LOVING JESUS AND HIS CHURCH: God's Love Design for Your Local Church

Loving Jesus and His Church by Karen E. Cedergren is a compelling, biblically rooted exploration of the profound relationship between believers, their local churches, and Jesus Christ. Structured in three parts, the book begins with a foundation of biblical truths about the nature of the church, then delves into common challenges, misunderstandings, and pitfalls in church life, and finally offers a divine blueprint for loving and honoring Christ’s church. The author’s extensive pastoral experience and deep scriptural insight make this a practical yet spiritually enriching guide for Christians to understand their relationships with the Church and with Christ, inviting them to become active members of their Church. Her candid tone and clarity make complex theological concepts accessible, encouraging believers to deepen their love and commitment to both Jesus and His church.

Cedergren explores themes such as the biblical underpinnings of the church, highlighting its divine origin, purpose, and indestructibility, while addressing issues such as divisions within the church, disillusionment, and the importance of authentic faith. She emphasizes that the church is not merely a manmade organization but Christ’s own body, purchased with His blood. The book underscores biblical principles such as spiritual authority, the importance of genuine motives in ministry, and the need to walk in love, unity, and humility. Drawing on Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, she explains that loving Jesus and His church requires active faith, perseverance, and a heart aligned with God's divine love and purpose. Loving Jesus and His Church offers a new catechesis on the origins of the Church, its nature, and its place in God’s redemptive mission. I enjoyed the simplicity of the writing, which reflects the author’s knowledge and authority on the subject, the poetic utterances sprinkled throughout the book, and how well the author uses scripture to substantiate her arguments. This book will change how many people see the Church.