In baking a cake, there are some ingredients that are more essential than others. While sprinkles aid ascetics and nuts add texture, it’s the eggs, flour, and sugar that actually make it a cake. 

The same is true of a healthy church family. There are many potential elements that can be added to the recipe but they’re not all of equal importance. While a building may add stability and significant attendance can bring excitement, it’s commitment to the gospel and submission to the word, prayer and evangelism, baptism and communion, discipleship and discipline, love of God and love of God’s people that make it a church. And it’s this last essential ingredient we’re going to examine at this morning—a love for one another. The hard reality is, if a church family fails to love one another it cannot be and do what God desires it to be and do. Familial love is the eggs, flour, and sugar of church life. It’s an essential, foundational ingredient.