The church is a place where believers can grow together. One of the greatest treasures God gives us in the church is the opportunity to live life together, however imperfectly. As we grow together we learn to work through issues, to share our laughter and our tears, and walk with one another through the different seasons of life. What holds us together isn't each other—it is Jesus Christ. He is our bond and our connection. He is the head of the church and the source of love, life and growth.

When you hear the word mission, what comes to mind? Is it traveling to serve people in a different country? Is it helping build a house? What if we thought of mission as part of who we are rather than something we do? When we think of living our life with a mission perspective, we see how God is working through each of us to share his message and how He fits the pieces together so we have a greater impact. There are opportunities every day to share the love of Christ and change lives. Are we willing to take those opportunities?

Our role in building God's Kingdom is important, not only individually but collectively. God shapes us, and it is God who fits us together to help people and show them Christ's love. When we trust God and let him lead us, the seemingly insignificant may have an impact that reaches across the world. Together, we can change the world.

The work of the church is to expand the kingdom of God for His glory. You have God-given gifts. You have a place not only in church, but also in history—an appointment by God. You are a piece of the divine puzzle. You are part of God's plan and method. He wants to use you as a part of His ministry to the world.

There are many different things that get us excited, that cause us to shout for joy. Sporting events, concerts, exciting action movies, or exotic vacations. Do you get excited about God?  Do you enjoy entering His gates with praise?  Do you shout for joy and praise His name with joyful songs? Worship is celebration—a celebration to be experienced and shared. Through our private and corporate worship, we are drawn into God’s presence and consecrated as his servants.

No Christian should stand alone. God created us for relationships and our saving faith in Jesus connects every Christian to Jesus’ body—the church. It is God’s plan that each believer fulfills his or her purposes in community with other people. When we pray, when we serve, when we worship, when we study, we are better together.

The world is our parish. Will we move with Jesus? Go where he goes? Love where he loves? Serve where he serves? Is our calling to remain the same as we have always been, gathering here for worship each week? Or is there some way in which we are meant to take God’s message to the streets; the message that He is real, He loves and He is available to everyone? How might we move beyond our walls to share this good news, to take a stand for justice in our world, to show compassion, to love in the spirit of Christ?

Grace pervades the Methodist understanding of Christian faith and life. It is the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God to us through Jesus Christ. God’s grace abounds in all things. Even our sin, with its destructive consequences, does not alter God's intention for us; holiness and happiness of heart. God has endowed us with dignity and freedom and has summoned us to responsibility for our lives and the life of the world.

Christ alone redeems and restores our relationship with God our Father. Salvation is a pure gift of His amazing love and grace. Nothing we can ever do or say can earn God’s love and acceptance. We are saved by grace through faith! Christ crucified and risen has done all the work on our behalf. He alone makes us acceptable to God and restores relationship with the Father. He alone gives us the gift of faith that equips us to then live as a child of God.

God has a purpose for you, and the most important thing you can do is to seek that purpose and dedicate your life to it. You aren’t here by chance, nor are you here just to live for yourself without any thought of God. God made you, and life’s greatest joy comes from knowing Him and living for Him every day. Don’t ignore God any longer, but by faith commit your life to Christ today. Then ask Him to help you live for Him every day.