Mission Statement Week 1: “Love God” Conversation

Main message: Loving God is the foundational, lifelong, responsive commitment of the church — a heart that treasures Christ with “all of life” — and one of the primary ways we embody that is by practicing Sabbath: a weekly, intentional rhythm to receive, rest in, and delight in God.

Key points:

• Loving God means treasuring Christ above all, offering every dimension of life to him as an active, ongoing choice.
• True love for God is a response to his initiating love; discipleship is lifelong and the vertical (our relationship with God) fuels the horizontal (love for others).
• Common obstacles to loving God: busyness, a fast cultural pace, technology/distraction, settling for a shallow faith, anxiety or loneliness.
• Sabbath is a sacred, intentional stop built into our rhythm — not merely self-care but a practice of setting time aside to delight in God: prayer, worship, being with God’s people, and enjoying creation.
• Sabbath can look different in different seasons or vocations (including ministry), but it requires designated time, humility (an act of faith to rest), and family/community practices (e.g., liturgy, shared rhythms).
• Practicing Sabbath and cultivating gratitude deepen intimacy with God, replenish the soul, and foster belonging and spiritual growth.

Scriptures mentioned: Deuteronomy 8, Acts 6