What is the ideal size of a "small" group?

Russ Robinson was one of the speakers at last Saturday's Group Life Conference. Participants were invited to text questions to the speakers throughout the day. In this clip Russ addresses the ideal size of a small group. Listen to the clip and give your feedback.

The God Who Causes Growth

By Laura Gibson

He (one who delights in false humility) has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Colossians 2:19

The chemical composition of the human body… less than five dollars

Its vital organs and tissues… more than 45 million

Christ-followers knitted together in the Body of Christ
through his life that gives life…. PRICELESS!

Last year I had the opportunity to instruct a Biology Lab for a local home school co-op. Using a microscope, we observed basic cell structures and viewed slides on cell division and learned how cells multiplied. We studied about the basic systems found in living creatures and the vast variety of organisms God created. With dissection, we examined specimens and how each one was different yet had similar structures within. By the end of the year we had considered, discerned, explored, inspected, regarded, scoped and scrutinized all that was biology (within a basic bio lab). Though we could touch and see what God had created, it was lifeless, dead, void of life and all that it brings.

So it is with us… lifeless and dead until “God made you alive with Christ.” (Colossians 2:13) We went from death in this worldly dimension into the true dimension of life, becoming a member in the body of Christ. When we are joined with Christ, by Christ, we are no longer bound by worldly sin and laws but bound by His love and grace. So often we embrace the eternal life given as a free gift only to revert to a life of works as we try in our own might to grow his kingdom. His church exists on a spiritual plane that transects this earthly world through the Body of Christ. It breathes not oxygen but the Holy Spirit. It does not feed on food but on the Word of God. It does not seek programs and methodologies but to exercise our spirits in serving the Lord and one another. By humbling ourselves and “holding fast” with the head, “from whom the whole body, (the church) grows as God causes it to grow.” (Colossians 2:19) “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

Life and growth comes from Christ, but every member of the body also affects the health of the body. As part of a body, like a bone, I cannot work outside of the body. I am created to be what I am in the body. And being part of the body I have basic spiritual needs and basic spiritual functions. If I resist supporting the body or resist the necessary growth to become more like Jesus, not only will my spiritual health be affected but that of the body. Though Christ creates and grows the church, we as members our called to....

STRENGTHEN our spirit in the Lord with His word and prayer while trusting in the Lord to do His work. Drink long this new water, abundant and fresh. Breathe deep the Spirit. Feast on the word. Hold fast to the Head, which is Jesus Christ. As holding on to a hat in a torrent of wind which continues to seek to snatch it from you, so cling to Christ and avoid reaching out for empty philosophies and traditions which are mere wisps in the wind...

EXERCISE “works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

GROW in love that can only come from Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave what was most precious to Himself. Release those matters that keep you from growing: personal rights, emotions, expectations, hurt. Draw so near to Jesus that his grace becomes your grace; His forgiveness becomes your forgiveness. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Read Colossians 2:1-23.

Stop Dating the Church Chapter 4-- Questions for Reflection

1. What does Josh Harris mean by, "join the club"? What is your "club"? If it is not the church, what will it take to make the church your club?

2. Read Hebrews 13:15-21. What insight does verse 17 provide to your understanding of church membership?

3. Read Ephesians 4:16. In light of last week's message, describe ways in which you "fulfill your design and do your part in the body of Christ".

4. Which one of the seven aspects of the "profile of commitment" would you like to see grow the most in your life?

Christ is the Head of the Body

By Pastor Brandon
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. Colossians 1:18

“Jesus Christ’s Kingdom has no tyranny! His scepter is not made of iron. He rules not with blows and curses and threats, but his scepter is of silver and His rule is of love. The only chains He uses are the chains of His constraining Grace. His dominion is spiritual and extends over willing hearts who delight to bow before Him and to give Him the honor due unto His name.” Charles Spurgeon

We live in a world where kings, rulers and dictators are often corrupted by power and greed. We live in a world where the slogan goes “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” I still remember seeing all of the images and pictures of Saddam Hussein on TV during those early day’s of the Iraq war. In the country of Iraq it was a law that every class room displays a picture of Saddam and every child pledge to him. Before the end of his reign many people lost their life because of failure to fall under his leadership. Placing our absolute trust into one person is difficult because we know there is a chance it can be misused.

