The Purpose of the Church

Max Lucado

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The Purpose of the Church - Daily Devotional by Max Lucado

The purpose of the church is to provide bread and swords. To the spiritually hungry, the church offers bread; it offers nourishment. To the fugitive, the church offers swords—weapons of truth! Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Food and equipment. The church exists to provide both.

Does always it succeed? Not always. People-helping is never a tidy trade, because people who need help don’t lead tidy lives. But Jesus calls the church to lean in the direction of compassion. At the end of the day, the question is not how many laws were broken but rather, how many desperate were nourished and equipped? God’s sanctuary: where he gives food to the hungry and tools to the soldiers.

Max Lucado

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and best-selling author who, in his own words, “writes books for people who don’t read books.” He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and his message is for the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, and the discouraged: God loves you; let him.As a writer, Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. All of his trade books began as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons all begin with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest.Max’s books have sold more than 145 million copies in over 50 languages worldwide. He published On the Anvil, his first trade book, in 1985. His 44th trade book, Help Is Here, was released in 2022. Max’s books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, greeting cards, and even plush toys. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry.read more...