The local church is a visible, tangible representation of the eternal church that is being gathered in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). We are to love all believers everywhere, but we are to especially love the believers of our local church. 

So we must ask the question: how do we love the church? Many pastors would be tempted to answer that question in one word: ATTENDANCE! They would camp out on Hebrews 10:24-25 and preach their whole sermon from that text… why not? 

It’s worth a look; thus, we have these verses as today’s thought.

What can we learn from these verses? Let me point out four key instructions today and tomorrow that I have discovered from these two verses:

First, we are to “consider one another.” We are to be thinking about one another, fellowshipping with one another, not living in isolation from each other all week, and only seeing each other on Sunday mornings. The people that we should desire to spend time with are literally our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Second, we are to look for ways to “provoke [stir up]” [used in reference to spurring a horse] one another in “love and good works.” It must be our desire to see others use their talents and abilities to further the Gospel message. There must be “good works” after salvation. Serving together should cause others to love and be loved.

How are you doing on just these first two thoughts from Hebrews 12?