Yet we as the church have been called to worship and live for ONE King. In Colossians 1:17 and 18 it states that Jesus Christ is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the HEAD of the body, the church. Jesus is placed on the highest throne and in Him all things are run. Anything done in the church not done for His glory and honor are out of place. Anything that doesn’t reflect His face is out of focus and anything done in our own strength is a waste of energy.

So what makes the difference of Christ reign and any other head? How come we can have confidence and place our whole lives in this leader? LOVE!

Take your Bible and open it up to the book of Hebrews and read the verses written down. When you read the verses about your High Priest about your Head let it remind you of what kind of leader we serve. I encourage you to write down a list of things that this High Priest does for his followers. As you go through the business of life today think back to our King and how much He understands and loves you.



Read Hebrews 1:3-5; 2:17-18; 4:14-15; 7:23-28; 9:11-14.

One Body

By Dave Hartley

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

On October 25th, 1983, the United States launched the invasion of the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada. When the dust settled, the Defense Department had to admit that while each branch of the military was highly competent, they were horrible at operating together. The parochial nature of the different branches created an environment of infighting over cooperation. Navy ships couldn’t communicate with Army units on shore. It was a mess. One Defense Department, yes. Elements working together as one body? Not hardly. Unified command and control behind one mission? Nope.

Today the story is different. The Defense Department learned its lessons and has implemented changes that have resulted in a military force that is without equal. Yes, there are still the services, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Each one a very separate identity with its own command structure yet, each one also dedicated to work together to advance the interests of the United States of America. Inside each service are units with infantry, pilots, artillery, mechanics, clerks each with different skills yet each a part of a bigger body.

The body analogy Paul uses in 1 Cor. 12:12, 27 is amazing in its simplicity and its ease of understanding. Ever try to pick up a golf ball with your elbows? To see with your toes? God made our body with different parts to accomplish different jobs. In spite of these differences, when all the parts are working together, subject to our will, we can accomplish much.
Now extend Paul’s analogy to Zion. We’ve got people who lift their hands during worship and some who do not, some who love to hunt and some who’d rather shop (and some who do both!). God has given our local body marvelous diversity and led us together to put this diversity behind the mission and vision of Zion as it participates in advancing the great commission. Likewise, our church is one of many churches across the globe in this titanic struggle against darkness under the unifying headship of Christ.

The question is... do you see it? Can you see the Mennonite, the Pentecostal, the denominational and non-denominational churches as co-laborers in the greatest battle in history? Can you embrace the differences between the members of our own local church and recognize them as different parts of a local body of believers? Can you see how placing our various talents to supporting the mission of our church not only makes us more effective, but is the very example of service to which God is calling us?

One team. One fight. One body. One Lord. Marvelous diversity within!

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.

We Belong to Each Other

By Doug Knepp

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

Since I work at the university’s REC center, I have an opportunity to teach students and faculty about exercise and working out. After reading Romans 12:4-5, I was reminded about how I set up weight training programs for people. I divide the upper body into two different categories- pushes and pulls. Basically when you strength train you are either pushing the resistance away from your body(Push), or you are doing some kind of pull or rowing movement (Pull). The basic idea of this type of training is to work the entire torso front and back. Some people (guys especially) are only interested in working the front of their bodies (i.e. chest and biceps) because that is what they see in the mirror. This approach is problematic because your body’s musculature was designed to work together. You need to be sure to train the body in a way that you do not become overly strong in one dimension and remain weak in the other. This is not an optimal way to gain strength, and may eventually lead to injury, because the part of the body that is needed to stabilize and support the other half is too weak.

Likewise, in the “Body of Christ” – the church, we all need to work together in whatever areas we serve to further strengthen our body. We should not allow one segment of ourselves to become flabby by not engaging in the work of the ministry. If we allow others or a few people to do everything, soon some parts of our body will become weak. Our Body of Christ will not be operating as well as it should, and some of us may even start to fall apart or get hurt by trying to do too much!

When we don’t use our muscles they begin a process called “atrophy”, a fancy word for losing your strength. If we don’t exercise our spiritual muscles, they will also begin to atrophy. Pray that God helps us to use our strength and train our bodies to function together as one body – the church. Wherever we are able to serve, let us do it to the best of our God given abilities. Don’t just let the muscles you can see in the mirror do all the work.

Read Romans 12:1-21.

