What is the MISSION of the Church?

I just recently read an article posted by Todd Rhoades titled, Small Groups are No Cure.

He quotes Kevin Dougherty, an assistant professor in Baylor’s department of sociology, who says, “Simply having a small group program in a church is no guarantee of success." He goes on to say, "what matters is that the groups meet regularly; that members trust one another enough to divulge matters they would not to a stranger; and that they tackle tough issues in one another’s lives."

Of the FIVE other finding Todd list in his article, 4 of the 5 mention either "attending," or "belonging." Which causes me to ask, "What is the purpose of small groups?"

As you study the life of Jesus and read about God's mission in the New Testament, how do you understand small groups helping the CHURCH accomplish its mission?

Which really brings up the BIGGER question for me: WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH?

Michael Frost (Australian missiologist and author) says we have confused the mission of the church. The churches mission has become more about membership, moving people into the lifestyle of the church, instead of; in his words, “the mission of the church is to identify where God’s reign or rule is unfolding in our NEIGHBORHOODS, always in the context of place observable in relationships, beauty and justice.” The mission of the church begins on my front doorstep and on your front doorstep in your particular PLACE. Our work, and the mission of the church, is to alert people to the reign of God through Christ in our place, then the places beyond our doorstep.

In light of this, how can small groups help accomplish the mission of the church?

What do you think and what are you doing to help alert people to the reign/rule of God through Christ?

If small groups are just about attendance then Frost is right, we have misunderstood the mission of the church.

To read Todd's article you can go here....
http://ping.fm/k8zPB