"Why do I love My Church?"

1. "Why do I love My Church?"

3. On the Church: • 53% of U.S. adults believe the presence of a Church is a very positive for their community.

4. On the Church: • 53% of U.S. adults believe the presence of a Church is a very positive for their community. • 64% of all Americans believe that a faith community can be a comfort during a major tragic event.

5. On the Church: • 53% of U.S. adults believe the presence of a Church is a very positive for their community. • 64% of all Americans believe that a faith community can be a comfort during a major tragic event. • 66% of Adults in the U.S. feel they have a real and personal connection with God when attending a Church service.

6. On what the Church teaches: • 88% of Americans own a Bible and 61% wish they read the Bible more.

7. On what the Church teaches: • 88% of Americans own a Bible and 61% wish they read the Bible more. • 56% of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence in American Society and 77% of those same people believe the values and morals of America are declining.

8. On what the Church teaches: • 88% of Americans own a Bible and 61% wish they read the Bible more. • 56% of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence in American Society and 77% of those same people believe the values and morals of America are declining. • 83% of Americans are willing to pray! - Barna Research Group

10. Why do I love My Church? Why do you? I hope through today's message you will be able to answer that with more conviction, certainty, and a deeper clarity. God wants us to love and be committed to his Church, and I hope today you will be able to understand why and the need for you....to be the Church.

12. NIV Philippians 2:1-8: If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

13. I love My Church because – We learn to Love One Another

15. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

17. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

19. Societies Selfish Ads:

22. Love One Another . . . When we put ourselves ahead of others we strive to be the point, we want to be the most important person; we think we deserve some type glory. We need to consider others more important than ourselves and trust those who God places in our lives to lead us.

24. Jeremy Linebaugh

26. I love My Church because - We learn to empty ourselves

27. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

29. We also see that Jesus humbled Himself, Jesus took a posture of submitted Himself to someone. The question then is who? See, Jesus submitted to us - He decided that our deal was more important then His deal. Jesus decided that our need for forgiveness was more important then His need for glory. Jesus decided to embrace our interest at the expense of His own. Jesus died to make our deal more important then His own. Do we do that in our Church body? Do we model that as a Church in our community? Do we empty ourselves for the sake of others....or do we want glory?