Message Notes

A GLORIOUS CHURCH
Text: Ephesians 5:22-23
26 Jun 2005

(I) THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE LORD JESUS WITH THE CHURCH

1. A Living Relationship

2. A Loving Relationship

3. A Lasting Relationship

(II) CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH-  MARRIAGE

1. Christ as “Head of the Church”      Ephesians 5:23b

2. Christ as “Saviour of the body”       Ephesians 5:23c

3. Christ’s Love for the Church      Ephesians 5:25

4. Christ’s Work for the Church        Ephesians 5:25-26

a) He gave His life for the church        Ephesians 5:25b

b) His continuing work of sanctification         Ephesians 5:26a

c) His continuing work of cleansing        Ephesians 5:26b

d) His work of nourishing the church        Ephesians 5:29

e) His expressions of cherishing the Church       Ephesians 5:29

(III) GOALS OF CHRIST FOR THE CHURCH- HIS BRIDE

“That He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”
Ephesians 5:27

1. A glorious Church

2. Not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing

3. Holy

4. Without blemish

(IV) APPROPRIATE RESPONSES OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

“Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ…”
Ephesians 5:24a

“We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones”
Ephesians 5:30

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”
Ephesians 5:31

1. Practice of Happy and Full Submission to the Lord Jesus

2. Profound mystery (understanding) of what it means to be “of His flesh and of His bones”

3. Perfecting the idea of Oneness with Christ

IT’S YOU

If you want to work in the kind of a church

Like the kind of church you like,

You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip

And start on a long, long hike.

You’ll only find what’s left behind,

For there’s nothing that’s really new;”

It’s a knock at yourself when you knock your church

It isn’t your church, it’s YOU.

“Real churches aren’t made by men afraid

Lest somebody else go ahead;

When everyone works and nobody shirks,

You can raise a church from the dead.

And if while you make your personal stake

Your neighbour can make one too,

Your church will be what you want to see-

It isn’t your church- it’s YOU!