“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’.
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul and mind by:
Spending regular time alone with God in personal prayer, Bible study, and reflection.
In so doing, one will realize unconditional love through intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father; better understand God’s will; gain strength, confidence, and joy for living the Christian life; know peace in the midst of trial and temptation; and experience God’s effective power over what is seen and unseen in this world.
Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 1:2; Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:23; Acts 2:42; Acts 6:4; Philippians 4:6-7; James 5:13-16; & 1 John 2:24
Faithfully attending worship.
Coming together as a Christian body to worship and honor our God is a necessity for personal and corporate spiritual growth. Worship leads to rejuvenation when we come together for praise and adoration and give of our best through song, scripture, prayer, offerings, meditation, and the spoken word.
Acts 2:1-46; Hebrews 10:24-25; Luke 4:16; Luke 24:52-53; Psalm 122:1; & Deuteronomy 12:1-7
Faithfully attending weekly Bible study.
God nourishes us through Bible study, equipping us to live out our faith both in relation to God and others. We receive nourishment through the reading, hearing, and understanding God’s word; experiencing God’s presence; sharing how God is working in our lives; and encouraging one another.
Isaiah 55:8-11; Acts 2:1; Acts 2:42-46; Acts 14:27-28; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:24-25; & 2 Peter 1:20-21
Committing to obey God’s word in Scripture through the conviction and interpretation of the Holy Spirit.
God is revealed to us through Scripture. We are called to obey God’s word by hearing and acting upon eternal truths revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, that we might bring glory to God.
Psalm 1; Psalm 19; Psalm 119; Matthew 7:24; Matthew 28:20; John 8:31-32; John 14:21-27; 1 Corinthians 2:12-24; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:22-25; James 2:17; 1 Peter 1:14-16; & 1 John 2:20-27
Loving God and Not Money: Giving 10 percent of our income is the scriptural minimum in faithful giving.
One way to prove our love for the Lord is real – that our love goes beyond mere words – is to obey God’s instruction to give cheerfully of our riches through tithing 10 percent of our income. We have these riches because of God’s bounty. When we rob God of the tithe, we rob ourselves of the abundance of God’s care and blessings.
Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7; 1 Corinthians 9:5-15; & 1 Timothy 6:10
Discovering your gifts, finding your role, and faithfully serving in ministry within this church.
Through Bible study, prayer, discipleship, worship, and consultation with others, each person should be able to discover his or her spiritual giftedness. After the spiritual gift is determined, with the help of the ministerial staff and other lay leadership, one should find a place to serve in our church. Once called by God to serve, one should do so faithfully, cheerfully, and conscientiously.
Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:1-17; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; & 1 Peter 4:10
Love your neighbor as yourself by:
Loving one another in the body of Christ, living and displaying unity of spirit.
In doing so, one will fulfill the direct commandment of Jesus Christ, giving proof of being His follower (disciple). Christians should make every effort to say and do what leads to peace and mutual respect in the church as a whole and in interpersonal relationships. Exercising the God-given spirit of unity brings praise and glory to God. Believers should also bear with one another’s burdens, failures, and weaknesses, displaying love not only in word but in action. In all our relationships we should model the love of God shown to us through our mutual bond in Jesus Christ – unmerited Grace.
Matthew 19:19; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-24; Romans 12:9-17; Romans 14; Romans 15:1-2, 5-7; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; James 1:19-2:26; 1 John 3:11, 14, 16-24; & 1 John 4:7-21
Being a positive and fruitful witness for Christ in the world.
With Christ as Lord, our lights (humility, testimonies, and deeds) shine before others and are seen as praise of the Heavenly Father. We honor God as a continuous witness in doing what is good, right, and true in serving others, and by sharing our faith in Christ. The scriptures also teach that as we share our witness we bring blessings to ourselves.
We are to rely on the Holy Spirit as our guide who works in a person’s heart before and after our witness as we follow Christ’s command, leading others to accept His free gift of salvation.
Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 28:16-20; John 15:12-14; Acts 10:42; Romans 10:9-15; 1 Corinthians 7:10-17; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; & Ephesians 5:8-9
Faithfully living and teaching God’s word in your home.
We are to live as Christians in our homes, to engage in family and private devotions, to teach our children by instruction and example that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. Through commitment to Christ they will find life’s redemption, fulfillment, and glory.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Deuteronomy 31:13; Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 22:6; & Ephesians 6:1-4