Loving God
Loving our neighbour
Making disciples of all nations
Thank you for stopping by to browse our webpage.
On this ‘ About us’ page you’ll find out a little about the beliefs that make us who we are and that are the basis for all that we do. Our Parish motto is ‘ Loving God, loving our neighbour, making disciples of all nations. Those words and ideas may be familiar to many of you; they are in fact based on two important bible readings. The great commandment and the great commission.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
Jesus was often bombarded with questions. Sometimes they were from genuine seekers, but now and again they were asked by people deliberately trying to trick him! The Jewish community that Jesus was part of had lots of commands preserved in their writings. Apart from the well known 10 Commandments there were lots of others, both positive and negative; things to do, and things to avoid. Someone counted all the commandments and came up with a figure of 613.Clearly that’s a lot of information to remember, so someone asked Jesus this question ‘ out of all these commands, which is the most important’?
Matthew 22:35-40 New International Version (NIV)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ his is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
That’s where living as a Christ follower begins; responding to God’s love and gift in faith; loving Him through worship and service, and loving those around us too !
THE GREAT COMMISSION
Before Jesus left his disciples he gave them a job to do. We often refer to these last words as ‘ the great commission’, although sometimes when we don’t actually do it, it becomes the great omission !
Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version (NIV)
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 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, baptising 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.”
The word ‘ disciple’ means a learner or follower. People who identify as Christian are followers of Jesus, and they are always learning.
Disciples aren’t born; they are made. Through teaching, worship, through travel, serving others, through study and thinking, disciples are made.
At Ardtrea and Desertcreat we aim to make disciples, teaching people what it means to respond to Jesus in faith, and helping them to think, question and grow closer to each other and closer to God.