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| Our Purpose |
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Our Purpose
Sent Out Into the World
Jesus told his disciples, "As I have been sent [by the Father], so I am sending you" (Jn.20:21). Christ was sent into the world to seek out those who were lost and hurting, and we have been given this same task.
Jesus told his disciples, "As I have been sent [by the Father], so I am sending you" (Jn.20:21). Christ was sent into the world to seek out those who were lost and hurting, and we have been given this same task.
Following Christ's example, we seek to offer salvation and healing to all people out of love and compassion. Thus, we are by our very nature a "missional" (sent) church, existing to help others and not just ourselves. We must have an outward focus.
To Restore Community With God and One Another
As Christ's representatives, we seek to be agents of peace and reconciliation, restoring the community that existed in the Garden (Gen. 3) and that will exist in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21-22). By drawing near to Christ and bringing others to him, we draw near to one another. We meet each other at the foot of the cross, and there we find community with God and one another, and we become:
As Christ's representatives, we seek to be agents of peace and reconciliation, restoring the community that existed in the Garden (Gen. 3) and that will exist in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21-22). By drawing near to Christ and bringing others to him, we draw near to one another. We meet each other at the foot of the cross, and there we find community with God and one another, and we become:
"A community of believers that truly reflect the spirit of Christ, growing in faith and spiritual maturity." [Eph. 2:14-22; Cor. 5:18-20]
Below is a video of author and missiologist Michael Frost, describing the missional church concept.
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Fulfiling Our Purpose
We determine our purpose as a church not only by looking at Christ's example and the overall story of the Bible, but also by looking at what Scripture itself highlights as being "most important." By concentrating our efforts on these most important things, we fulfill our purpose. These include:
Loving God and Our Neighbor
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being. The second greatest is to love our neighbor as ourselves. We desire to be a people that loves God, our neighrbors, and ourselves. Through this love we become the kind of community that God envisions. [Mt. 22:37-40]
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being. The second greatest is to love our neighbor as ourselves. We desire to be a people that loves God, our neighrbors, and ourselves. Through this love we become the kind of community that God envisions. [Mt. 22:37-40]
Proclaiming the Good News
We seek to proclaim the good news (gospel) of the kingd om of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and his death, burial, and resurrection. Through this proclamation, Christ draws all humanity to him, creating the cross-centered community. [Acts 28:31; 1 Cor. 15:1-4].
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus gave his disciples a "Great Commission" to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching them. (A disciples is a fully devoted follower of Christ.) Thus, we aim to both convert people to Christ as well as help them continue to grow into his image. We are a discipling community. [Mt. 28:18-20]
Letting Our Light Shine
Jesus told his disciples that they were a "city on a hill" and should therefore let their light shine. We seek to be a church that shines in our community, doing good deeds so that others will praise God. We want to be a people of action, not just words, as we strive to be an authentic, serving body of believers. [Mt. 5:16]
Jesus told his disciples that they were a "city on a hill" and should therefore let their light shine. We seek to be a church that shines in our community, doing good deeds so that others will praise God. We want to be a people of action, not just words, as we strive to be an authentic, serving body of believers. [Mt. 5:16]
Praising God
Worship is the lifeblood of the Christian community, giving us hope and strength. We praise the God who has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light, telling of his great nature and all that he has done for us. [1 Pet. 2:9]
Worship is the lifeblood of the Christian community, giving us hope and strength. We praise the God who has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light, telling of his great nature and all that he has done for us. [1 Pet. 2:9]
--Taken and adapted from the New Community material by James Nored and Keith Stanglin
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