Jesus taught that the foremost commandment is to love God, and that the second is to love your neighbor (Matthew 22:38-39). He summed up all the demands God has made of his people under these two, revealing that all the rest really flesh out these two and show us how we are to love both God and man (Matthew 22:40). If we are not living according to the demands of God’s word we are not really loving, either God or our fellow man.
In accordance with the foremost commandment, the resurrected Jesus issued a parting command before ascending to the Father (Luke 24:44-53). His command has become known as the Great Commission, for it is rightly understood as the mission of his church. The command is to make disciples, and obeying it demonstrates love for both God and man (Matthew 28:18-20). Everything we do as a church must be motivated by and demonstrate love for God and for our neighbor. We must proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and call all people to repent of their sin, to believe in Jesus, and to walk in a manner worthy of this calling (Mark 1:14-15, Act 16:30-31, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 1:9-11).
Our efforts to make disciples are based on a holy, humble, hospitality (James 1:21-27). We desire to live holy lives, in all humility, practicing hospitality that pleases God and builds up others (Hebrews 10:23-27). So we prioritize Sunday morning corporate worship, while also championing weekly small group participation, and encouraging sharing meals together (Acts 2:42-47). We observe the Lord’s Supper monthly with a potluck meal for the whole church, and encourage sharing meals in our homes as well. Other monthly opportunities include a Men’s Breakfast and a Women’s Bible Study.
If you love Jesus, then you will obey him (John 14:15). If you have been saved by Jesus, then you will want to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9, Ephesians 5:7-10). Therefore, like a father would his own children, I implore you, “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). These are your opportunities to do so with the Port Clyde Christian Church.
