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The Coming Bride- Eph.5:22-33 or Do you love me?. Q4. The Coming Community. The BIG picture. Theme 07- Worshipping; Caring & Sharing Community Q4- The Coming Community The Living Church- Convictions of a lifelong Pastor- John Stott I have a Dream-A Biblical, A Worshipping, A Caring,
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The Coming Bride- Eph.5:22-33or Do you love me? Q4. The Coming Community
The BIG picture • Theme 07- Worshipping; Caring & Sharing Community • Q4- The Coming Community • The Living Church- Convictions of a lifelong Pastor- John Stott • I have a Dream-A Biblical, A Worshipping, A Caring, A Serving & An Expectant Church • The Future Church
I Have a Dream- J. Stott I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church- whose members can never settle down in material affluence comfort, because they remember that they are strangers & pilgrims on earth, which is all the more faithful & active because it is waiting & looking for its Lord to return, which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning brightly in a dark, despairing world, which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him in shame, but rise up joyfully to greet him. I have a dream of an expectant church.
The Church as the Bride of Christ Context: Ephesian Letter @ God’s Master Plan for the Church & the world @ God’s New Society: New life- New society- New standards- New relationships @ New set of clothes- 4:17-5:4 @ New Relationships- Husbands & Wives; Parents & Children; Masters & Servants.
The Spirit filled Community Characteristics: The 3S • Speaking • Singing • Submitting Applications to all relationships
Instructions to Wives v22-24 • Mutual submission- as to the Lord Reasons: • Christ is the Head of the Church • The Church is Christ’s Body • Christ is the Saviour of the Church • The Church submits to Christ
Instructions to Husbands v25-33 • Love your wives Reasons: • Christ loved the Church • Gave himself up for her • Make her holy • Cleansing her- through the Word • Present her to himself- a radiant church
A Profound Mystery…v32 • The Metaphor of the Bride • Christ & the Church • The Imitation of Christ 28-3 –love His Body • Husbands love wives- own bodies; feeds & cares For this reason….. • Leaving • Cleaving • ONE flesh
Challenges of being the Bride • The Bride must prepare and be ready –YBH? The Kennedy’s Challenge • The Church as Bride must reflect Christ in our relationships – his Body; Love Christ? Love the church. • The Present Church is a ‘building site’ • The Future Church is a Radiant church • The BEST is yet to come: The Wedding Banquet- Rev. 19:7-9