Our Mission

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

Love God, Love People

If you could sum up your life's purpose in one statement, what would it be?

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked a similar question by a teacher of the Law:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In this passage, Jesus uncovers God’s foremost priorities, the reason we are here on earth is to:

love God with all that we are, and love people.

There is no greater pursuit, nothing more important in life than these two things. That’s why at JIBC, our mission statement is very simple: “Love God, Love People”

But how do you love a God you can't see?

The Bible tells us in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

From this passage, we know that the primary way we show our love to God is by obeying His commands found in the Bible. How do I know if I am loving God? By obeying and living according to the teachings of Scripture. Obedience is the evidence of our love!

Secondly, how are we to love our neighbors? In our society, love can be defined in countless ways. In John 13:34, Jesus defines love and gives His disciples a new, revolutionary command to follow:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Instead of loving our neighbor as ourselves, Jesus raises the bar. He commands us to love one another ‘as I (Jesus) have loved you.’ We are called to love others with the same love that Jesus demonstrated for us at the cross.

And that is what JIBC is all about.