LOve BIG
LOVE is at the center of who we are in Christ. Love is the distinguishing mark of Jesus’ true disciples (John 13:34-35). The foundation of all the commandments is that we should love God with all that we have and all that we are, and secondly, we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Paul prayed for his fellow believers to develop a deeper experiential, knowledge of the love of Christ, because this love has grounding and transformative power, even beyond the limits of knowledge and comprehension (Ephesians 3:14-21). Love is the characteristic that validates all others, because no matter what gifts or talents we possess, without love driving them they are meaningless
(I Corinthians 13:1-3).
But for us personally, LOVE has long been a defining mark of Tusculum. We love each other deeply and sincerely, and we strive to love our neighbors, whether they come inside our doors or we meet them in the community where they are.
We want to continue to be defined as a LOVING Church.
(I Corinthians 13:1-3).
But for us personally, LOVE has long been a defining mark of Tusculum. We love each other deeply and sincerely, and we strive to love our neighbors, whether they come inside our doors or we meet them in the community where they are.
We want to continue to be defined as a LOVING Church.
To speak of loving BIG is to speak of both faith and courage. We think of the kind of faith that enabled Peter to step out of the boat and–even if just for a few moments–join the Lord in walking on water (Matthew 14:28-33). We think of the way God fought all of Israel’s battles and provided for their every need as he delivered them from slavery, and carried them along to the land he had promised their ancestors (Deuteronomy 1:29-31).
We want to be a people who trust in God’s promises to the point of stepping out and taking risks that require God’s help to succeed. Like the early Church described in Acts, in the face of opposition and setbacks, we want the faith to see these as opportunities for greater boldness and conviction (Acts 4:24-30). We want to practice faith in such a deep-rooted way that we could say with the same conviction as Paul that we can endure any situation in life and still bring honor to God because of the one who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
We want to continue to be a church who steps out for God in BIG ways.
We want to be a people who trust in God’s promises to the point of stepping out and taking risks that require God’s help to succeed. Like the early Church described in Acts, in the face of opposition and setbacks, we want the faith to see these as opportunities for greater boldness and conviction (Acts 4:24-30). We want to practice faith in such a deep-rooted way that we could say with the same conviction as Paul that we can endure any situation in life and still bring honor to God because of the one who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
We want to continue to be a church who steps out for God in BIG ways.
We want God’s love to move through us in bold, audacious, risk-taking ways as a testimony to our community that God is good, and God is alive and working through our church. God is not a God of small thinking and safe living, but of bold vision and of courageous faith in action. This has been true of our history, and we desire to carry these traits forward with us into our future.