On our web site (www.spblutheran.com), Bethlehem and St. Paul are defined as “churches of the great commission”. The last thing Jesus said to his followers before He ascended to heaven was the words of the “Great Commission” from Matthew 28. These words describe what our mission is all about.

We at Bethlehem and St. Paul are called to “go and make disciples of all nations”. Our mission as a church is to go out into the world, proclaiming the good news of Jesus to all people. Like the great hymn “I Love to Tell the Story” says, “I love to tell the story, for some have never heard; the message of salvation, from God’s own holy Word”. When we go out to others and tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love, we fulfill our mission, because we make disciples, bring people to Jesus. Our mission at Bethlehem and St. Paul is to “go” and tell the story of Jesus and His love.

But our mission doesn’t stop there. The Great Commission goes on to say, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. Thus, it is part of our mission as a church to teach the great commandments of Jesus from Matthew 22. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” It is also a part of our mission to teach the Ten Commandments and all the commandments of the Old Testament, which is the basis for Jesus’ two great commandments. All the commandments of God are precious gifts from God, showing us how to live our lives.

Thus, we are called by the Great Commission to preach about Jesus and teach the commandments. Our mission is to do both. But we can’t do either, if we stay at home in our own churches. The key to the Great Commission is to “go”. As Christians and as a Christian Church, we cannot be isolated from the rest of the world. Our mission at Bethlehem and St. Paul is to go and preach and teach.

Your friend in Christ,