We are Christians – Serving, Learning and Loving.

Serving

We mean that we want and work toward being action-oriented Christians. We commit

ourselves to be Christ’s hands and feet. The world apart from God has an idea of what

should be done to be great and powerful. This is not our model.

Jesus states it most eloquently in the book of Mark 10:43b-45  “ But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. ⁴⁴ Whoever wants to become the first among you must serve all of you like a slave. ⁴⁵ In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

– New Century Version

Learning:

As Presbyterians, we do not pretend to understand all the mysteries of the Bible. Rather we embrace the questions it spurs in us and in you. We respect each other’s intellect. Therefore, we work together to unravel the timeless mysteries contained in God´s word.

We stand with the apostle Paul and his attitude toward discussing and learning Scriptures as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:15 15 “ I am speaking to you as to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.”

 – New Century Version

Loving:

We strive for love to fuel, and perfume everything we do. In short, love drives us. Because, without love, what good would any of our actions be? They would be useless. For love to be the driving force of all of our actions is a monumental goal indeed. Yet, we feel compelled to reach for it because 1 John 4:8b says that, “God is love” and we know that God’s love is beyond immense.

Let us define what we mean at Fond du Lac First Presbyterian when we say, “We strive to love.” Paul precisely states in 1 Corinthians 13: 1b-7, 13

¹ …“ if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. ² I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing.

 ³ I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

 ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. ⁵Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. ⁶ Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. ⁷ Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.

– New Century Version