. As Christopher Wright profoundly stated, “There isn’t a mission for the church, but there is a church for God’s mission.”

The rhythm of renewal and mission is woven throughout Scripture. God renews His people so that they can join Him in His redemptive mission to bless, restore, and reconcile the world to Himself. This rhythm defines who we are as God’s people and how we are called to live.

Biblical Foundations for Being a 'So That' Church

Abraham: Blessed to Be a Blessing

The call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 provides a foundational understanding of God’s mission. God tells Abraham, “I will bless you…so that you will be a blessing…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” From the very beginning, God’s blessing was meant to flow outward to all nations. Abraham was renewed by God’s promise so that he could be a conduit of God’s blessing to the world.

Israel: A Light to the Nations

As God’s chosen people, Israel was called to reflect His glory to the world. Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 describe Israel’s mission as being “a light to the nations,” bringing God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. Through their unique relationship with God, their worship, and their obedience, Israel was meant to draw others to the knowledge of the one true God. Again, the rhythm is clear: God renews His people so that they can be a light to the nations.

The Church: Proclaiming God’s Glory

The New Testament continues this theme. In 1 Peter 2:9, we are reminded of our identity: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Here, Peter reinforces that our renewal and identity in Christ have a purpose: to proclaim the greatness of God to the world. We are renewed so that we can declare the good news of the gospel.

Becoming a 'So That' Church

It’s easy to fall into a mindset where church ministries are seen as primarily serving our personal needs. While the church is certainly a place where we find renewal, comfort, and growth, this is not the ultimate purpose of its existence. The ministries of the church are meant to equip us so that we can live as ambassadors of Christ in the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

The "for me" mindset can lead to stagnation, where renewal becomes an end in itself. But the biblical rhythm is clear: God renews us through His Word, Spirit, and community so that we can be sent out into mission—in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and beyond.

Renewed for Mission: Becoming a “so that” Church