Strangers & Aliens

Like many others recently, I am preaching today on "love the church" (from Ephesians 5). It's worth applying this by thinking through the difference it will make to us if we have this positive view of God's people. Here are a few at least:

1. It will align us with Jesus' will. We're always saying how we "want to be in his will." Here is a simple way to achieve it. He loves the church and if you love the church you will be like him too, even if you cannot do for the church what he did.

2. It will help you understand why Jesus has saved you. Eph 5.22-25 is pretty clear - the church has been saved to be made holy (v26) - not in the sense of sanctification as we understand it (that comes in verse 27) - but in the sense of being set apart for service. Your calling is to be part of this serving bride that we call the church.

3. It will help you understand that the church is work in progress and accept its faults. We are going to be presented "holy and blameless" but we are not the finished article. Too many people won't commit to church or they run away because they don't understand the work Jesus is doing in the church.

4. It will help you work towards the same purpose. If you know what Jesus is doing in the church (to present her holy) then you will be moved to work towards the same goal and to contribute to this growth to holiness. This is your role in the kingdom.

5. It will help you pray for the church. If you understand how Jesus loves the church and what he is working towards you will never be short of things to pray for and you should have a real desire to pray together for this work.

6. BTW, it will help Christian husbands know how to love their wives!!

So, love the church!