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Gospel centred sermons, based on the lectionary often in advance.

Oct 17, 2011

Focus reading: Matthew 22:34–46

Love… It’s that simple.

For decades churches, companies, individuals and organizations have spent incredible energy trying to come up with mission statements… trying to discover their mission. There is some value in this. It helps us clarify our purpose, our core business. It gives us some specific directions to go down as we engage in service and witness, BUT  sometimes we miss the wood for the trees.

                The purpose of the Christian life and the Church, is to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. It’s that simple! That is our mission where-ever we are as Christians or as the church! It is a mission we will never complete in this life because as sinners and as finite human beings we never quite manage to give God everything. We also never quite manage to give others the same attention we give ourselves. Thankfully, God is loving and forgiving!

                This week in Toowoomba where this podcast comes from is family week. And our mission in our families is the same as in the church or as individuals. As Christians, in our families, we must put God first! As Christians in our families we must give the needs of our husband, wife, children, brothers, and sisters the same priority we give our own needs. This is very important for the church and for the community, for it is usually in our families that we are most ourselves and most relaxed. It is often at home that our worship, witness and service have their greatest effect. We never get it 100% right, but those around us learn from our example.

Questions for thought or discussion.

To what extent do you love God with all your being? If we fail in this basic task of loving God and our neighbour what is the point of even trying? What is our motivation for trying? How successful is your church at loving God and your neighbours? What role does God's love for us play in our love for God and others?