If someone asked you to describe our church, what would you tell them? How would you describe what goes on at Riverside Seventh Day Baptist? Would you talk about the beautiful building that we have or the great location? Would you talk about the great programs we have for children and youth? Would you explain our distinct Sabbath doctrine? Or my personal favorite-would you tell how wonderful the pastor is? (And remember, you're not allowed to lie!)

My aim is that our church will be famous for Love. Not this beautiful building. Not our programs. Not our Sabbath keeping. Not our music. Not our preaching. But for how we love one another. People should say, "You know that church over there--Riverside SDB? That's the church where they accept people unconditionally." If people cannot find unconditional acceptance in church, where else are they going to find it? God wants a church where people are accepted unconditionally, regardless of who you are. That doesn't mean God approves of everything I do or everything you do, but you're welcome here.

I pray that this will be a church where people commit themselves personally. When people look at us they should say, "That church is like a family. They stick together. They don't fight each other they love each other. If somebody is going through a tough time, the church is there for them. They're like a family. They take care of their own."

My dream is that this will be a place where people say, "That's the church where they encourage each other continually." There's enough bad news in the world. The last thing you need to do is come to church and hear more bad news. I'm committed to the good news. This needs to be a church where we emphasize the positive, where we build each other up rather than tearing each other down.

I pray that they'll say, "That's the church where they serve cheerfully. They're crazy over there! You should hear how they give themselves away! It's a generous church. As a result it's a joyful church."

I pray that people will say, "That is the church where they forgive each other freely. They don't kick you when you're down. If you do something wrong or stumble and make a mistake and fall flat on your face they forgive you." I want people to say that about. Wouldn't it be great for people to say, "They don't shoot their wounded over there at that church. That's where they forgive freely because everybody's having a tough time, and everybody is receiving God's grace."

But most of all, my dream is that they'll say, "That's the church where they're committed to sharing Christ with everybody in Riverside. That's why they exist and that's why they get bigger and that's why they give sacrificially to offerings because the love of Christ compels them."

How do you get that kind of love? Paul says (Living Bible, Ephesians 3:17-18) "I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust Him. May your roots go deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is, and experience this love for yourselves."

If you want to be a loving person, you must first have this kind of love in your heart. Today, I invite you to do two things:

1. Experience the love of Christ for yourself. If you've never done so, open your heart to Him right now. Receive Jesus as your Lord and savior. His love will change you forever.

2. Commit yourself to this group of believers. You really need to find a place you can say, "That's my church. That's my family." You cannot love without commitment. Get involved. Find a group of folks that you can study the Bible with and pray with and care for. That's what this church is all about. Love is what we will be famous for.

Pastor Eric