Purchased with His own blood

The text for this Sunday’s sermon will be from Acts 20:28.  We have been examining chapter 20 for several weeks, but one phrase calls for special attention and meditation:

…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

As Paul exhorts the elders from Ephesus to guard themselves and the flock that they are to shepherd, the Word of God calls us to consider the incredible importance of pastoral duty.  The importance is brought to our attention by laying before us the cost that was paid.  The Church was “purchased with His own blood”.

I ask you to consider that wonderful truth with me!  Do we value what God so highly values?  Do we love the Church as Jesus does?  Are we stewards of the treasure that God has committed to us?

Join us this Sunday as we consider the extent that God values His Church, the sacrifice that Jesus made on her behalf, and the perspective that we ought to have as fellow-members within the Body of Christ.

After the sermon, we have scheduled the hymn And Can It Be.  What a wonderful song of praise and adoration!

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race…