When you love someone, you oftentimes find yourself loving
what they love. We see it all the time
with couples and sports. A girl – who
has no earthly idea what a football or basketball is – will date or marry a guy
who has a favorite sports team. The girl
miraculously transforms into an avid (borderline rabid) fan of that team. Why?
Because the love she has for her guy produces a love for something that
he loves: his favorite team. Her love is a selfless love.
The same should be true about our relationship with Jesus and
the Church. Have you ever heard it said,
“I love Jesus, but not the church”?
People who say this seem to think that it is possible to have a
flourishing, loving relationship with Jesus without loving the church. But if you know Jesus, if you love Jesus, if
you are so one with Jesus that you love what He loves, then this statement is
absurd. It is impossible to know Jesus
and truly love Jesus without loving the church.
Why do I say this? Because Ephesians 5:25 says that Jesus “loved the church and gave himself up
for her” (ESV). If Jesus loved the
church enough that He died for her, it is contradictory to think that I can
love Him without loving the church, his bride.
This sermon looks at the importance of loving Jesus through loving the church and being a faithful member of a local congregation.
"i LOVE my church...BY JOINING"
"i LOVE my church...BY JOINING"