By Pastor Paul

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6

It is not good to jump into a conversation half way in. You will be lost getting into a movie after missing the opening scenes. Do you start reading a twenty chapter book at chapter ten? You do not know the players? Who is the hero? Who is the villain? What is the problem? Where is the plot going? Knowing what came in the beginning gives you the context and understanding for what is happening in the present and what to expect in the future. You do yourself a disservice if you jump into God’s story towards the end without finding out what happened before you. You might be tempted to think it is all about you. You might conclude you are the star, since you have no idea what God has been doing for the last 6,000 years of human history before you stepped on the stage.

At 30,000 feet God’s plan is clear. He wants to dwell with people that reflect his character. Jews and Gentiles. He wants a people from every nation and ethnic group. He wants diversity. He wants variety. He created Man in His image to function in His character to partner in His will. Sin scattered this hope but God unfolded His plan. He called Abraham to be the father of many nations, the patriarch of the faithful, Jews and Gentiles from every walk of life. The Jews were called to begin a priesthood ministry with a centralized temple for the nations. They were to be a living example of God-focused living. God placed them in the most volatile, attractive, traveled strip of land in the ancient world. He put them before the Gentile world to live out His character, partnering in his plan. However, they left God’s will to chase after other nations. Still, God continued to tell his story.

Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again making it possible for God to dwell in Man rather than with him. Christ sent out his Jewish Apostles to once again live a priesthood ministry to the Gentile nations. Now they, His followers, were the temple, a living building. With Pentecost and God’s enabling Spirit the apostles could carry the message in every language and tongue. It is no mystery, God’s story is about Him dwelling with people that reflect His character, people from every nation and people group.

Read Ephesians 3:1-21.

Body: Week 3 Bible Study Discussion Questions

The third image of the church is that of a body. The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head; he’s in charge. We are the members of the body (hands, feet eye’s, ears, and so on). When the world looks at the church, they are supposed to see Christ at work through us. Though we all have different roles to pay, we each are needed to make the body effective at carrying out the God’s mission.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

1. What does a local church look like when each member of the body is playing his or her part?
2. What happens when one or some of its members do not fulfill their function?
3. Why is unity crucial to the church fulfilling its mission?
4. Why is diversity crucial to the church fulfilling its mission?
5. What does this passage have to say to the person who feels as if he or she has little to contribute to the mission of the church?
6. How does this passage rebuke the Christ-follower who believes his or her gift is superior to others?

Read Ephesians 4:11-16.

7. How might an “individualistic” mindset (“it’s just me and God”) be counter productive to one’s spiritual maturity?
8. Josh Harris in his book, Stop Dating the Church and Fall in Love with the Family of God, quoting Pastor Mark Dever, writes, “If you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, you may be going to hell… I don’t mean for a second that you literally have to have your name on a membership card in a church somewhere to go to heaven. Joining a church won’t save you… it’s only the death of Christ that saves you… But if He really is our righteousness, if we really love Him who we have not seen, it will show itself by us loving those we do see… The local church is the place where our new life in Christ is lived out and proven.”
Agree or Disagree? Why?
9. In what ways is our sanctification (our growth in maturity) a “community project”?
10. How is God calling you to respond in light of this message?

Stop Dating the Church Chapter 3-- Questions for Reflection

Chapter 3: Why We Really Need The Local Church
Read Hebrews 10:19-25 & Ephesians 4:7-16.

(1) How does the New Testament describe both the relationship between the "universal" church and the "local" church?

(2) What role should the local church play in a person coming to know Christ? Who are people you know that have been saved on account of God using a ministry or relationship of Zion?

(3) In what ways is your sanctification a "community project"? How can this be further cultivated?

(4) Are you aware of any needs in the body of Zion? How can you, your family or your lifegroup step in to help meet those needs?

(5) What advice would you give a friend who has moved into a new community and is looking for a church? Is there anything that you read in this chapter that would influence your advice?

A Temple for Worship

By Pastor Paul

... you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5



What happens in a hospital? Healing stuff. What happens in a stadium? Athletic stuff. What happens in a restaurant? Eating stuff. What if you stopped healing people in a hospital? What if you didn’t eat in a restaurant? You wouldn’t have a hospital. It wouldn’t be a restaurant. What happens in a church? God said his church is a spiritual house that does spiritual “stuff” he likes. Two things:

1) It is spiritual. The “stuff” of church is to be driven by a spiritual agenda. It looks towards spiritual ends. It has a spiritual purpose and spiritual goals. It has a spiritual plan, spiritual events, and spiritual experiences.
2) It is acceptable. It is not driven by people. The church is driven by God. It wants God’s approval. It wants God’s acceptance. It finds the things God is looking for. It shares the things God is telling. It functions for Him, by Him, in Him. Another way, it has Jesus all over it. Not in branding but in vision. It proclaims Jesus, reveals Jesus, reflects Jesus.

