50 Days of Wisdom

I love the church. First of all because the Lord is building it Himself. Secondly, I love it because it's the most precious thing on earth. This is a precious church, and it's the most precious real estate on earth. You say, "How do you know that?" Because it demanded the highest price, right? "For you are redeemed not with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish, without spot." (1 Peter 1:18 and 19). Acts 20:28, "Purchased with His blood." First Corinthians 6:19 and 20, "Bought with a price." How precious is the church? Well, so precious that the Son was willing to come to die in obedience to the Father so we, the love gift, could become a reality. Thirdly, I love the church because the church is the only earthly expression of heaven. You know, if you based it on some people's church experience, they would think that heaven was some kind of a shallow, flippant place for entertainment—superficial, clever, indifferent, and man-centered. Boy, that sounds blasphemous, doesn't it? We pray this prayer all the time: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Where is that going to happen? In the United States Congress? The White House? The Supreme Court? Universities? City Hall? No. I don't think so. So where is God's will done on earth as it is in heaven? There can only be one place. And that's the church. Now, if we want to bring heaven down, what are we all about? We're all about the worship of God, the exaltation of Jesus Christ, and the pursuit of holiness. That's what we're all about. And we're so utterly unlike anything on this earth as to be absolutely distinct. The church, then, is the only earthly expression of heaven. People ought to walk in here and say, "I have never experienced anything like this." They shouldn't walk in and say, "Yeah, I feel comfortable here. This music sounds familiar, and it feels the same as everywhere else I go in the world." No, it should be so unlike anything they've ever experienced as to be shockingly different, because the church is the closest we ever get to heaven on earth. Fourthly, I love the church because it's the source of truth. We're the voice of God in the world. Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:15, "The church is the pillar and foundation of the truth." If we do anything, we hold up the truth. It ought to be said that when people walk in a church, they hear the truth. The church is to be the pillar that holds up the truth. It's the solemn responsibility of every church to lift up the truth and hold it high but also to smash the ideological fortresses of Satan's lies. We have a stewardship of truth not to be tampered with, not to be depreciated, not to be misrepresented, not to be abandoned, and not to be altered. It's the sacred saving treasure given to us so that the unfolding redemptive plan of God may come to pass. The psalmist said in Psalm 119, "My heart stands in awe of Thy Word." So it should be. So why do I love the church? Because the Lord is building it Himself, it's the most precious thing on earth, it's the only earthly expression of heaven, and because it's the source of truth. Repent and believe! GTY.org (80-157) – Why I Love the Church

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1013

August 29, 2026

woman in white sweater reading free ebook

About Us

The Mark Paul Ministry dedicates itself to providing free Christian eBooks that inform and empower readers. Discover and download free ebooks and articles compiled by the Mark Paul Ministry, as well as experience the power of faith through authoritative expository preaching.

Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!