We are looking this spring at the church and the implications of the church for our vitality, life, growth. When Scripture speaks of the church, it never gives us an official definition. “The Church is this….” Instead it gives us images. Pictures. Metaphors for the Church. Scripture does this to help us see that the church is not static. It is growing, moving, reforming. The church is living. And no matter how far on life support it may seem in history and culture, it will never die. Never. We'll talk more about this on Sunday.

God intends to change you through the preaching of His word. See how he works in you to do that. Prepare your hearts for this Sunday's sermon by reading the sermon texts:

Ephesians 1:15-23 — “22 He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 4:3-6 — “3 Be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:15-16 — “15 Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 5:25-33 — "25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 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. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Here are the CG questions to consider:

1.  If someone were to ask you, “What does Jesus think about His church?” what would be your initial reply?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. How does the image of the body help you understand how the church is to function at a local level? Where do you see Trinity doing this well? Poorly?
3. How does the image of the church as the bride of Christ surprise you?
4. How does the idea that the church is the bride of Christ, help you move from remorse over sin to true repentance? How does it motivate you to commit to the well being of other members at Trinity?
5. Contemplate some things that Trinity can do to promote some visible aspect of unity with other churches in Owasso. Does working with other churches make you nervous? Why or why not?

See you Sunday at 10am sharp. :)