1. Why I Love The Church Matthew 16:13-20

2. I. I Love The Church because I love its founder Ephesians 5:25 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Why I Love The Church

3. Three Biblical symbols depicting Jesus’ inseparable relationship to the church 1. Building on a foundation. (1 Pet 2:5-6) "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…Who is the chosen and precious cornerstone.” Why I Love The Church

4. 2. The head and the body. (Ephesians 5:23). 3.A groom who loves his bride. Why I Love The Church

5. (Eph 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.“ (John 3:29) "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." Why I Love The Church

6. II. I Love The Church because I love the people in the church. Simon Peter was imperfect yet: - He was given the keys to the kingdom - He was promised whatever he bound on earth would be bound in heaven. Why I Love The Church

7. III. I Love The Church because of its positive influence. “...the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 Why I Love The Church

8. “...the general principles on which the fathers achieved Independence were the general principles of Christianity. “ President John Adams Why I Love The Church

9. Influence of church in America Church started 106 of first 108 colleges, most of the hospitals Inner city missions Orphanages and homes for the elderly Crisis pregnancy centers Teaches moral values for ethical businesses Improved race relations Hurricane Katrina, disaster relief Why I Love The Church