Now stop.

Take everything you picture a church being. Look at everything you see churches doing, yours included. Is it spiritual? Is it acceptable? If a restaurant stopped serving food it stopped being restaurant. It is the same with a hospital and a stadium and any local church. Do spiritual things. Have Jesus all over you. Then you are a living stone that is acceptable, built and being built up for God.

Read 1 Peter 2:4-10.

Group Life Conference THIS Saturday, October 24th

A Call To Faithfulness

By Hilary Boyer

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16

There are times when my daughter and I will catch a segment of the Golden Globe awards and as that celebrity accepts their award, occasionally we hear the person thank God for their talents. The next words out of my daughter’s mouth are; does that mean he or she is a Christian? While it is fine to thank God for our talents, how can we really know? Considering the next week you hear about their rowdy, crude and illicit behavior. We cannot truly know someone else’s heart as God does and much of the time all we can “see” is, if the actions match the words. In this passage God has charged us with two specific areas of responsibility to strive to be set apart as holy witnesses for Him.

To be holy. Can you tell the difference between everyday ordinary people from those who dwell with God? Or better yet can those you interact with on a typical day see your life as different. Verse 6:15 clearly states that a believer is not to be yoked with an unbeliever. We can use the word image of a marriage ceremony between the bride and her bridegroom. They both separate themselves from the worlds they know and cleave to one another forming a covenant; just as Christ and His covenant with the church. Are our relationships, spending habits, internet sites, language, and thoughts all a reflection of walking in the light?

To be a good steward of our temple. God is the owner of our temple He dwells within (6:16) us. Therefore, that leaves us as the caretakers, but the ultimate authority over us is His alone. Are we polluting our bodies with the wicked things of this world, in turn causing us to lose our witness and simply blend in? If so, we are damaging the very dwelling place of the Almighty. We must strive to filter our behaviors, words and thoughts first through our Father (6:18). When you think about if you would let someone live in a house you paid for, at no charge to them and they didn’t take care of it, how would you feel? The same holds true to think about how our creator must feel, when we willingly live in sin.

Have these scriptures caused you to check in on the upkeep of your temple? It is a matter of indifference to God whether we are a Hollywood star or a PTA parent, because it is one thing to profess being a committed Christian it is entirely another thing to be wholly surrendered and set apart. When we confess by mouth Jesus Christ, does what we say, line up with our behaviors?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-20.

The Church as God's Building

Rod Flick

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for Gods temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17


This is a challenging scripture, because it places the responsibility on us to protect God’s temple. It is intimidating to think that I am God’s temple. When we think of a temple, we normally picture a very ornate, large and structurally sound building. I think this is the analogy that Paul intended to illustrate in this passage.

Buildings are normally constructed for a specific purpose. Some buildings are constructed as a temporary structure and do not need to be as structurally sound as buildings that are constructed for the long term. Some buildings are built for a specific purpose and when this purpose does not exist the building is practically worthless. The vacant Burger King by exit 62 is a prime example. The temple to which Paul refers is intended to be constructed to last for eternity. The blue print has been provided for us in Gods word. It is our responsibility to take the design of the scripture and build it in our hearts.

When Paul uses the temple analogy I believe he wants us to view ourselves as a beautiful, strong and sound structure. This structure requires a strong foundation and it requires continual maintenance to maintain its integrity.

I once heard a speaker state that a good architect could tell how high a building was going to be by looking at its foundation. It is true the taller the building the more massive the foundation. I feel the temple Paul describes is like the tall building. Our faith can only grow as much as the foundation will support. The major difference is the buildings foundation must be completed before the building can grow tall. The designer must decide the height of the building before construction begins. The foundation of the temple of our bodies, on the other hand, can be added to any time. God, the architect of this temple, had designed it so that it may continue to grow for a lifetime. It is our responsibility to continue to add to the foundation of our faith so our temple can grow to the heights that God had intended.


