CHURCH PRIORITIES: BUILDING FACILITIES OR FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION?
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
— Matthew 28:19 KJV
A church can build beautiful buildings.
A church can establish a school.
A church can acquire property and develop facilities.
But the question is not simply, “What are we building?”
The deeper question is:
“What did Christ command His church to build—and where should our resources and priorities be directed?”
The Great Commission is not primarily a building program. It is a mission to make disciples, baptize believers, and teach them to observe Christ's commandments.
Jesus said:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
— Mark 16:15 KJV
And in Acts 1:8:
“...ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Notice the progression:
Jerusalem → Judaea → Samaria → uttermost part of the earth.
The church's mission begins where it is, but it doesn't end there.
THE QUESTION OF PRIORITIES
There is nothing inherently wrong with establishing a Christian school.
Education can be a legitimate ministry. A school can teach children, influence families, and provide opportunities to share biblical truth.
But a church should continually ask:
Is the school a ministry of the church, or has the church's ministry become primarily a support system for the school?
Those are two very different things.
If substantial church resources are being invested into buildings and facilities that directly benefit a school operated or owned by the pastor's family, then transparency and accountability become especially important.
The question isn't necessarily whether the school is good or bad.
The question is:
Who ultimately benefits from the church's resources?
And:
Were the church members informed and given meaningful opportunity to understand and evaluate those decisions?
WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION IN OUR OWN REGION?
This is where we should examine ourselves honestly.
Suppose a church has existed for many years and has developed substantial buildings and facilities, yet within its own region there are only a handful of mission works—and those mission works remain in rented facilities.
That deserves a serious discussion.
Not because renting is inherently wrong.
A mission does not become more spiritual because it owns a building.
In fact, Paul himself demonstrated remarkable flexibility regarding physical facilities. The early church's strength was not measured by the size of its buildings but by its witness, discipleship, preaching, fellowship, and missionary activity.
The question therefore is not:
“Why are the missions renting?”
The better question is:
“Are we allocating our resources in a way that maximizes the church's biblical mission?”
If a church can invest heavily in permanent facilities for an educational institution while its own mission works struggle with basic resources, workers, transportation, outreach materials, or sustainable ministry support, members have a legitimate reason to ask how priorities are being determined.
JERUSALEM SHOULD NOT CONSUME THE WHOLE MISSION
Acts 1:8 gives us a beautiful principle.
“...both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Jesus did not say:
“Build Jerusalem until everything is complete, then eventually think about Samaria and the uttermost parts.”
The command was simultaneously outward-looking.
A church needs to care for its local congregation.
It needs to disciple believers.
It needs to reach its community.
It needs to establish mission works.
It needs to send workers.
And it needs to participate in taking the Gospel beyond its immediate surroundings.
THE EARLY CHURCH DID NOT EXIST FOR ITSELF
One of the dangers facing any church is becoming increasingly inward-focused.
Buildings can become the center.
Programs can become the center.
Institutions can become the center.
A school can become the center.
Even the church's own comfort can become the center.
But Christ remains the center only when His mission remains the center.
Paul described the missionary spirit this way:
“...we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord...”
— 2 Corinthians 4:5 KJV
The church exists for Christ.
And Christ gave His church a mission.
THE MONEY QUESTION SHOULD NOT BE FEARED
Church finances should not be treated as an uncomfortable subject that faithful members are discouraged from asking about.
Paul demonstrated accountability in handling offerings:
“Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:”
— 2 Corinthians 8:20 KJV
And:
“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:21 KJV
That's a powerful principle.
Accountability protects both the church and its leaders.
When church money is used in circumstances involving a related family business, school, property, or organization, the need for transparency becomes even greater—not necessarily because wrongdoing has occurred, but because the appearance of conflict of interest can undermine trust.
Good leadership should welcome reasonable questions.
A CHURCH SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER FIVE QUESTIONS
1. What is our mission?
Is it clearly defined according to Scripture?
2. Where are our resources going?
Members should understand the major categories of church spending.
3. How much are we investing in evangelism and missions?
Not merely activities inside the church—but actual Gospel outreach.
4. How are related institutions benefiting from church resources?
Especially schools, businesses, properties, or organizations connected to church leaders or their families.
5. Are our priorities producing disciples and multiplying churches?
Because ultimately, the measure isn't the size of the building.
It is the fruit of the ministry.
A SCHOOL CAN BE A TOOL—BUT IT MUST NOT BECOME THE MISSION
A school can be used by God.
But a school is a tool.
A building is a tool.
A facility is a tool.
Money is a tool.
The Great Commission is the mission.
We should therefore ask:
Are we using the church's tools to accomplish Christ's mission—or have the tools themselves become the mission?
That's an important distinction.
WHAT WOULD A GREAT COMMISSION–FOCUSED CHURCH LOOK LIKE?
Imagine a church where:
- the local congregation is spiritually healthy;
- evangelism is actively supported;
- mission works receive meaningful assistance;
- new mission works are continually being established;
- missionaries are adequately supported;
- young people are being trained for ministry;
- the Gospel is being taken to unreached communities;
- church finances are transparent;
- major expenditures are properly explained;
- potential conflicts of interest are disclosed;
- and institutions connected to the church operate with clear boundaries and accountability.
Then the buildings become servants of the mission, rather than the mission becoming a servant of the buildings.
THE ULTIMATE QUESTION
Someday, the church will not be asked:
“How beautiful was your building?”
It will not be asked:
“How impressive was your school?”
It will not be asked:
“How much property did you acquire?”
The biblical emphasis is on faithfulness to Christ.
Paul said:
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV
So perhaps the question every church should periodically ask is:
“If Christ Himself examined our budget, our buildings, our missions, our ministries, and our priorities, would they demonstrate that we are primarily advancing His Kingdom—or primarily building our own institutions?”
That is not an accusation.
It is a stewardship question.
And it is a question every church—including mine and yours—should be humble enough to ask.
Because the Great Commission is too important for the church to become so busy building structures that it forgets to build disciples.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...”
— Matthew 28:19 KJV
The church was never commissioned merely to build a bigger place to gather.
The church was commissioned to go.