Page 100 - First Steps 2023

assembly of God’s people, called out and called together for relationship
with God and one another. And they’re called together for the purpose of
accomplishing God’s mission on earth.
What is that mission?
One part of it was summed up by Jesus when he was asked to iden-
tify the most important biblical commandment:

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all
your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

So loving God and loving others—those are the most important things
the church is to be about. But another aspect of the church’s mission is
reaching out to the world with the message of Jesus’ love for them. Just
before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave his first disciples this mission:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-20).

Maybe you’re seeing a trend: At the heart of any Jesus-follower’s
purpose is relationship—with God and others. With those who are already
followers of Jesus and with those who don’t yet know him.
Which means you need to identify with a local congregation—for rea-
sons that will soon be obvious.

2. Describing the church.
Here’s a quick summary of what the Bible says about the church:

• It was established by Jesus, not by people, and nothing can destroy
the church (Matthew 16:18).

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