EXALT GOD WHO IS OUR CREATOR AND KING
AS A CHURCH WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WHEN WE WORSHIP WE FOLLOW THE MANDATE OF JESUS WHO SAID, 'TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, FOR THE FATHER IS SEEKING SUCH PEOPLE TO WORSHIP HIM" (JOHN 4:23).
WITH THIS IN MIND WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO BE DILIGENT AS WORSHIP LEADERS TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD.
WORSHIP IS NOT A SPECTATOR EVENT. WHEN WE GATHER TO GIVE HONOR TO THE KING OF GLORY, EVERY BELIEVER IS A PARTICIPANT AND WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE.
LEAD OTHERS TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
THE BASIC HUMAN PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY PERSON IS LOST IN SIN AND WITHOUT HOPE OUTSIDE OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. THIS MAKES EVANGELISM A PRIORITY FOR ANY CHURCH THAT WANTS TO HAVE REAL LIFE.
WHEN A PERSON COMES TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, HE FORGIVES THEM, HIS SPIRIT INDWELLS THEM, AND THEY ARE MADE A NEW CREATION IN HIM.
WE MUST SAY WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL, "FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK" (ROMANS 1:16).
TEACH GOD'S WORD TO GROW BELIEVERS IN THEIR FAITH
OVER AND OVER BETWEEN HIS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION JESUS TOLD US THAT WE WERE TO BE BUSY ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF DISCIPLESHIP.
HE SAID, "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE" (MATTHEW 28:19-20).
OUR TASK HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO FAITH IN CHRIST. THAT NEW BELIEVER NEEDS TO GROW IN THEIR FAITH AND THIS IS BEST DONE AS THEY ARE TAUGHT GOD'S WORD. "SO FAITH COMES FROM HEARING, AND HEARING THROUGH THE WORD OF CHRIST" (ROMANS 10:17).
MINISTER TO OTHERS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
OUR MANDATE IS NOT ONLY TO LOVE GOD, BUT AS JESUS SAID, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF" (MARK 12:31). IN THE CHURCH WE DEFINE THIS LOVING OF OTHERS AS MINISTRY.
SCRIPTURE REMINDS US THAT AS WE WALK WITH THOSE WHOM GOD HAS MADE IN HIS IMAGE, WE ARE TO "DO NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN YOURSELVES" (PHILIPPIANS 2:3).
WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER IN VARIOUS TIMES OF GRIEF, LONELINESS, CRISIS, SICKNESS, AND EVEN IN REJOICING WITH ONE ANOTHER DURING TIMES OF HAPPINESS SUCH AS A WEDDING OR THE BIRTH OF A NEW BABY.
PROVIDE WHOLESOME, CHRIST-CENTERED FELLOWSHIP
THERE IS JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT TIMES OF FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, AND THAT FELLOWSHIP STEMS FROM BEING A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD.
JOHN TOLD THE EARLY BELIEVERS, "THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD WE PROCLAIM ALSO TO YOU, SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US; AND INDEED OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST" (1 JOHN 1:3).
WE NEED FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW JUST HOW MUCH WE GROW IN THE LORD AND HOW MUCH GOOD IS DONE SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WERE TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRUE BELIEVERS SHARING A GOOD TIME.
SPREAD THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD WE ARE TO BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS. THE CLEAR MANDATE OF THE GOSPEL IS TO GO "TO ALL NATIONS" (MATTHEW 28:19). WE SPREAD THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN MANY WAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH.
SOMETIMES IT IS THROUGH FEEDING THE HOMELESS. SOMETIMES IT IS PAINTING A WALL IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. SOMETIMES IT IS BUILDING A BUILDING. SOMETIMES IT IS PICKING UP TRASH. SOMETIMES IT IS LEADING A BIBLE SCHOOL.
THERE ARE ENDLESS WAYS THAT WE SPREAD THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE CHURCH MUST BE ON MISSION.
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WE ENCOURGE YOU TO UNDERSTAND OUR MISSION AND BE INVOLVED IN CARRYING OUT EACH PART OF IT.
ASK YOURSELF: HOW CAN YOU HELP US IN ACCOMPLISHING THESE THINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO DO AT ABC?
