Is the Church a good Bride?

Jesus is the Groom. The Church is His Bride

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Later on, Paul writes Eph 5:31-33

Ephesians 5:31–33 ESV

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

We can also see this image in several parables that Jesus taught.

parable of the 10 virgins Mat 25:1-13

parable of the wedding banquet Mat 22:1-14

Since the Church is the Bride of Christ we must be striving to fulfill that role. What we need is to look at the primary Biblical example of how to be a good wife. Then we need to focus our efforts on making sure our Church here in Greendale is doing its proper job.

Let’s look at Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 gives us a beautiful description of a wife. While we will not be reading the entire section today, I highly recommend that you do. What we will be looking at are several key things that this exemplary bride does, so that we can emulate them here.

A Good Wife is Responsible

Proverbs 31:16 ESV

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

While there are several verses in this poem that talk about this woman being responsible, one of the best examples is in verse 16. We can see a couple things from this verse

her husband trusts her with large amounts of money

she uses that money responsibly

she is able to make a profit

Jesus has trusted us with very large responsiblites. Jesus has trusted us with caring for and praying for the people around us. and I would say that we are doing a good job. If you look back at our missions table after service you can see that we are supporting people around the globe. We finished providing the Christmas gifts today and we collected over 120 gifts for 10 families this year. Our Church helps provide food for the hungry. We strive to make our building welcoming to people.

Jesus has given us things to look after. While our church is looking after these things we need to guard ourselves from a very comfortable evil. Idleness.

A Good Wife is Not Idle

Proverbs 31:15 ESV

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

This wife is described as waking up early to work and care for her household. Later, in verse 27 it says Pro 31:27

Proverbs 31:27 ESV

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

So we learn that a good wife is not idle. She will not let her household fall into disrepare. It needs to be the same with us. We cannot let the things Jesus has given us fall into disrepare. What are these things?

A loving family of brothers and sisters

connections to many other churches in the area

connections to a great church camp :)

A good building to meet in

God has provided us with men and women who are willing to lead worship, teach sunday schools, provide communion meditations, take care of the grounds, and much more. Greendale has been provided with countless blessings.

Therefore we cannot be idle. If we picture these blessings as our “household” we must take care of it. We can see this idea in the parable of the talents. (Found in Matthew 25). In this parable the good and faithful servants were the ones who made a profit on what their master gave them.

Matthew 25:19–22 ESV

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

These good servants and the honorable wife in Proverbs 31 have something in common. They are not idle. They are not lazy. They will take what Jesus gave them and make it profitable for Jesus. We need to looking at things the same way. We need to make sure that we are taking what Jesus has given us and use that to grow the Kingdom of God. Both in Spiritual health and in physical numbers.

You all know my love for church camps and I think whitewater is a great example of what I am talking about. Compared to other camps whitewater seems to be lacking. I have seen camps with bigger property, better infastructure, more kids that come. And yet whitewater has made a huge impact. I don’t think it is possible to count how many people were baptized in that lake. I amazes me how many of those students became missionaries, and evangelists, and elders, and youth ministers.

We should strive for the same. We cannot be idle in our work. God has blessed us, let’s use it.

A Good Wife is Kind

Proverbs 31:20 ESV

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

A good biblical wife is a kind person. She cares deeply for the saftly and well being for all people. A good church is no different. We need to make sure that our every action is that is love.

Paul says this is Roman’s 12

Romans 12:9–10 ESV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

It is the job of the church to show and practice love. Kindness is one of the primaries ways that we can show love. To treat people with compassion and grace is what we should strive for.

Why do we do all of this?

Here we get to the pinicle of the passage in Proverbs 31. Why does this wife show kindness, and works so hard, and is responsible? In order to give honor to her husband. the center focal point of this passage of verse 23.

Proverbs 31:23 ESV

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

the reason for the dedication of the wife is 2 fold.

Is that the wife loves the husband

Is that she wants her husband to be well restpected

The same is true for the church. We do the things we do because we love Jesus. We also do the things we do because we want our neighbors to also respect and love Jesus.

We can see this reality in Acts chapter 5. In the chapter the church is still very new and Luke gives us a summary about this time is church history.

Acts 5:12–14 ESV

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Is this not what we strive for? People seeing the unity of the believers and miricles that are recorded in Scripure and praising God for it. There is a beautiful song that talks about this concept of giving our praise to Jesus. I believe I have mentioned this song before but I would like to read part of it again.

Should nothing of our efforts stand, No legacy survive,

Unless the Lord does raise the house, In vain its builders strive.

To you who boast tomorrow’s gain, Tell me, what is your life?

A mist, it vanishes at dawn, All glory be to Christ.

All glory be to Christ our King,

All glory be to Christ.

His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,

All glory be to Christ.

we see this idea in Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Our church here in greendale must be a place to is responsible in what God has given us. A place that is not idle in the work we have to do. A place that is known for its kindness and love. But presiding over all of these things, we should be a place that focuses attention and honor to Jesus.