We live in a lost and dying world which continues to pursue its failing strategies for meaning and fulfillment in life. While people often look good on the outside, their lives are sometimes more accurately characterized by self-indulgence, guilt, lust confusion and despair. Seeking his own remedies, man continues his downward spiral of separation from God. For men to turn to Christ, they myst be
told about Him and to see His reality displayed in the lives of His followers. As the body of Christ, the church is the visible earthly representation of who He is. Every church has the two-fold purpose of leading people to Christ and maturing them in the faith. This purpose is identified in two key scriptures:
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT: "Love the Lord your God with all you 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." Matthew 22:37-39
THE GREAT COMMISSION: "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