Read 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Corporate and Individual

By Pastor Mike

“In him (Christ) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

I love the way this scripture emphasizes both the corporate and individual nature of the church. Ephesians 2:21 focuses on the collective nature of all God’s people (vs. 19) forming one “holy temple in the Lord”. The very next sentence, Ephesians 2:22, attention is given to the work of the Holy Spirit in the individual Christ-follower who is being “built together to become a dwelling” for God. Genuine Christ-followers throughout the ages together form one holy temple and yet, a single Christ-follower has the capacity to bring glory to God by using his or her body honorably as a temple of the Holy Spirit (verse 22 and 1 Corinthians 6:19).

In this truth we find both great humility and great significance. Humility, because “it’s not about me!” I am part of something much bigger. Hebrews 12:1 states that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” Understanding that I am but a small part of the whole drives me to “fix my eyes on Jesus” who alone is the “chief cornerstone”. (Ephesians 2:20) Significance, because what I do does matter. Because of Christ, you and I have the capacity to affect our world for good. Ephesians 2:10 says it like this, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

This has always been God’s design. Consider the covenant revealed to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. God’s covenant desire was for a “great nation” (Genesis 12:2), for a people not merely a collection of persons. And yet God used the faith of an individual, Abraham (Hebrews 11), to set the whole plan in motion.

Spend some time today praying the prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for Philemon over you. (Philemon 1:6) Corporately, what are ways in which you can be “active in sharing your faith”? Are there things you would consider doing for Christ if you had a more “full understanding of every good thing” you have in Christ Jesus? Individually, how would this more full understanding influence your life? Family? Community? Our church?

Read Ephesians 2:1-22.

The Temple-- A House of Prayer for All Nations

By Pastor Trent
And as (Jesus) taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” Mark 11:17

Thousands of people had lined up along the roadway waving palm branches and placing their garments on the road in front of Jesus to welcome Him into Jerusalem. The people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus entered Jerusalem and He went straight to the temple.

What He saw touched a nerve that led him to an unusual response. First, people were buying and selling in the temple, on the temple grounds. The people who came to worship God had to buy sacrifices. Historians tell us that these vendors who sold the sacrifices were normally outside the temple walls. But somewhere along the line, the leaders allowed venders to set up the makeshift marketplace inside the temple grounds. Jesus responded by driving out those who were buying and selling – forcing them out. In addition money changers were exchanging currency for the Gentiles, the non-Jews. In order to buy sacrifices you needed Jewish money and they were charged an unjust fee for the exchange. Instead of the temple being a house of prayer for the Gentiles who were from all nations, it was cluttered with people robbing them financially. Jesus reacted by by throwing over the tables of the money changers and having all the money fall on the ground.

He then makes the statement from Isaiah 56, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” But what did Jesus mean when he said it? Well some have understood Jesus’ words in this passage as a call for more “prayer gatherings” at the church building. After all, they conclude, the church building is God’s “house” and therefore the main purpose in gathering should be prayer. Now, please don’t misunderstand what I am about to say: corporate prayer is important! There is something powerful about praying with other believers. But if we step back and look at the “big picture” of this passage I think it will take on an entirely different meaning.

The Bible is clear that today’s temple is not a physical temple; rather, God’s temple is made up of all who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16 to see for yourself. So, could it be that more than Jesus calling a “building” a place of prayer, He was really saying that His followers should be people of prayer. You and I are His temple today. Do our lives follow the pattern that was established thousands of years ago? God wants His temple to be a place of prayer. Is it?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16.

40-Days: Temple

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. How does an appreciation of the church as universal encourage humility? significance?

Read Hebrews 10:19-25.

What truths about the corporate nature of the church (both universal and local) are expressed in this passage?

What commands in this passage are addressed to individual Christ-followers?

What commands in this passage can only be followed corporately?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

What are the practical implications of us having Jesus Christ as our foundation? How should this affect our relationships with one another?

Read over the materials mentioned in verse 12. What might these materials represent in our lives?

With what materials are you currently building?

How do we make sure we are using materials that will stand the test of time and be of eternal value, and at the same time guard against building with materials that are of no eternal good?

Stop Dating the Church Chapter 1-- Questions for Reflection

(1) In chapter one Josh Harris writes, "Every Christian is called to be passionately committed to a specific local church". Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

(2) On pages 16-19 Harris profiles a "church-dater". Do you see any of these tendencies in yourself? If so, what is God calling you to do about it?

(3) Read 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 6:19. How do these scriptures speak to the necessity of our involvement with each other?

