The Church: Where We Learn to Love

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Leaving a Lasting Legacy

The Church: Where We Learn to Love By Rick Warren — Sep 12, 2015 “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:18b NLT, second edition) Only the Church will last forever. Nothing else is going to last. No business is going to last forever. No government is going to last forever. No nation is going to last forever. Only the Church is going to last forever. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT, second edition). The Church is the most magnificent idea God or any human being ever thought up. The entire universe was created for God’s family. What’s God’s family called? The Church. The Church is not a building. The Church is the family of God. God wanted a family, so he decided to create the entire universe just so he could create Earth just so he could create human beings just so we could have the free choice to choose or reject him. He knew that some of us would choose to love him back, and he’s going to take us to Heaven to be part of his family forever. What does this mean for you if you are already in God’s family? It means that since we’re all going to live together forever, we better learn to get along. While you’re here on Earth, you must love the family of God. It’s not enough just to love God. You must love the Church. You want to know how much God loves the church? He died for it. Anybody who says, “I love Jesus, but I don’t need the Church” doesn’t get it. That person is an immature believer. A lot of people use the Church but don’t love it. Do you love the Church? Or do you just use the Church? Christ died for it. You must learn to love every believer in the Body of Christ. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are some ways that people use the Church? How do you love the unlovable people even in the Church? What do you need to change about yourself so that you can love others well? What are some practical steps you can take to show love to the Church? Our Gift: Daily Inspiration for The Purpose Driven Life In Daily Inspiration for The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick has taken all the key verses that explain how God created each of us for five purposes and put them into an easy-to-use reference tool that will help anyone study and memorize God’s Word. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren Leaving a Lasting Legacy teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Generosity Is Love In Action Message 2: ​​​​Leaving a Legacy of Faith Message 3: ​​​Leaving a Legacy of Hope Message 4: ​​​Living By Your Convictions PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2015 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe