Why are we here? What are we meant to do? What shall we live for? These ancient questions find their answers in Christ alone. Theologians of the 17th century asked it this way: “What is the chief end of man?” They put the answer they found in Scripture like this: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” The Bible is clear that this indeed is the purpose of all people and of the church. We have a vision to see ourselves, our church, and our region engaged in this purpose; we are broken and sinful, but God can use even us to extend his kingdom. As broken people, we seek God to transform us and our region. Bound together in Christ, we live for his glory and to see his gospel made known.
This is the essence of who we are and what God asks of us. It begins with our own brokenness, our own failings and need for Christ. Through the gospel we find healing, hope, meaning, and value in our lives. Both our brokenness and the wonder of the gospel are shared as we come together. But it does not stop with us; we are called to join God wherever he is working – in us, our community, our region, and throughout the world. As we wonder at God’s glory and seek to join in his work, there are five core motivations that drive us.
The Gospel
The gospel is central to all we are and do. It is the good news that Jesus willingly entered into our broken world so that we might be made whole. He was broken, despised, rejected, and crucified for us so that we could receive the healing, forgiveness, hope for reconciliation, and love that come from him alone.
Broken People
We know ourselves to be broken people, broken by sin and misery, and our lives to be painful and unpredictable. This brokenness makes us desperate for the grace, the healing, and the comfort that we receive only from God.
Radical Transformation
As the gospel impacts us it becomes a way of life, transforming us in every facet of our lives. The gospel is not merely a passive belief, something we do on Sunday, but an active way of life; it is a renewing of heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Community
We do not live life alone. Through the gospel, broken people are bound together in Christ. As we live this out we bear witness to and enjoy a foretaste of Christ’s kingdom.
The Kingdom
The gospel is not ours to hoard. If we are broken people who care about broken people, we must go forward with the gospel in Maine and in the world, establishing churches to proclaim the kingdom of God.