Imagine the church — your church — as a people chosen, called and sent for God’s restorative purposes in your city (I Peter 2:9-10; John 20:21). Imagine your church existing for the sole purpose of participating in God’s mission. God’s church doesn’t have a mission in your city; instead God’s mission in your city has a church — your particular, local church. He is calling your church to bring the good news of the Gospel of the kingdom to a world where bad news is depressingly infectious.
(From Brad Brisco)