Our Purpose

According to our understanding of Scripture and our core values,

Bedford Presbyterian seeks to be a Biblically guided Christian community loving God, loving others, serving the world & growing Disciples.

   

• A Biblically Guided Christian Community. The term “Christian” means that we are seeking to follow the lifestyle and mindset of Jesus Christ. Since we believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word and our only authoritative guide for knowing, following, and becoming like Jesus, we are - with the help of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit - thus guided by these timeless principles in our daily living and in relating to our current culture. (Philippians 2: 1-8, 2 Peter 1:3-9)

   

• Loving God (WORSHIP). When asked to identify God’s greatest commandment, Jesus said that “loving God and loving others” served as a complete summary of all the commandments. In a similar way, “loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind,” can then be summarized in the single word: worship. Worship is so much more than weekly church attendance, or the singing of hymns, or praying, or even tithing. Worship is how we live all of our life; in what we value and in what we say. (Matthew 22:36-40, James 2:14-18)

   

• Loving Others (MINISTRY). Similarly loving others is also a reflection of our love for God. It is the ministry that we have been given to do in Jesus name. Because God so loved the world that He, in the person of Jesus, willingly laid down His own life for ours, now He commands us to love one another the same way; willingly laying down our lives for each other, joyously sharing from our abundance to supply other’s needs, while trusting God to supply all our needs (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:3-21).

   

• Serving the World (MISSION). Jesus’ last command was to send us out to make disciples of all nations … This is our mission. Thus, bearing witness to our faith and our love for others cannot be just in spoken words but must also be in our sacrificial living and service for others. What God through Moses commanded of the Israelites, Jesus has said should be our natural and grateful response for what God has given us: since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land,’ (Deuteronomy 15: 11, Matthew 6:19-33, 1 John 3:16-18).

   

• Growing Disciples (DISCIPLESHIP). Jesus last command to us was: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:18-20). To be a disciple then is not just in learning from scripture and obeying everything we have been taught, it is also in beginning to see and to love the world the way God does. The goal of discipleship then is to literally become a reflection of Christ for our world. This is what we strive to attain in both our own lives and the lives of those entrusted to our care       ( 2 Corinthians 5:14, Ephesians 3:18 - 4:3)

This revised statement was adopted by Session on September 20, 2015. In 2013 as we began to define our purpose, the Session singled out the following verses and core values as describing the community and aspiration of Church.

Guide Verses

1. Great Commandment: love God & love others.   (Matthew 22:36-40, Romans 12:8-10)

2. Great Commission: “Go, baptize, disciple, and teach the nations.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

3. Christian example: living together with glad and generous hearts. (Acts 2:44-47, Romans 12:3-7)

4. True Worship: living our lives daily as an act of worship.                   (Romans 12: 1-2)

5. Authority of Scripture: it is inspired, and alive. (2 Timothy 3:14-17, Hebrews 4:12-13)

Core Values

1. Bible: Scripture is our authoritative guide for faith and practice:         2 Timothy 3:14-17

2. Living as an act of worship.                                                          Romans 12:1-2

3. Sanctuary: making others feel welcome and at home.                    Hebrew 13:1-3

4. Ministry: sharing with our brothers & sisters in need.     1 John 3:16-18, James 2:8-19

5. Fellowship: supporting and enjoying our Christian family.              Hebrews 10:23-25

6. Mission: “going and discipling in all the world” for Jesus.                Matthew 28:18-20

7. Stewardship: caring for all of God’s creation (people, property, & planets).

                                                                                        Genesis 2:15, Matthew 25:31-46

8. Nurture: helping Christians to grow.               Ephesians4:11-16, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 15

9. Witness: sharing the Gospel by our lives and speech.    Romans 1:16-17, 1 Peter 3:15