Church Info

• Welcome
• About Us
• History
• Times and
  Location
• Events

Study Aids

• Sermons
• Life Articles
• Church Articles
• Online Bible

• Email Us
• Links
• Home

THE CHURCH - THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Eph.5:22-33

1. The first marriage was a type of Christ and the church.
   1. Side opened in sleep - John 19:34; Acts 20:28.
   2. Singular - Matt.16:18; Eph.4:4
   3. Named after the husband - Eph.2:15; Rom.16:16.
2. The following passages give us the grand intention of Christ for the church - 2 Cor.5:17; 1 John 1:7; Phil.4:8; 1 Tim.5:22; James 1:27; Ps.24:3,4.
3. What are the marks of faithfulness for the church?

1. STANDING FAST IN THE FAITH. 1 Cor.16:13; Gal.5:1; Phil.1:27.
   1. Some are off and then on. Not able to speak with Paul - 2 Tim.4:6-8.
   2. "The Faith." N.T. principles - 1 Cor.15:1,2; Jude 3.
   3. The strongest timber is not in a greenhouse, but out where the winters are cold and hard.
2. SOUND DOCTRINE. - 2 Tim.1:3; Tit.2:11.
   1. This modern trend toward compromise is not apostolic.
   2. The time has come when sound doctrine is not endured - 2 Tim.4:3; 2 Pet.3:16; today it's have weak leadership and soft preaching - Isa.30:10; Acts 20:28-31.
   3. Only one kind of preaching will do - 1 Peter 4:11; Rom.16:17.
3. UNITY - Eph.4:1-6.
   1. God's plan must prevail - 1 Cor.1:10; Phil.1:27.
   2. A divided church is an offensive thing - Gen.13:8; Gal.5:15.
   3. The lone woman juror told the eleven men who were in agreement, "if you were not so stubborn, we could all go home."
4. LOVE - 1 Cor.13:13.
   1. Envy is it's opposite and is the cause of much church trouble.
   2. Our love for brethren proves our love for God - 1 John 4:20; Gal.5:13-15.
   3. Christian love is always in danger of - Ignorance, we think others don't want it; selfishness - Phil.2:4; hypocrisy - Rom.12:9.
5. SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS - Matt.6:33.
   1. The church imitates the world by running for things of second place.
   2. Too many churches are evaluated by the outward show - nickels , noise and numbers.
   3. Foreigner said, "They are rick in everything but religion."
6. PURITY - 2 Cor.7:1
   1. It must be in thought, word and deed.
   2. No victory is possible in a church marred by worldliness - Acts 2:40; James 4:4; Josh.7:6-13; 2 Cor.6:14-17; Rom.12:2.
   3. How can we maintain purity - read the word - Ps.119:11; 1 John 3:9; Think about heaven - 1 John 3:1-3; Warn and admonish others - 1 Cor.5:5; Heb.10:25.
7. EVANGELISM.
   1. This job is never complete and always glorifies God - John 15:2,8.
   2. This is the activity that destroys apathy.
   3. The excursion ship "Prince Allen" collided on a dark, foggy night on the Thames River. Two ferryman heard the crash. One said, "too dark and foggy to help." The other went and said, "I wish I had a bigger boat."

CONCLUSION:

1. If the church is the Bride of Christ, then what does she look like? Does she meet with His approval?
2. Do you want to be free from sin? Acts 2:38; John 3:5; Tit.3:5.