The One Family That Will Last Forever—Part Two

Rick Warren opens with a striking claim: the church is not a building or a weekly meeting but a family—and it's the only family that will last forever. Working from 1 Corinthians 12:25–27, he argues that membership in a local church means mutual care, shared suffering, and shared celebration. "If one member is hurt or suffers, then all suffer together," he says. "If one member is honored, all the others rejoice." The church, he insists, has no unnecessary parts. Every person has a role, and when anyone withholds their gifts, everyone gets hurt.

What the Church Actually Is

Warren offers a four-part definition. The church is God's family, composed of saved and baptized believers who are committed to Jesus and to each other—and who are preparing for heaven or Christ's return. He points to Hebrews 12:23, which says believers' names are registered in heaven. This prompts a memorable comparison: in Hollywood, the big deal is getting on the A-list for exclusive parties. "Well let me tell you something," Warren says. "There's something better than being on the A-list. It's being on God's registered names in heaven." That list, he notes, is genuinely exclusive—only those who have come to God through Jesus are on it.

Five Metaphors, Five Benefits