Widening the Table

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

The Spirit of God empowers the church to join in reaching all people. That is why our Mission Statement is: "To Be and To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ." We can't do it on our own, that isn't how it works. 

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach out to all people. That is the mission we have been intentionally preaching and teaching about for the past few years.

While this has always been our mission, it is Jesus' mission for us too. Just look at scripture and you realize it is our calling, our duty as disciples to reach out and widen our horizons. People used to speak of the priesthood of all believers. 

In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. There was a priestly intermediary. Now, since Jesus' death and resurrection, we can come directly into God's presence, as Hebrews 4:16 says.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.