THE SIX IMPERATIVE ACTS
of Christ’s Church underlined in the scriptures below:
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. . . Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40)
THE GREAT COMMISSION
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20 NIV)
THE GREAT COMBAT
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 Emphasis added)
THE SIX IMPERATIVE ACTS OF CHRIST’S CHURCH
Imperative Act #1 found in The Great Commandment
— Love the Lord our God—
(MAGNIFY — 6 o’clock hour)
Magnification or Worship best describes this Act. We are commanded to love God with all our hearts, and that love is expressed as we magnify and worship him. Worship is a lifestyle that pleases God and causes Him to rejoice.
Imperative Act #2: found in The Great Combat
— Prevailing Against the Gates of Hell—
(MILITANT— 6 o’clock hour)
Militant Warfare best describes this Act. We are to prevail against the gates of hell (Satan, the Devil) and win. Therefore, the church exists to wage war as a militant army against Satan and his cohorts. Satan desires our worship, but we are the obedient children of God Almighty and are committed to worship only Him; in spirit and in truth.
Imperative Act #3 found in The Great Commission
—Baptizing Believers—
(MEMBERS — 9 o’clock hour)
Fellowship best describes this Act. In the Greek text of the Great Commission, there are three present participle verbs: going, baptizing, and teaching. Each of these is part of the command to “make disciples.” Baptism is a symbol of fellowship visualizing a person’s incorporation into the body of Christ.
Imperative Act #4 found in The Great Commission
—Teaching Them to Obey—
(MATURITY — 12 o’clock hour)
Discipleship best describes this Act. Therefore, the church exists to edify and educate God’s people to advance to maturity. The process of discipleship begins at the new birth in Christ and continues throughout the rest of one’s life.
Imperative Act #5 found in The Great Commandment
— Love Your Neighbor—
(MINISTRY — Hand Shaft)
Ministry / Service best describes this imperative act. Therefore, the church exists to serve people through the love of Christ, which is our ministry. We demonstrate God’s love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts in the name of Jesus.
Imperative Act #6 found in The Great Commission
— Go and Make Disciples—
(MISSIONS — 3 o’clock)
Evangelism best describes this Act. Therefore, the church exists to communicate God’s Word as ambassadors for Christ. Our mission is to evangelize the world and make disciples or learners of others.