Proverbs 31

Psalm 146:5—9 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Proverbs 31 The Church is the Bride The Church is the Bride of the King The Church is the Bride of the King who is Good

The Church is the Bride 2—3 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 10—11 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

The Church is the Bride — She is the object of His deepest affections — She is to be prized and protected — She belongs with Him in Heaven Thus, don’t date the church Thus, don’t hate the church Thus, don’t worship the church

Proverbs 31 The Church is the Bride The Church is the Bride of the King The Church is the Bride of the King who is Good

The Church is the Bride of the King 13—15 She provides for those in her household 16 She is wise in how she spends money 17—19 She diligently works in the community 20 She serves the poor and needy 21 She has foresight and planning 25 She is strengthened in dignity 26 She teaches wisdom with kindness 27 She is not stagnant but on mission

The Church is the Bride of the King — She serves her family — She flourishes the community — She plans wisely As with any marriage, the role of the wife is to serve her family—we exist to love one another, to care for one another, to shepherd and build one another up. There are several people in our church, right now, who are silently suffering and no one cares to press in, to disciple, and to minister. Likewise, she does not belong to a session or to a minister but to her Head, Jesus Christ—He is the one who leads and loves her. We exist to reach into our community, understanding its needs, even when it doesn’t understand them itself (Ex. Millennial town hall; water bottles in Lilburn Park; Derek coming to church; “Aaron” met in the park who was hungry for more, constantly in transition; Lena, Chinese-Vietnamese-American whose husband doesn’t go to church but feel obligated to go to Catholic mass, met at Lion’s Club Park; or the dozens of refugee families saving up to break into Lilburn to send their children to a Gwinnet County school, even if they literally have to work to death to afford it). The wife is so concerned about not just surviving but thriving—are we doing the same? Are we still convinced that there is work to be done and our role here in this church and in this community is vital to God’s providential plan? As a family, are you instilling in your children a culture of survival or a passion to flourish? As a family, many of your children are being so wildly, audaciously missional—they are having wildly apologetic and evangelistic conversations with not just students (don’t look at them as students, look at them as souls); and you have the chance, as a family, to be on mission with your children and through your children as many of them are already doing the work.

Proverbs 31 The Church is the Bride The Church is the Bride of the King The Church is the Bride of the King who is Good

The Church is the Bride of the King who is Good 10—11 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

Ephesians 5:25—27 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. His goodness makes us beautiful and, therefore, we do not pursue our role as the Bride of Christ in order to become something—we do so because we the absolute best and most special of something’s; we are the always cherished and already purchased apple of Christ’s affectionate eye.

Proverbs 31 The Church is the Bride The Church is the Bride of the King The Church is the Bride of the King who is Good