Intro from Pastor Joe:
The global Christian family, as diverse as it is, is unified around the Great Commandment that Jesus gave us: to love God, neighbor, and self. The love of one another (in particular) signifies to the watching world that we are Jesus’ disciples. Therefore, our impact on the world around us is instigated and accomplished by love.
The cross of Jesus launched a new way to be human and a new community of love. His forgiveness of sinners started a new economy of benevolence and grace. The primary vocation of the disciple is to imagine a world of healing, peace, love, and grace and act as if it is already so.
This challenged the native operating software for humanity before Jesus, which assumed that competition, earning and spending, winning and losing, was how the world was ordered and developed. But that age is passing away, and a new era has dawned. Praise the Lord!
Key Scripture:
"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 22:37-40 (NIV)
The cross of Jesus launched a new way to be human and a new community of love. His forgiveness of sinners started a new economy of benevolence and grace. The primary vocation of the disciple is to imagine a world of healing, peace, love, and grace and act as if it is already so.
This challenged the native operating software for humanity before Jesus, which assumed that competition, earning and spending, winning and losing, was how the world was ordered and developed. But that age is passing away, and a new era has dawned. Praise the Lord!
Key Scripture:
"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 22:37-40 (NIV)