We all want to feel like we are living for something. Something more than the daily grind, the never ending wheel of life that goes round and round. Our culture trains us to define ourselves by what we achieve and produce; whether that’s relationship status, career progression, wealth accumulation or social media status, but in doing so we start to become human doings rather than human beings. We are ruled by circumstances and situations, rather than ruling them.

But what if we were made for more? If we don’t believe there is design in the universe then of course not. Just eat, drink and merry for tomorrow might just be your last. But if this world was formed with intent and purpose, then everything changes. That is the story the Bible tells, with humans at the heart, bringing the life and ways of God wherever they went. Along the way we get side tracked, even enslaved, by lesser pursuits. But we were made for more.

In the person of Jesus we see what humanity was made to be. Full of life and joy, compassion and conviction, kindness and authority. He brought the life of his God wherever he went, reordering the world around a new way, and offering people a new way of being human. He brought God near to people, drawing them out of the mundane into the divine life. And he took our place. He died in purposelessness, so that we might enter into his purpose. He showed us a better way, and gave us a way up and a way in.

That is what we want to be at Redeemer. We want to be people who enter in the life of Jesus. We want to start living as the people we were made to be, creating and reordering as we go and bringing God near to people and people near to God. That is what it means to us to be mission focused. Focused on the life Jesus intended and won for us, and focused on helping others find the same.