The Mission of Christ Hills
Based on a message by Pastor Trent Thomas
Presented on Sunday, February 15, 2026
At Christ Hills church in Monroe, NC
In these preview services, I’ve been explaining the Christ Hills Church logo. That big “C” is Christ coming down among the five hills you can see in the logo. It’s a picture of the gospel in simple form—Christ descending to us, meeting us where we are, calling us upward into His purposes.
The first hill asks, Who is Jesus? If we get that wrong, everything else is built on sand. Jesus is not merely a teacher, not merely a moral example. He is the Son of God, God in the flesh, the One who stepped into human history.
The second hill asks, Do you listen to Jesus? It’s one thing to admire Him. It’s another to obey Him. In the Gospel of Matthew chapters 5–7 (aka The Sermon on the Mount) Jesus doesn’t offer suggestions. He speaks with authority. He tells us what life in His kingdom looks like. The wise man doesn’t just hear those words; he builds on them.
The third hill reminds us that Jesus was born to die. The cradle points to the cross. He came to save mankind, to give His life as a ransom for many.
Today we stand on the fourth hill—the Great Commission Hill. This is where we were born. Not by accident. Not randomly placed in history. God chose for you and me to live in this time, in this place, with this mission.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and told them to go to Galilee. There, in Galilee, He gathered His disciples and gave them His final marching orders. In Matthew 28:16–20, He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
These are not casual words. These are command words. This is the risen Christ speaking.
Now notice something. If I tell you to go to the store and buy a gallon of milk, the point isn’t the trip to the store. The point isn’t whether you choose store A or store B, or whether you pay with cash or credit. The point is that you come back with milk.
In the same way, “going” is not the main point of the Great Commission. Even “how” we go is not the ultimate focus. The point is why we go.
And why do we go? To make disciples. That’s the mission. That’s our purpose. If you know Christ, you know your purpose.
But let’s talk about how for a moment. To make disciples, you have to be a disciple. You can’t give away what you don’t have. Just like you can’t be a baseball player without being on a team, you can’t be a disciple without being meaningfully connected to a church.
One of the first steps of obedience for a believer is baptism. Jesus said to baptize disciples. Baptism is not a private spiritual moment; it’s a public declaration. It’s identification with Christ and with His people.
Church membership isn’t about your name on a roll. It’s about growth. It’s about placing yourself under the preaching and teaching of God’s Word—proclamation. You need to be in a church that faithfully opens the Scriptures and says, “Thus says the Lord.”
But you also need demonstration. You need to be around men and women who are mature in the faith, who show you what it looks like to walk with God in real life. Think about a doctor. One doctor aced every exam but has never practiced alongside an experienced surgeon. Another studied and also trained under a seasoned expert, watching, assisting, learning through demonstration. If you need surgery, which one do you want? You want the one who has demonstrated expertise.
The same is true spiritually. We fish for men—and we teach others how to fish for men. Older men invest in younger men. Older women invest in younger women, just as Paul instructs in Titus. This is how the kingdom grows.
Let me give you a picture. Imagine two growth groups. One group reaches 100 new believers every day. That’s 36,500 in a year. The other group disciples just four people each year—but those four are taught to disciple four more.
At the end of year one, it’s 36,500 versus 4. Now let’s fast forward. By year 10, the first group reaches 365,000. The second, through multiplication, surpasses one million. By year 15, the first group totals 547,500, while the other explodes past 4 billion. That’s half the population of the entire world.
The point? Addition is good. Multiplication is unstoppable.
We need to be disciples who make disciples—willing to invest deeply in a few and trust God for the increase. We go together, in Christ. We don’t go alone. And we don’t go in our own strength. Remember Jesus promised, “I am with you always.”
So what’s your purpose? And why does the church exist?
We exist to glorify God by making disciples. That’s the fourth hill. That’s where you were born. These are Jesus’ marching orders.
So let’s go—and make disciples.
Questions for Reflection & Discussion:
In what specific ways are you currently living as a disciple—not just a believer—in your local church?
Who are the one or two people God may be calling you to intentionally invest in, mentor, coach, and disciple?
What practical step can you take to more fully obey Jesus’ command to “make disciples”?