WHY I LOVE THECHURCH...strengthening our commitment to the household of faith

"The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved. Paul says, "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 2:25). Here the term "the church" is used to apply to all those whom Christ died to redeem, all those who are saved by the death of Christ. But that must include all true believers for all time, both believers in the New Testament age and believers in the Old Testament age as well"  -Wayne Grudem

The Apostle John tells us, that one of the most visible and convincing evidences that we have passed from death until life, is "... because we love the brethren..." (1 John 3:14). Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples; that you love one another" (John 13:35). We are also "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25).

The closest fellowship, as Christians, that we can ever enjoy on earth is within the body of Christ. "Brethren" is an endearing word for the intimacy of our union with Christ and, therefore, with each other. It was used by our Lord immediately following His bodily resurrection from the dead to portray His deep affection and love for those He came to save (John 20:17; cp, Heb. 2:11).

There are close to fifty "one anothers" in the New Testament that describe in wonderful detail how our lives are to be woven and lived together within the body of Christ. The world may not know of Paul, Stephen, Luke, Peter, even Moses or David, etc.; but they do know you and me and they are watching. What a joy to give up all rights to self and serve without reservation each other in the body of Christ as a witness and testimony of His life-changing grace. We should not come to church seeking what we can get, but more importantly, asking how we can give (1 Peter 4:10).

I have defined ministry as:

service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the instruction of Scripture as good stewards of the manifold grace of God for the advancement of His kingdom; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (cp, 1 Peter 4:10-12)

God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life, fellowship, and leadership of the local church. Any ministry that does not strengthen one's commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purposes of Christ (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25).

Five Biblical Reasons 

Why We Should Love and Serve the Church: 

Committed to the Lord of the Church
Firstly, Jesus Christ promised to build the Church-therefore, my commitment should be to it (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:39-47).

Committed to Love the Church
Secondly, He purchased the Church with His own precious blood-therefore, I love those for whom He died (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:14-16).

Committed to Labor and Serve with the Church
Thirdly, the Church is the predominate agency through which God's will is manifested on earth-therefore, it is the community with whom I labor (Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:28-29).

Committed to the Life of One Another in the Church
Fourthly, the Church is the only earthly expression of heaven-therefore, we must daily grow together in conformity to the fullness of Christ (2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 4:4-11; Ephesians 4:12-13).

Committed to Lasting Victory for the Church
Fifthly, the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church-therefore, in light of the assured victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, our worship and toil is not in vain (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58).

For further study, see Ligon Duncan's excellent article on 

The Marks of a Healthy Church

THE LOCAL CHURCH - SOCIAL CLUB OR SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY?...learning to practice the "one anothers"

What is the local church really to be like and how is it to function each day? Is it just a one hour a week performance for God led by a few professionals or is it something quite different then what contemporary evangelicalism has made it into? During this Easter season where we rightly refocus on the salvific ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, may we also take time to rethink what genuine ministry in the local church should be. In part one of this important "conversation of faith" I have compiled all of the "one anothers" found in Scripture. May they encourage you in your fellowship and service in the body of Christ. In taking these first steps, consider the words of the Apostle Paul instructing the church at Ephesus, "from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" -Ephesians 4:16

MARK 9:50 "Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

JOHN 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet..”

JOHN 13:34 “A new commandment I give to your, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

ACTS 7:26 "And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?'

ROMANS 12:5 “so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

ROMANS 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

ROMANS 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

ROMANS 14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

ROMANS 14:19 "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."

ROMANS 15:5,7 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”

ROMANS 15:14 “Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

ROMANS 16:16 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”

1 CORINTHIANS 7:5 “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

1 CORINTHIANS 11:33 “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.”

1 CORINTHIANS 12:25 “…that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.”

GALATIANS 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

GALATIANS 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.”

GALATIANS 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

GALATIANS 6:2b “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

EPHESIANS 4:2 “…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,”

EPHESIANS 4:25 “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,’ for we are members of one another.”

EPHESIANS 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

EPHESIANS 5:19 “…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

EPHESIANS 5:21 “…submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

COLOSSIANS 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”

COLOSSIANS 3:13 "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

COLOSSIANS 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

1 THESSALONIANS 3:12 "and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you;"

1 THESSALONIANS 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

TITUS 3:3 “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts, pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

HEBREWS 3:13 “but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘TODAY,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

HEBREWS 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

JAMES 4:11 “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”

JAMES 5:9,16 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

1 PETER 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;”

1 PETER 4:9-10 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 JOHN 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”