Our Mission
As I write these words, football season is fast approaching. So let me ask you a football related question. What chance would you give an NFL team to win the Super Bowl if I told you the team members spent one hour a day on the football practice field and seven hours a day on the golf course? Hmm. Perhaps zero or none? For a football team to excel they must keep the main thing (TMT) the main thing -- and for a football team the main thing is FOOTBALL!
So what is TMT for the Church? Is it evangelism? Is it missions? Is it Bible teaching? Is it Sunday morning worship? Perhaps carry-in dinners? Although all of these are important (some far more than others!), none of these things in and of themselves are TMT. In two different passages in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives us TMT for the church. Read what he says,
Matthew 22:34-37
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 28:18-20
Then 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."
So as you can see, TMT for the church of Jesus Christ is actually three-fold. We are called upon to LOVE GOD with all we are and have, to LOVE OTHERS even as we love ourselves and to IMPACT OUR WORLD as we strive to make disciples of all people and people groups.
This TMT is our mission as a church here at Grace. And as the Church of Jesus Christ does this (whether it is our church or First Baptist Church down the street or Faith Chapel across the globe) – even the gates of hell will be powerless to stop the Church's advance!