Have you ever achieved a goal that you’d been working hard and long to succeed at, and then find shortly afterward that there was still a lot of work to do? Maybe you finally got the garden planted, and realized that you’d underestimated how much time watering, weeding and general maintenance it would require. Perhaps you achieved some ambitious goals and objectives in your work, and were called into a meeting with your manager that was 5% commendation and 95% bigger and bolder goals. Of course, we understand that by their very nature, most goals and objectives represent a step in a journey and not the final destination.
This is certainly true of the Christian faith and the lives of disciples of Jesus. We seek constantly to grow in our faith, in our trust in the goodness, love and power of God, in our ability to listen well to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in our desire and ability to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We achieve certain goals and objectives by the grace of God and through our own diligent efforts, not to rest in our success, but to be in a position to ask, “Now what, Lord?”
Easter is a time when each year we come face to face with the “already, but not yet” nature of the Kingdom of God and our role in it. We remember and recognize that Christ’s work on the cross was a once-and-for-all act of love, atonement and salvation, and that his literal, physical resurrection from the dead means that we worship and serve a risen, living Lord. Those milestones in the history of the universe will not be (nor do they need to be) repeated. Jesus’ mission on earth was 100% successful and 100% completed. And yet … he also gave an ongoing mission to the followers he left behind when he ascended into heaven:
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 28:19-20, NIV)
As we consider the question, “What does this mean for us?” Redeemer’s newly-articulated mission statement speaks to the slice of this Great Commission from Jesus that we feel particularly called to in the next several years of our congregation’s life and shared ministry.
- OUR MISSION: To join God’s work by reaching, discipling and equipping people to courageously and authentically live out God’s Word in Brooklyn Park and beyond.
Proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel, making disciples and building up believers is at the heart of our reason to exist as a congregation. This is a mission with no expiration date, until the Lord returns and we are gathered to worship him for all time.
Joining together in mission as a diverse, Christ-centered community isn’t without its challenges and even occasional setbacks. But God has united us to himself and to one another through his redeeming love, and there is no greater joy that can be ours than glorifying God by working together in the mission he’s given us.
Blessed to serve our risen Lord with you,
Pastor Ben