Where Is The Bride?
Notes
Transcript
Bible Passage
Bible Passage
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Introduction
Introduction
My beloved brothers and sisters, I stand before you today with a burden on my heart.
I stand here asking a poignant question, a question that echoes throughout the corridors of our churches and the depths of our souls: Where Is The Bride?
With the devastating aftermath of the Corona Virus pandemic, it seems like our beloved Bride of Christ has gone missing.
Our pews are empty, our evangelism efforts wane, and our unity falters.
Today, we are admonished to search for the Bride of Christ and reclaim our identity as God's chosen people.
1. Where is the bride with our missing church members?
1. Where is the bride with our missing church members?
Oh, my friends, have you noticed the missing faces in our congregations?
We have brothers and sisters who were once fervent followers of Christ but have drifted away.
Let us turn to Matthew 18:12-13, where Jesus says,
What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
It is time for us, as the Bride of Christ, to seek out the lost and bring them back into the fold.
This can be done through personal outreach
Statistics
Statistics
HOW DO PEOPLE START ATTENDING CHURCH?
Organized Visitation - 6%
Invited by the Pastor - 6%
Advertising - 2%
A Friend Invited Me - 86%
2. Where is the bride with our young people?
2. Where is the bride with our young people?
Our youth, the future of the church, are being seduced by worldly distractions and are slipping away from the arms of our Savior.
Proverbs 22:6 reminds us
Start a youth out on his way;
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.
We have a responsibility to nurture the faith of our young ones, teaching them the ways of the Lord and grounding them in the truth of His Word.
The Bride must rise up and embrace our youth with love, guidance, and mentorship.
We, as the Bride, need to invest time and guidance in our youth.
We must demonstrate the joy and fulfillment found in a committed relationship with our Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
They need to see that Jesus Christ is the only way!
We can do this through:
We can do this through:
Relevant & Engaging Worship Services
Relevant & Engaging Worship Services
Create a worship experience that is relevant to young people's lives and speaks to their concerns and interests. Incorporate music, multimedia, and creative elements that engage their senses and capture their attention. Additionally, ensure that the teachings address relevant topics and issues faced by young people today.
Mentoring & Discipleship
Mentoring & Discipleship
Establish mentoring and discipleship programs specifically designed for young people. Pair them with older, mature church members who can mentor and guide them in their spiritual journey. These relationships can provide accountability, support, and a safe space for young people to ask questions, explore their faith, and grow in their understanding of God and His word.
3. Where is the bride in faithful giving?
3. Where is the bride in faithful giving?
Not only in tithes but in offerings, the church has struggled to maintain its faithful giving.
Remember, my brothers and sisters, that in 2 Corinthians 9:7, we are reminded:
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
It is time for the Bride of Christ to rise above financial stress, trusting God as our provider and exercising generosity as an act of worship.
4. Where is the bride in church attendance?
4. Where is the bride in church attendance?
Brothers and sisters, Throughout the pandemic, we have been scattered, isolated from one another.
Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us:
not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
It is time for the Bride to come back to the church, to rediscover the power of communal worship, fellowship, and encouragement.
Its time to welcome one another with open arms and find restoration in each other's presence.
It is time to leave the virtual world behind and embrace the power of in-person worship.
5. Where is the bride in mission and evangelism?
5. Where is the bride in mission and evangelism?
Believers of Christ, we have become hesitant in sharing the Gospel, in reaching out to those who are lost and bound by sin.
We find ourselves retreating from the Great Commission, neglecting our duty to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Mark 16:15 urges us,
Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The Bride of Christ should be zealous in carrying the good news to the lost, living lives that exemplify the transforming power of Christ.
It is time to arise from complacency, mobilize our efforts, and share the love of Jesus to a hurting and dying world.
Closing
Closing
As I close, Beloved brothers and sisters, hear me now!
It is time for the Bride to be the Bride that God called us to be.
We can no longer be a runaway bride, disengaged and separate from our divine purpose.
We need a revived faith, fervent in prayer and committed to the work of the Lord.
The Bride of Christ, God's church, must exhibit characteristics such as love, unity, humility, forgiveness, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of holiness.
When the world looks at us, they must see a radiant Bride, clothed in righteousness and shining forth the glory of our Heavenly Bridegroom.
We must shine the light of Christ, reflecting His glory to a dark and broken world.
I call each one of you today, as a member of the Bride, to rise up and be counted!
Where is the Bride?
Here we are, Lord, here we are!
Use us, mold us, and empower us to fulfill your purpose.
Let the Bride come forth, shining brilliantly as a radiant bride adorned for her husband