Love God, Love People

Jesus said if His disciples do these two things, then we are fulfilling the heart & essence of everything found in the Old Testament law. Instead of focusing on following external laws and rules, we should focus our time and energy on maintaining healthy relationships with God and the people around us. Paul said that love does no harm to a person and that love is the fulfillment of the law; thus confirming Jesus’ words that if we love God and love people, then we are truly following Christ and living out the example He modeled for us. (Matthew 22:34-40, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14)

Love & Unity

Jesus said His disciples & Christianity would be recognized and distinguished by a few things: our love for one another, our unity with one another, and the fruit that is displayed in our lives. One of our greatest testimonies to the world is our love for other Christians and our willingness to work together in unity to love and help the world around us. (John 13:34-35, John 15:7-8, John 17:20-23)

Encouraging the Saved, Winning the Lost

Outside of worshipping God and enjoying daily fellowship with Him, it seems we have two main responsibilities as we walk through life; edifying and encouraging other believers toward spiritual maturity, and actively seeking, praying for, evangelizing, and discipling the lost. Jesus is the answer for all of the problems and issues that humankind faces, so it is our job to point people to Jesus and help them love, know, and follow Him in a greater capacity than they are now. (Luke 15:3-7, John 1:40-42, Romans 14:17-19, Ephesians 4:29)

World Missions

One of the greatest and last commandments Jesus gave to His disciples was to go out into all the world and teach, train, disciple, and baptize people in His name. We may not all travel to other states or nations to do this, but it is our responsibility to love, pray for, and do what we can throughout our everyday lives to fulfill this commandment with the people that cross our path. We are God’s representatives and ambassadors on the earth and so we must take responsibility to do what we can to contribute to the overall work of what God is doing throughout the earth. (John 3:16, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Biblical Worldview

The Bible says we can not be in love with God and be in love with the things of this world at the same time. At some point in our Christian experience we must realize how much more eternally powerful and wonderful God’s kingdom and its value system are compared to the ways and value system of the world. We should seek to see ourselves, our lives, people, and the issues of this world through the lens of Biblical truth. (James 4:4, Matthew 24:35, John 17:14-19)

Eternal Perspective

God says we are citizens of Heaven. This world is not our home; we are simply passing through during this journey of life to discover God, receive Him, and fulfill our God-given destiny before we return to Him. Because of this, everything we think, say, and do should reflect the idea that eternity is a greater reality for us than this life. After all, we will spend 80 years or so on this earth but all of eternity with God and other Christians in Heaven. (Psalm 119:19, John 14:1-4, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 11:13-16)