(4) On page 20-21, Harris writes, "God has not only saved us; He has invited us to participate in His master plan of redeeming a people for His glory. Through the local church we take part in His eternal plan to rescue men and women from their sin and totally transform their lives." Take a few minutes to dream. How might God desire to use Zion to help you reach your family? neighbors? colleagues? community?

The Day is Coming

By Pastor Paul

I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2

Elise and I took a year to plan our wedding day. She, I am sure, saw the day in her mind since she was young. I joined the planning team with a year to go. By then most of the decisions had already been made. I was amazed at all the “necessities”; flowers, musicians, colors, food, cakes, candles, and on and on. I will never forget one of many sharp rebukes. I was not putting the invitations together in the right order. “No, Paul, this goes inside this and then it faces this way and then inside that so when they open they see this and have that after they see that.” So much work. I just wanted to get to the “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Hickernell”. After a year of driving, planning, spending and working the day arrived.

Big breath. The music starts. Everyone stands and turns. The doors open. My heart is racing. I can only smile. She is the most beautiful angel my meager eyes have seen. Anything the years had held flew away in a moment. There and then it was worth every tear and battle and hurt. My bride was walking down the isle. She was beautiful.

The Apostle John was shown the heavenly day when the Church is presented to the Bridegroom. The music plays. The flowers are in place. Angelic choirs sing. Stand and turn. Look. She is beautiful. Holy. Elegant. She has been made ready, made beautiful. She can stand before her Husband. Christ beholds her and all her pains are wiped away. It has been a long journey. The price has been great. Sacrifices have been made, but now she is beautiful. There have been many tears and battles and hurts. But, anything the years had held fly away in a moment. The Bride is dressed for her husband and she is beautiful. No more waiting. They are truly together…forever.

God, through John, gave the Church an amazing wedding present. God gave us the promise of a fairy tale ending. There will be a wedding day. We will see Christ. We will be ready. The dirt we carry and scars endured will be washed away in the Bridegroom’s blood. We will be beautiful before Christ. The music will play and angels will sing and tears will be wiped away. So, endure. Live pure and holy. Fight for the day. Pay the price. The day is coming. It will come. We, the Church, His Bride will be beautiful.

Read Revelation 21:1-27.

The Old Testament Anticipation of the Church as God's Bride

By Pastor Joe

… as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5

There she sat. Lonely. Forgotten. Hungry. Her only friend cast a bitter, self-centered shadow over their home. If they were to survive, it would be up to her. She did not hope for riches, fame, or great comfort. Survival alone would be the utmost blessing. But what could she do? She was a foreigner in a strange land. Most of the people whispered behind her back. Her accent showed, and people stared when she spoke. Just to survive, she would need a break. Times, as they say, were tough. Many were suffering under oppression, disease, and poverty. Others were having trouble just feeding their kids. Who could care for a poor foreigner with a snotty mother-in-law?

This woman, Ruth, had one shot. Under the law, she and her mother-in-law, Naomi, could be redeemed. But, one problem: no one cared too much for obeying the law in those days. Enter Boaz. Of all the men of the city, few cared about God and his law like Boaz. Ruth took a chance, reached out, and found mercy instead of distain. Boaz did more than he had to do. He could have easily continued to throw a few scraps Ruth’s way. However, more needed to be done. He would marry Ruth and redeem her legally and permanently from her dire and hopeless situation (Ruth 3-4).

Sound familiar? We are in the same position apart from Christ (Ephesians 2:1-9). We are needy people surrounded by self-interested and self-absorbed people. Our only hope is survival based on a few scraps that are tossed our way. What we really need is redemption. We need a close relative to come and buy us out and even “marry” us. Ruth’s hope was survival, but she became a wife of a wealthy husband. Jesus is like Boaz. We are like Ruth. He takes us not only from our hopeless position, but he treats us like a bride. There is so much more than mere survival. The blessing did not stop with Ruth, but it transferred to Naomi as well. And little did this non-Israelite woman know who her great-grandson would be: King David. And, generations later, her descendant would be born as a man (our kinsman-redeemer) and redeem us from our sin and awful destiny!

Read Ruth 3-4:12.

