Why are we here?
That's age old question, isn't it? What's our purpose in life? Why do we exist? Here at Haven Christian Centre, we've been prayerfully considering this for some time. We've introduced our values, in other words, how we live together as God's people. Last week, at our most recent members' meeting, we introduced our purpose statement; what Haven Christian Centre is called to do.
It's an important step, because our purpose shapes our motivation and our priorities. It will help us decide what we should focus on, and what we might leave aside. It will allow us to describe what we're about to others outside the church. It will remind us, when things get tough, that God has given us a job to do and that it is worth the struggle!
It's encapsulated in just nine words:
Loving Jesus More
Living Jesus' Way
Sharing Jesus' Love
It's designed to be easily remembered, so that we can keep it always in front of us. It has Jesus at the centre, because Jesus is at the centre of our faith. It is faith in Jesus, his death on the cross, resurrection from the tomb and ascension to heaven, that is at the hear of our church.
But more importantly, it seeks to encapsulate not what we think our purpose is, but rather what Jesus himself told us our purpose is; to worship God in Christ, to love our neighbour as ourselves and to be disciples who make disciples. Our purpose statement is based around two key statements of his about our responsibility as disciples of Jesus:
The Golden Commandments
35Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:25-40 NIV
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 NIV
Loving Jesus More
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
Matthew 22:37
Deepening our prayer and worship and seeking to encounter God through His Holy Spirit. The areas we are thinking about here are:
- spending time with God and deepening our own relationship with him through prayer and reading the Bible.
- praying together and understanding God's will for our church, listening to him as he leads and guides us.
- being together for worship on Sundays and at other times, excited and expectant as we meet with God in order to be encouraged, challenged and changed by him.
- extending our worship and deepening relationship with God to the whole of our lives, so that we live every day for Jesus.
Living Jesus' Way
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:39 NIV
Living out our faith joyously every day. The areas we are thinking about here are:
- learning more and more each day to live the best way that Jesus has for us, in how we respond to him, to others and to the world.
- developing our attitudes and our behaviour so that we increasingly reflect the character of Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Gal 5:13-26)
- playing our part in belonging to God's church in how we offer the time, money, skills and gifts in his service.
Sharing Jesus' Love
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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19-20a
Connecting with our community, showing God’s love and sharing the Good News of Jesus. The areas we are thinking about here are (rooted in the five marks of mission):
- to tell people the Good News of Jesus, learning to tell our faith story and speak confidently to others about the difference Jesus makes in our lives
- to teach people about God's love and grace for humanity, inviting people to explore faith in Jesus and offering ways in which they can journey with God for themselves
- to tend to the people of our community and the world, by listening to our community and finding the best way to love and serve them using the resources God gives us
- to transform our community and world, by challenging injustice and seeking reconciliation and an end to hatred and violence
- to treasure God's creation, recognising our responsibilty as stewards of the world and our part in his creation by caring for the environment.
Will you join us?
In the coming months and beyond, we'll be looking for ideas and practical steps to help us grow into the purpose God has for us. This is why we exist - and we will focus our whole attention upon it. It is a big task, and we won't be able to do it all at once. We will make mistakes and get things wrong, but if we don't try, we definitely won't move forward! I am excited for the journey. If you would like to join us, we'd love to welcome you on board.
Jason Kennedy
Enabling Minister
Haven Christian Centre