Ephesians 5:25-27
Scripture Reference
By the preacher’s direction: Ephesians chapter 5, verses 25–27.
Introduction
Today we celebrate thirty-six years of Cornerstone Baptist Church, and Dr. Terry LeQuieu brings us a clear, pastoral reminder of why we should love our church. His message is rooted in Scripture and shaped by pastoral concern for souls, homes, and the life of the local body. The church is not merely a building—it is an organism, the body of Christ deployed to proclaim the Gospel, care for hurting people, defend truth, and mold godly homes. This sermon will walk through practical and biblical reasons why we should love and protect our local church, and it will call each listener to personal godliness, service, and faithfulness.
Going to provide. God is always going to be there and we thank God for that.
Quote from Preacher
This introductory quote is pulled directly from the transcript as spoken by Dr. Terry LeQuieu and expresses confidence in God’s continued presence and faithfulness toward His people.
Outline
- Thankful for the Hand of God that is Apparent
- God’s presence among His people — When the Spirit moves, lives are changed, boldness arises, and signs follow. Acts 4 shows the apostles’ boldness and the witness that they had been with Jesus. That same hand of God moves today in preaching, prayer, and worship.
- Worship and power together — The place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:31). We should love our church because it is where God reveals His power to heal, to convict, and to save.
- Grateful for the Hurting that are in Attendance
- The church is a hospital for sinners — Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captive free (Luke 4:18). The local church is where hurting people find the Gospel, compassionate care, and spiritual aid.
- Compassion without compromise — We must welcome the wounded and reach them with truth, remembering that they are not finished products but souls in need of Jesus.
- Appreciative that Heresies are Addressed
- Protection from false teaching — First Corinthians 11:18–19 teaches that contention and heresy will be present, and so the church must identify and correct false doctrine to safeguard souls.
- Preach the whole counsel — A church that stands on Scripture will lift up the standard (Isaiah 62:10) and preserve truth rather than accommodate culture’s shifting opinions.
- Thankful for the Help that is Acquired
- Practical aid and spiritual encouragement — First Thessalonians 5:11 urges believers to comfort and edify one another. Churches provide spiritual instruction, emotional support, and, when possible, material assistance.
- Community care requires wisdom — Helping the hurting sometimes brings pain (hurting people hurt people), so we help wisely and lovingly, not ceasing because of occasional wounds.
- Encouraged because Homes are Admonished
- Church strengthens the family — Preaching and discipleship affect the home: husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children learn biblical roles (Ephesians 5 & 6). The church trains people how to live godly in the home.
- Possibility, priority, and pleasure — A godly home is possible through the Word; it should be a priority and become a place of joy and holiness, a “little heaven” when Christ is honored there.
- Rejoicing in the Holiness that is Admired
- Be ye holy — First Peter 1:15–16 exhorts believers to holiness because God is holy. The local church should press believers toward separation from the world and conformity to Christ.
- Community shapes character — When you spend time with godly people and receive steady preaching, holiness rubs off; good examples teach both what to do and what not to do.
- Overarching Biblical Motive
- Christ’s sacrificial love for the church — Ephesians 5:25–27 is foundational: Jesus gave Himself for the church to sanctify and present her without spot or wrinkle. Our love for the church should be rooted in His love.
- We fight from victory, not for it — Matthew 16 and 1 Corinthians 15:57 remind us the gates of hell will not prevail, and victory is already ours in Christ; this gives courage to love, serve, and defend the church.
Each of these points is practical and pastoral. They blend doctrinal clarity (truth against heresy, the call to holiness) with compassionate ministry (helping the hurting, building homes), and with a high view of God’s sovereign work in the local assembly.
Summary
Dr. LeQuieu reminds us that we should love our church because it is the organism Christ gave Himself for, the place where God’s hand is evident, where hurting people find help, where false teaching is confronted, where families are strengthened, and where holiness is pursued. Loving our church is not sentimentalism; it is obedience to Christ. Jesus loved the church, sanctified it by His Word, and intends to present it glorious. Therefore, we must work, pray, serve, and persevere to keep the church faithful to Scripture and fruitful for the Gospel.
Jesus Christ loved and bled and died for the church. We ought to love the church that God has allowed us to be a part of.
Quote to Ponder
This second quote from Dr. LeQuieu is a sober reminder: Christ’s sacrifice for the church is the chief reason we love and protect the local body. Meditate on this truth throughout your week.
Application for the Week
Practical steps to apply the sermon in daily life. Choose two or three to work on this week and ask a trusted believer to hold you accountable.
- Attend with intention — Resolve to come to the corporate services this week with a heart ready to worship, pray, and receive the Word. Prepare beforehand: read the Ephesians passages (Eph. 5:25–27) and ask God to open your heart.
- Be a hospital helper — Look for one person in church who appears hurting or distant. Offer a simple word of encouragement, a prayer, or an invitation to coffee. If they share a need, bring it to the church leadership so it can be aided biblically and prudently.
- Guard truth — Uphold the Word in conversation. If doctrinal confusion appears online or in casual talk, gently point others to Scripture and the church’s teachings. Ask your pastor for recommended KJV resources to study the issue deeper.
- Strengthen your home — Read a short passage each night as a family (Ephesians 5–6 or 1 Peter 1). Pray together and practice one biblical correction or encouragement (e.g., parents model sacrificial love; children practice obedience).
- Pursue holiness — Confess one recurring sin this week to a trusted believer and ask for accountability. Replace one world-centered habit (excessive social media, entertainment that dishonors God) with daily Bible reading or prayer.
- Serve sacrificially — Volunteer for one ministry need this week: hospitality, children’s ministry, greeters, small group host, food ministry, or any practical help. Small acts of service sustain the church’s life.
- Pray for your church leaders — Pray daily this week for your pastor and church leadership: for courage in preaching, protection from false teaching, wisdom in ministry, and spiritual refreshment (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Acts 4 examples).
As you take these steps, remember the sermon’s central truth: Christ loved the church enough to die for it. Our love is a thankful response: we preserve truth, care for the hurting, strengthen families, and pursue holiness, all to the glory of God.
If you are unsure of your salvation or would like to talk further about how the local church helps souls find Christ, follow Dr. LeQuieu’s invitation—speak to the pastor or a trusted church worker, accept personal guidance from the Word, and be led to Christ. The church exists to bring souls to Him and to make disciples.
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