Wedding Day

By Kate Schoeppner Wedding Day
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelations 19:7

It seems that summer is the season of weddings. Of the four siblings and I in my family, three had summer weddings, one winter, and one fall.
Craig and I were married on a gloriously warm day in June, 13 years ago. I remember all of the planning that went into making the day “just right”. There was so much to do, it seemed. Dresses had to be chosen, then tried on and ordered, cake had to be tasted and then ordered, flowers had to be smelled and then ordered, music had to be listened to and then practiced… the list goes on and on.

But for me, the bride? I can’t really remember the countless hours that I spent getting myself ready; searching for the perfect dress, shoes to match, the right shades of eye shadow, nail polish and lipstick, having my nails and hair done… everything had to be perfect, right down to the very last detail. I was prepared, for I wanted to be the beautiful bride for my husband. I remember the excitement in the air that day. I remember the moment our eyes met…

I wonder how Craig would have felt if I had showed up in my pajamas that day? Hair pulled up in a ponytail wearing fuzzy slippers? Ok, that may seem silly, but I wonder… how would he have felt? Revelations 19:7 states, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself.”

Are you prepared? Really prepared? Have you focused on the details? Have you spent hours upon hours getting ready for the wedding feast that you will one day experience with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Have you really gotten to know who He is and prepared yourself for Him? Not because of the things you have done, so to say, but inside… have you prepared your heart? I know that I am looking forward to that day, with much anticipation, much as I did when I was the bride-to-be waiting for my walk down the aisle. I want to be prepared, I want to feel the excitement as my eyes meet the eyes of Jesus, but many days I find myself feeling like the bride in pajamas. Do you?

Lord, help me today to prepare for our feast. Search my heart and reveal any wrong motives within me. Lord, as I open your Word and I read Your truths, help them to sink down in to the deepest parts of my heart. Change me today, Lord, so that I may begin the preparation.

Read Revelation 19:1-10.

Relentless Love

By Pastor Brandon

“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. (vs20) I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20. (Emphasis added)

Betroth:
To promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed.

Every married couple remembers their wedding day. The day you committed for a lifetime to love, honor and cherish your spouse until death do you part. On my wedding day many things stood out; the joke played by one of my groomsmen. (He wrote “Help me” on the bottom of my shoe so when I kneeled down on the prayer bench the whole crowd saw it.) I remember having to take so many pictures after the wedding that half of the wedding guests were gone by the time we were done and I remember the limo driver got lost and was extremely late picking us up. But my most vivid memory was when my wife (smoking hot) walked down the aisle and I remember thinking how beautiful she looked and how blessed I was to marry her. (Ladies all say it together, ahh…)

I was committing to her and she was committing to me. No matter what we go through and no matter how good or bad things get, we will not go back on that commitment.

The book of Hosea is about God’s relentless love and His commitment (marriage) toward his people. God had shown His love to the Israelites over and over yet every time they became unfaithful to Him. God uses Hosea to make a point about His love toward His people by having him marry an unfaithful wife. (Read Hosea 1) Hosea falls in love with Gomer (a prostitute) and has children with her. Yet Gomer, in spite of Hosea’s love is unfaithful to the vows and the commitment she had made. Hosea remains faithful to Gomer and is committed to the vow he took. God says in verse 19 that He will “BETROTH” you to me forever… This verse means that God will remain faithful and his love will never go away no matter how unfaithful we are. In one word God once again redefines how he loves his people - he betroths them. He commits himself to them. He pledges to them everything part of his being. He says to them, "Everything that I am, is all for you." Every good part of me, it’s all yours. God says "I commit myself to you."
God commits himself to us, his commitment is unchanging, it lasts forever.

His commitment is righteous and just, it goes to the very core of his character, it is through and through and binding upon God in every way. It is a commitment that is characterized by steadfastness and loyalty; it is focused on us, sharing in our struggles to the point that he would become one of us. God commits himself to us with his relentless love and faithfulness, with him there is no turning. God is for us, who can be against us?

Read Hosea 2:1-23.

A Call To Holiness

By Pastor Trent

… just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:22-33

I remember clear as day. June 26, 1992 at 2 p.m. The doors to the sanctuary flew open and my heart raced with excitement as my bride began to glide down the center aisle. My eyes locked onto her in her beautiful white dress and angelic face in anticipation of what was to come. Pamela Hope Dowdy was MY bride on that day and continues to be MY bride today! The greatest gift that she gave me on that day was not her looks or her love. It was her purity! When Pam was thirteen, she made a promise to God that she would not kiss a man until her wedding day. A promise that many scoff at, but one that made me know that her heart, and the rest of her, belonged to me and me alone! Words can’t express how awesome it was to know that seeing her in white truly was a symbol of her purity and holiness before God and everyone in attendance that day.

