For many, church has become a comfortable place—a sanctuary where we find peace, encouragement, and fellowship. But Jesus never intended the church to be a final destination. Instead, He envisioned it as a dynamic launching pad, a place that equips, empowers, and sends believers into the world to make a Kingdom impact.
Too often, churches become landing zones—places where believers arrive, settle, and stay comfortable. Yet, the heartbeat of the Great Commission is movement: “Go, therefore, and make disciples.” Jesus did not call us to stay safe within four walls; He called us to go out, to be His witnesses, and to bring the light of the Gospel to every corner of the earth.
Today, we’re going to explore what it means for the church to be a launchpad—a place of preparation, empowerment, and sending, where believers are equipped for the mission and propelled into the world with the power of the Holy Spirit.
I. The Mission of the Church: Sent, Not Settled
Jesus’ final command to His disciples was not to build a comfortable community but to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The Great Commission is at the very heart of what it means to be the church. It’s not about gathering in comfort but about going out with purpose.
A. Understanding the Call to “Go”
In Matthew 28, Jesus commands His followers to “go.” This single word changes everything. It means that the mission of the church is not about settling down but about sending out. The church is called to be a movement, not a monument. It’s a place of action, not just assembly. The purpose of gathering is not to create a holy huddle but to prepare for the mission ahead.
Additional Insight: The early church understood this call. In the book of Acts, the disciples didn’t remain in Jerusalem; they were scattered by persecution and carried the Gospel to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This scattering wasn’t a setback—it was a divine strategy to spread the message of Jesus to every corner of the world.
Application: How do you view the church? Is it a place to settle and stay comfortable, or do you see it as a launchpad for mission? Have you embraced the call to “go,” or are you waiting for someone else to take the first step?
B. A Church on the Move
The New Testament church was a church on the move—constantly sending out apostles, missionaries, and evangelists to share the Good News. They were not content to keep the message to themselves. They moved from house to house, city to city, and nation to nation, driven by the urgency of the Gospel. This is the kind of church that Jesus envisioned—a church that never settles, a church that always reaches.
Illustration: Picture a military base. The base is a place of training, equipping, and preparation, but its purpose is to send soldiers into the field, not to keep them on the base forever. The church is meant to be a base for Kingdom warriors, training and equipping them to be effective witnesses in the world. It’s not a shelter from the world but a launchpad to transform it.
II. Empowered to Go: The Role of the Holy Spirit
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He didn’t send His disciples out in their own strength. He promised them power—the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
A. The Power to Witness
The Holy Spirit’s empowerment is essential for the mission. We are not sent out with mere words or human effort; we are sent with the very power of God. This is what makes the church a launchpad—believers are not only trained and equipped but also filled with the Spirit, enabled to do what they could never do on their own.
Additional Insight: The word “witness” in Acts 1:8 comes from the Greek word “martys,” which means to testify, even to the point of death. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses, willing to go wherever God leads, regardless of the cost. This is not about human strength but about divine enablement.
Application: Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit for your witness, or are you trying to do it in your own strength? Have you sought the Spirit’s guidance and empowerment to be effective in your mission field? Remember, we are not called to go alone; we are sent with God’s power.
B. Equipping the Saints for the Mission
One of the primary roles of the church is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. This means training, discipleship, teaching, and empowering every believer to use their gifts for the Kingdom. A launchpad church is a church that doesn’t just fill seats but fills hearts with passion, minds with knowledge, and hands with skills for the mission.
Illustration: Think of a rocket launch. Before the rocket takes off, there is a meticulous process of preparation, equipping, fueling, and checking every system. The launch is powerful, but it only happens after intense preparation. The church’s job is to be that preparation ground—equipping believers so they can be launched effectively into the world to fulfill their calling.
III. A Church That Sends: Moving from Gathering to Going
For the church to be a true launchpad, it must embrace a culture of sending. This means moving from a mindset of merely gathering people to a mindset of sending them out. Every Sunday service, every Bible study, every prayer meeting is an opportunity to equip and send believers into their unique mission fields.
A. The Culture of Sending
A sending culture is not content with the status quo. It’s a culture that celebrates when members go out into the world to make an impact. It values discipleship, outreach, and evangelism. It invests in raising up leaders, planting new churches, supporting missions, and encouraging every believer to see themselves as part of the Great Commission.
Additional Insight: Jesus Himself was the ultimate example of being “sent.” He left the glory of heaven to come to earth on a mission to save humanity. In the same way, He sends us, saying, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). We are called to be a sending church because we serve a sending God.
Application: How does your church measure success? Is it by how many people attend, or by how many are sent out to make a difference? A sending church is not focused on numbers but on transformation—transforming people so they can transform the world.
B. The Joy of Releasing
There is joy in releasing people into their callings. A launchpad church is not possessive; it doesn’t try to hold onto people but gladly sends them out when God calls them. This might mean releasing people into local ministry, sending them on short-term missions, or even supporting them as they move to another country to serve the Gospel.
Illustration: Imagine a farmer who plants seeds. The joy is not in keeping the seeds in the barn but in releasing them into the soil where they can grow, bear fruit, and multiply. The church’s role is to plant and nurture, but ultimately, to release believers so they can bear fruit for the Kingdom.
IV. Transforming the World: The Impact of a Church That Sends
A church that embraces its role as a launchpad has a global impact. It doesn’t just change the local community; it affects nations. The ripple effect of sending disciples into the world is exponential—lives are changed, churches are planted, justice is pursued, and the Gospel reaches new places. This is the power of a church that sends.
A. Local Impact with Global Reach
A launchpad church understands that every member is a missionary—whether they are called to their neighborhood, their workplace, or a distant country. They see every vocation, every opportunity, and every relationship as a mission field. This means that sending is not limited to international missions; it includes empowering believers to be effective witnesses in their everyday lives.
Additional Insight: The Great Commission is both local and global. In Acts 1:8, Jesus outlines the progression—Jerusalem (local), Judea and Samaria (regional), and the ends of the earth (global). A church that sends embraces all levels of mission, recognizing that the call to “go” applies everywhere.
Application: How can you make an impact in your own sphere of influence? What opportunities has God given you to be a witness right where you are? And how can you support the global mission through prayer, giving, or going?
B. Multiplying Disciples and Churches
A sending church is a multiplying church. It doesn’t just make converts; it makes disciples who make more disciples. It plants churches that plant more churches. This multiplication mindset means that the mission never stops. Each person who is sent out becomes a part of a greater movement, one that extends the reach of the Gospel far beyond the original community.
Illustration: Consider the growth of the early church. From a small group of disciples in Jerusalem, the message of Jesus spread like wildfire across the Roman Empire. This happened because the church was constantly sending—sending apostles, sending letters, sending prayers, and sending the Gospel to every corner of the known world. We are called to continue that same mission today.
Conclusion
Jesus calls His church to be a launchpad, not a landing zone. He calls us to equip, empower, and send believers into the world to make a difference. This requires a shift in mindset—from settling to sending, from comfort to mission, and from maintenance to movement. The church’s mission is not about gathering in comfort but about going out with purpose, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Christ.
Call to Action: This week, ask yourself: How am I contributing to the church’s mission as a launchpad? What steps can I take to be better equipped, more empowered, and more ready to go wherever God sends me? Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and be open to His leading. Let’s be a church that sends, a church that reaches, and a church that transforms the world for Jesus.
Let’s be a launchpad for God’s Kingdom—equipping, empowering, and sending believers into a world that needs to hear the Good News. Amen.
