I love the church. I love to be with the church. I love to talk about the church. I love to study the history of the church. Get it? love the church!

I’m preaching a series of messages under the heading of “The Church in Prophecy.” This series reveals what Jesus had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor as recorded in Revelation 2-3…and of course, it has relevancy to us today. I am grateful that the church I pastor is most like the Philadelphian church in Revelation 3:7-13. Not only did that church open their doors to the world, but God opened the door of the world to that church. We must never do anything to forfeit such trust from the Lord.

I wish all churches were like my church. Most are not. Unfortunately, a high proportion of people who "go to church" have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routines, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible talks about the "the bride of Christ" but the many churches today seems like a ragged Cinderella. There needs to be a reaffirmation to the nonnegotiable, essential elements for which God designed the church.

I love the church. I am an incurable lover of the church. It thrills me beyond measure to think that I get to serve God through pastoring His church. Although I am also involved in some other ministry activities, I wouldn't trade my ministry in the church for all of them combined. The church takes first place in my ministry priorities, and everything else grows out of my commitment to the church.