
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” (Galatians 5: 13-15) (CSB)
1. A great church is a place where people are
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1) (NLT)
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters.” (Galatians 5:13) (CSB)
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
“I would become a Christian, if it were not for Christians.” (Mahatma Gandhi - leader of Indian independence)
Christians who are not right with God vertically will never be effective for God horizontally.
2. A great church is a place where people are
“‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matthew 22: 36-40) (NIV)
A loving church shows kindness.
A loving church speaks truth.
“We will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church.” (Ephesians 4:15) (TLB)
3. A great church is a place where people are
“Serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13) (CSB)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 26-28) (CSB)
4. A great church is a place where people are
“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” (Galatians 5:15) (CSB)
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6:16, 19) (NIV)
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:17) (NLT)