Why are we here?

There has been many books and articles written on the purpose of the church. Unfortunately most people do not understand what the church is all about. The church is not about programs, activities, music, and even hearing sermons. The church is more than just an organization. I have heard some good definitions for what the church is, however, the best one I have heard comes from an unknown source. This definition states: "The Church is a group of baptized believers who gather for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Command and the Great Commission." I believe that this is the real purpose of the church. The Great Command is found in Matthew 22:37-40: "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets." Jesus said that this is what it is all about. We are to love God with everything that is about us, with every fiber of our being. As we learn to love God we then begin to love others and serve them the way Jesus serves. In the church, everything we do should be because of our love for God and our love for people. Though we may have many ministries and many opportunities for people to learn about Jesus, without love it is all in vain. When you look at all that our church has to offer, 'you may ask why do we need to do this or that?' It is because of love. It is because of the love that Jesus demonstrated for us and it is because we love Him. The second part of the definition of the church has to do with the Great Commission. The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have command you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." As we go through out our daily lives, we are to tell people about Jesus. We are to make disciples. The reason we have Sunday School, Small Groups, Bible Study Classes, and various other ministries is because we are making disciples. As we do this in love we are fulfilling God's purpose for the church. The church. More than just an organization but a group of baptized believers who gather for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Command and the Great Commission.