The local church matters to God; therefore, it should matter to us.

Revelation 3:3

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.

Acts 19:18

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 

Acts 20:28–31

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! 

Revelation 2:2–4

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 

The essence of a church is not its programs or its buildings or its reputation or its doctrinal purity—as important as that is. The essence of a church is its spiritual life.

“If the price paid by the Ephesians for the preservation of true Christianity was the loss of love, the price was too high, for Christianity without love is a perverted faith.” 

-- Beasley-Murray

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

1 John 5:3

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 

Remember, repent, restore

Revelation 2:5

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. 

Revelation 2:6-7

If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. . .He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.