What is our purpose?
The Church has survived many ages and changes. Throughout the years, like today, Christians have to weed through marginal issues to determine our true mission. While there are many things we do as a church, there are only a few things we must do. We can find those things grounded in the two greatest commandments. When Jesus was asked to pick the two greatest commandments in the Law of Moses, He responded, "To love God, and to love your fellow-man." At First Wesleyan, our mission can be wrapped up in the phrase, "Love Truth - Live Truth." If we do those two things, we will fulfill the greatest commandments and the Great Commission.
The essence of the Church is a body of believers that is about the work of Christ. We want to be that body on Shelby Avenue.
Why does the Church exist?
We believe God is trying to reconnect, redeem and restore humanity to Himself. The way God does that today is through relationships built between people who have been restored and those who are not yet redeemed. God has called His people to use the gifts He has given them to reach out to others in order to bring them into a proper relationship with Him. He also calls upon His people to use their gifts to encourage each other. Neither responsibility should impede the other. The Church should not be so focused on itself that it does not impact its surrounding community. It should also not be so busy reaching out that it doesn't take care of itself. Some churches are work-a-holics, always trying to 'do more'. Some churches are so ingrown that they 'do nothing'. There must be a balance. We strive to find it at Nashville First.
