Romans 12:9-13

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

This world can be awful.

This is why God gave us the Church.  The Church is a place where people are dedicated to loving one another.  The Church is a place where love should not be fake.  The Church is a place where evil is HATED.  The Church is a place where people are affectionate to one another.  The church is a sliver of heaven on Earth.

Now many of you have not experienced this but I don’t believe that you ever really experienced “THE CHURCH”.  Many of us have experienced religion in various forms falsely called “The Church”.  Religion is when people come together for economic, societal or man-made traditional reasons.  The Church is when the Spirit leads people to fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ.

Every Sonday, we have the choice of whether we are going to participate in religion or THE CHURCH.  That choice begins with your motivation for coming.  That choice deepens with whatever your looking for when your there.  That choice is finalized with your behavior at Religion or The Church.

This world can be so tough.  Let’s have CHURCH this weekend.  We need it.  God loves it.