Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 29:1-3, Nehemiah 10:39, Ephesians 5:25, Hebrews 10:25

King David made a great statement in 1 Chronicles 29:3 when he said, "I have set my affection on the house of my God." David had a desire to build a house for God. That did not fall to him, but to his son, Solomon. Yet David's love for God's house was not contingent on whether or not things were going his way or conditional on whether or not he got his way. Our church buildings and property--they were not built for us. Our church lands and facilities belong to God. The church is for God. In this message, Dr. Merritt follows David's example as he asks what a life looks like whose affection is for the things of Christ and His church. If Christ loved the church and gave His life for it (Ephesians 5:25), what does that mean for us today as a body of believers? What is our responsibility to the body and how is our church (physical location) a part of that?

"What do you contribute to your church over and above a person who doesn't come at all? I am not talking primarily about money. You can stick an envelope in the mailbox or give on a computer to the church and yet never serve the church. What I am asking is, when you come to the church are you really here?"--Dr. Merritt

Keywords: church, building, people, body, believers, facility, sanctuary, Worship Center, campus, membership, attitude, heart, attendance, allegiance, character, Yogi Berra, David, work, service, helping, hypocrites, quitting sports, Dr. Ellis Fuller, give, life, love, affection