This is our sole purpose as a church to be a ministering agent of Jesus Christ and to do in the world as He has done, by ministering in His name. We find the basis for this mission in what Jesus told His followers in John 14: 12 - 14
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
These were words of encouragement. Jesus in the 13th chapter of John told His followers that He was going away and that where He was going that they could not go for their time had not yet come. In Jesus’ proclamation of His departure there is a mission for the followers of Christ. His followers are to be doing as He had been doing to proclaim the Gospel message and to reach out to a lost and hurting world to make followers of Jesus in His Stead. After Jesus death, burial, and resurrection He emphasized the focus of their ministry to a lost and hurting world in what we now know as the great commission.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Our purpose and goal in reaching out to a lost and hurting world as the “Hands and Feet of Jesus,” is to make Disciples of Christ who in turn “Strive to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus”. Why the strong emphasis on being the “Hands and feet of Jesus?” Because Jesus’ nail scarred hands and feet are a reminder to us of sacrificial love and service that brings God glory. In order for us to truly become the “Hands and Feet” of Jesus we are going to have to demonstrate the same kind of sacrificial love for the sole purpose of bringing God glory.
In order for us to understand the motivating force behind all that we do we must focus on the great commandment found in Matthew 22:37-40.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus told His disciples that the love they demonstrated for one another would give evidence to a lost and hurting world that they were His disciples (John 13:34-35). The reason we love is because Christ first loved us and demonstrated His great love towards us on the cross of Calvary. The love of Christ is our motivation to live for Christ, serve Him, and minister in His name.
2 Corinthians 5:14 – 15
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Vision Statement:
Our Vision is to prepare the B.R.I.D. E. of Christ by:
Bringing people to Jesus and membership in His family, Raising them to Christ like maturity as we Instruct and equip them for their ministry in the church, and Develop and release them to their life mission in the world, Exalting and magnifying God in the process.
In Revelation 19:6-9 John describes a vision that God laid before Him. This particular vision portrays what will happen when Christ returns for His second time to earth. It is the picture of the bridegroom coming to claim the one betrothed to Him.
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (NIV)
God’s church which includes all those who have accepted Jesus Christ by faith will be invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Jesus) after His second coming. In this text it says that the Bride has made herself ready, meaning that the church has made itself ready for the coming of Jesus Christ and this great banquet with Him. By becoming followers of Jesus, and allowing Him to produce in them lives that are demonstrative of His great love. Our role in preparing the bride for the banquet supper of the lamb is described by defining the acrostic B.R.I.D.E below.
Bringing people to Jesus and membership in His family,
Matthew 4:18 – 20
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you FISHers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Find - Luke 15 (all of it)
Invite - Luke 14:12
Share – John 1:43
Harvest – Luke 7:2
Raising them to Christ like maturity as we Instruct and equip them for their ministry in the church ,
2 Timothy 1:6-7
6 For this reason I remind you to FAN into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Feed – John 21:17 / Psalm 19
Answer – Acts 8:26-40
Nurture – 1 Thessalonians 2:6-10
Developing and releasing them to their life mission in the world as the hands and feet of Jesus,
Romans 12:4 – 8
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, LET him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, LET him serve; if it is teaching, LET him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, LET him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, LET him give generously; if it is leadership, LET him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, LET him do it cheerfully.
Lead – Luke 6:39-40
Encourage – 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Train – 2 Timothy 3:16
Exalting and magnifying God in the process.
Romans 12:1-2
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual ACT of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Acknowledge – Proverbs 3:1- 6
Confession - Hebrews 13:15
Thank – Psalms 95:1-3
