1. The Coming Bride- Eph.5:22-33 or Do you love me? Q4. The Coming Community

2. The BIG picture Theme 07- Worshipping; Caring & Sharing Community Q4- The Coming Community The Living Church- Convictions of a lifelong Pastor- John Stott I have a Dream-A Biblical, A Worshipping, A Caring, A Serving & An Expectant Church The Future Church

3. I Have a Dream- J. Stott I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church- whose members can never settle down in material affluence comfort, because they remember that they are strangers & pilgrims on earth, which is all the more faithful & active because it is waiting & looking for its Lord to return, which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning brightly in a dark, despairing world, which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him in shame, but rise up joyfully to greet him. I have a dream of an expectant church.

4. The Church as the Bride of Christ Context: Ephesian Letter @ God’s Master Plan for the Church & the world @ God’s New Society: New life- New society- New standards- New relationships @ New set of clothes- 4:17-5:4 @ New Relationships- Husbands & Wives; Parents & Children; Masters & Servants.

5. The Spirit filled Community Characteristics: The 3S Speaking Singing Submitting Applications to all relationships

6. Instructions to Wives v22-24 Mutual submission- as to the Lord Reasons: 1.Christ is the Head of the Church 2.The Church is Christ’s Body 3.Christ is the Saviour of the Church 4.The Church submits to Christ

7. Instructions to Husbands v25-33 Love your wives Reasons: 1.Christ loved the Church 2.Gave himself up for her 3.Make her holy 4.Cleansing her- through the Word 5.Present her to himself- a radiant church

8. A Profound Mystery…v32 The Metaphor of the Bride Christ & the Church The Imitation of Christ 28-3 –love His Body Husbands love wives- own bodies; feeds & cares For this reason….. Leaving Cleaving ONE flesh

9. Challenges of being the Bride The Bride must prepare and be ready –YBH? The Kennedy’s Challenge The Church as Bride must reflect Christ in our relationships – his Body; Love Christ? Love the church. The Present Church is a ‘building site’ The Future Church is a Radiant church The BEST is yet to come: The Wedding Banquet- Rev. 19:7-9