The Church – The Bride Of Christ

Speaker: William Woodson
Date: May 10, 2000, Wednesday Evening Worship Service - (During a Gospel Meeting May 7 Through 10, 2000, by the Northeast church of Christ, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Main Scripture References: Revelation 19:6-9; Ephesians 5:25-17; Revelation 21:22-27
Theme: The New Testament Church (Matthew 16:18: And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.)

Certainly it is my happy privilege to be with you tonight. I am glad that I at least have come to understand in a measure what you folks who live here know very, very well—this could be a beautiful place to live, but I would have to be a bachelor. [Laughter] I well know that my wife is not about to leave Lawrenceburg. And since she won’t leave, I can’t leave. She’s got all the money and all the cars, so I guess I’ll have to go back home tomorrow. [More laughter] She’s given me permission to be here until tomorrow, and about 2:30 PM [EST] I will, Lord willing, get off the plane, and we will be very happy to see each other. I always enjoy going to meetings. Always enjoy getting to go back home.

Before we study the thoughts of the night, let me say a word of appreciation. I appreciate the congregation asking me to come. In many ways, I was a total stranger to most of you, and I am very happy that you honored me with asking me to come. It is always an honor to be asked to teach a Bible class or to preach a sermon, because that means that the congregation is willing to have an individual stand before them to teach them the Word of God and aid their growth and development as children of God, and hopefully, to reach those who are not Christians and persuade them to obey the Gospel. That is a high honor and one that ought to be cherished and protected by all who teach and preach. I appreciate the honor you’ve granted me. I appreciate the encouragement I have received. You have been very encouraging to me, and I appreciate it. I appreciate John and Betsy [Phyllis—John Phyllis is the evangelist for the Northeast church of Christ] opening their home to me. It has been a delight. They have taken very good care of me. I grant you that holding my nose and pouring the green chili down me did seem a little unfair. [Laughter] But, uh, I just don’t think you outta do that. But, after they got me down and got my hands tied and all of that, and held my nose, I…I…I got it. [Laughter] And I appreciate everything but that. But, no, they have been such gracious hosts.

I also am very optimistic about your work here. I believe that, as a band of God’s people, you are a strong, forward-looking and courageous church. You are needed in this area. You are needed as an anchor for the Truth of God. There never will be too many loyal, faithful, dedicated, serving churches of Christ. We never will have too many. And we want every one of them to be loyal to the Truth of God, to be kind and generous to their community, to be determined to preach the Gospel to the world, and to grow and develop young men and young women and prepare older men and older women to meet God in peace, in grace, in love, and in hope. I hope in the years to come that I will hear in far-off Lawrenceburg that you have a fine building, that you have a fine eldership, that you have fine deacons and above and beyond that, you have begun a long, long tenure of service as a united band of God’s people, who love the Lord, love each other and love the work that you have committed your hearts and your hands to. I am glad that I have had a part in your services this week. You have enriched my life, and I appreciate it. Thank you for having me.

Now, let’s think together about The Church – The Bride of Christ. (And I won’t quit preaching until I’ve emptied this glass. [Laughter] And I plan to empty the glass by 12:30 AM, or less. [Laughter] Alright…

We are familiar with many of the words used to designate the church. For example, the very word “church”. This word is drawn from a term that means “to call out.” That is, the Gospel is heard; it becomes the call or the invitation for lost men and women to come into the grace of God, be converted and be added to the church—the body of Christ. We’ve heard that word used many, many times. Beautiful word!

We’ve heard about the kingdom of God—that realm wherein the Will of God is obeyed by men and women who have submitted their hearts to Jesus Christ, the King, and to do so in His kingdom. We know about the thought of the kingdom.

We know of the church as the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the church, and the body corresponds in the analogy of the human head and the human body. That is to say that, under the direction of Christ, the head, there are the arms and the legs that make it possible to carry the Will of God into the world. And so, the body of Christ is that band of God’s people in a local community who DO the Will of God in serving, in worshipping, in mission activities and in the growth and the development of children of God.

We also know of the church as the temple—that body of people who have the privilege of glorifying God, of honoring Him in word, in deed, in spirit and in Truth. We offer to Him, in our worship, the spiritual sacrifices of our hearts as we engage in the worship of God.

All of these terms, and others, might well be used again and again. It is, however, a most beautiful thought to think about the church as the bride of Christ. Let me develop this theme by talking with you, first of all, about what I call “The Picture” and then some passages.