1. PART ONE

2. Because we love the precious church, we honor the body with our lives.

3. Passing The church is precious because of Passing.

4. Jesus died for the church.  “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).  “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25).

5. How might we apply that principle?

6. One: You need to come for the Lord’s Supper prepared to remember Jesus’ sacrifice.  1 Cor 11:23-26.  As you come to the table of the Lord, clear your mind of everything outside and concentrate on that rugged cross where our Lord died. Find a way to fix your heart and mind on the cross.

7. Two: You need to live a life worthy of that blood.  What punishment “do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified” (Heb 10:29)?  We need to honor the blood that saved us from sin and hell.

8. JOHN 17:20-21 Prayer The church is precious because of Prayer.

9. How might we apply that principle?

10. We need to pray for the church.  Paul prayed for congregations of God’s people:  Rom 1:9-10.  Col 1:9-10.  For what things do you need to pray?  Pray that the church remains faithful.  Pray that we can reach the lost.  Pray for our elders.

11. Bathe this church in your prayers.  Daniel prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem.  Facing Jerusalem indicated a prayer for spiritual renewal (1 Kigs 8:35- 36).  Please take time to pray for the church this week.  Pray three times a day -- morning, noon, and night for this church.  Pray for spiritual renewal.

12. Acknowledge the name of God: Understand that he is God and you are not. Confess your sins before God.

13. We need to be unified.  Jesus prayed for unity in the church.  Jesus did pray about religious division in Christendom.  What if we got rid of divisions among us (1 Cor 1:10-11)? There is a principle about religious division. But, Paul was writing to a congregation that had serious problems with division. What if we stopped divisions with us (Matt 5:23-24)?