The image of the church as the Bride of Christ is familiar many of us. Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. That image illustrates the kind of relationship we have with Jesus. As with any healthy marriage our relationship to Christ ought to be marked by love, commitment, faithfulness and sacrifice. We know that Christ models all of those traits to us and He expects His bride, the church, to reciprocate.

Likewise, our bridegroom, Jesus, wants us to be a “holy” bride, unstained and untarnished by the world. Ephesians 5:22-33 teaches us much about marriage. But tucked into this passage is a powerful statement about what our bridegroom can do for us that no human bridegroom can do. Paul says in Ephesians 5:26-27 that Christ would “present her (the church) to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” It is God’s will for His bride to be holy. As part of the bride of Christ, we must strive to live pure lives for the sake of our Groom! This is not easy. In fact, if it were up to our own efforts, it would be impossible. But, thank God, our holiness is enabled by the power of the One who desires our purity. Jesus is the one who makes us holy, and He is the One who helps us to live holy lives.

Back to my wedding day. Though Pam and I had never met when she made the commitment to purity at the age of thirteen, she lived in anticipation for the day when we would be together as husband and wife. Likewise, though we have not seen our Groom, we must live daily with the anticipation that we will one day be presented to Him as His bride for all eternity. That knowledge should motivate us to live our lives pure, unspotted from the world!

Read Ephesians 5:1-33.

Week One: Bride (Reflection and Discussion Questions)

Read Hosea 1:2-3, 2:14-20 and 14:1-9. What do you find most shocking about God’s instructions to the prophet Hosea? What does Hosea’s faithfulness to Gomer in spite of her unfaithfulness in return teach us about God’s faithfulness to his people?

Read Ephesians 5:21-33. What are the similarities between a husband and wife in a marriage relationship with that of Christ and his church? In what way does Christ make his church holy?

According to the following scriptures, what specifically does Christ do for or because of his bride?

Isaiah 62:5—

Revelations 19:8—

Revelations 21:2-4—

What benefits might Zion experience if a greater number of us had a clearer picture of what it means to be Christ’s bride?

What one principle or insight that stands out as being particularly helpful,
insightful, or difficult to grasp from this morning's message?



Read Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:1-5. In these passages, the apostles Paul and
Peter give instructions to elders (pastors). Based on the message this
morning and these scriptures discuss what the "job description" of a pastor
ought to look like.



Titus 1:5-9 (as well as 1 Timothy 3:1-7) lists requirements for
elders/pastors. From this list, what do we learn about the character and
behavior of an elder/pastor.


While specifically applicable to elders/pastors, this list is beneficial to
all Christ-followers. Take some time to evaluate your life in light of these
character qualities. Is there any specific area you feel called to grow?

Blameless-(above reproach, unaccused) see also Colossians 1:21-22

Husband-(can be translated "a one woman man") see also 1 Timothy 3:2

Explorers, this is a good opportunity to challenge men to be the spiritual
leaders God desires them to be. Hearts Design, in 1 Timothy 3:11 Paul
addresses women, "In the same way..." There is a difference of opinion about
whether Paul means to address the wives of deacons or the office of
deaconess. Regardless, while the office of elder/pastor is reserved for men,
the character qualities and giftedness applies ("in the same way") to both
men and women.

Not wild or disobedient-(not wasteful) see also Ephesians 5:18

Not overbearing-(not self-pleasing) see also 2 Peter 2:10

Not quick-tempered-(not irritable) see also Ephesians 4:26

Not given to drunkenness-(not addicted to wine) see also 1 Timothy 3:3

Not violent-(not pugnacious) see also 1 Timothy 3:3

Not pursuing dishonest gain-(sordid gain, not greedy) see also 1 Timothy 3:8

Hospitable-(welcomes guests) see also 1 Peter 4:9

Loves what is good-(promoter of virtue) see also 2 Timothy 3:3

Self-controlled-(sound) see also 2 Timothy 1:7

Upright-(honest, righteous) see also Hebrews 11:4

Holy-(devout) see also 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Disciplined-(focused) see also 1 Corinthians 9:25

Read Hebrews 13:7 and 17. Why does the idea of obeying church leaders sound
so jarring? What advantage do we receive through obedience?