Jesus came and spoke to them [His disciples], saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to keep all that I have entrusted to you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20

 

Our mission is the mission of Jesus, namely, to make disciples of all peoples.  Jesus has also given us the very means to do this... by baptizing people in the name of the triune God and teaching them to treasure and keep all that He has entrusted to us, now written for us in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible.  Where this is going on, we have Christ's comforting promise that He is with us through it all to the very end. It is His mission.

 

The treasure entrusted to us and preserved in the Bible is the good news that we are saved from our sins on account of Christ alone, in other words, all because of WHO HE is and WHAT HE has accomplished for us and our salvation. And He Himself instituted baptism and attached it to His saving work. So that everything He accomplished for us many years ago through His righteous life on earth and His sacrificial death on the cross--namely, the forgiveness of our sins, eternal life and salvation--could be delivered to us now in the waters of baptism and the teaching of this Gospel. It is all a pure gift in and through Jesus, the One and Only Son of God, centered in His death on the cross.

 

If Christ's church is sent to make disciples by baptizing and teaching the Gospel, then a disciple is one who is baptized and taught the Gospel. A disciple of Jesus, therefore, is first and forever a recipient of God's gifts in Christ.  A disciple simply hears and receives the saving baptism and teaching of Christ with joy. This is the gift of faith that God also freely gives through the very water and the Word of Christ Jesus. 

 

Faith naturally shows itself in deeds of love. And as another gift, our Savior teaches us what true love is by His words and deeds. We conduct the mission entrusted to us in this faith and love, encouraging and enabling Christ's disciples, for whom He died, to remain in the saving Gospel all through this earthly life and death. 

 

We invite you to come and hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and rejoice with us that God is so merciful and gracious to us and not only us, but all peoples, the whole world.  Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!