Living as the Bride, Sons & Daughters

Tim Dennis' slides from talking on Living as the Bride and also Living as Sons & Daughters of God

Transcript

1. Living as the bride!
2. 1.God will woo his people back to him
3. What are some of the other lovers that we turn to when we forget God?
4. ‘Our LORD allures us with himself in his gospel. Our LORD says: I will open the beauty and excellency of the infiniteness of my grace and goodness and set it before them to allure them. I will spread before their souls the beauty of my Christ
5. My people pursued their lovers. They went after KPMG, PwC and Lloyds TSB; for money offered comfort and control. They went after celebrity gossip, social media status and pornography; for they offer intimacy. They went after H&M and Ben & Jerrys and HDTV; for retail therapy, over-priced ice-cream and Brian Cox talking science break the numbness of life.
6. Did their lovers offer comfort and gain, honour and respect? Yes – but I will bid more. I bid more and will so persuade their hearts that they shall come to enjoy more in me that they possibly could enjoy with all their lovers. Then my gospel will have its full and gracious effect in the hearts of men and women, in finding all that the world can bid is out bidden.’
7. 2. God will take his people to be his bride v16-23
8. Turn to Col 1:21-23, Col 1:15-23 and Col 2:9-15, and write down what Christ is like and what he’s done.
9. Rev 19:6-8 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
 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. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
10. Living as sons and daughters!
11. We are adopted as children by the Father v26
12. We are adopted as children by the Father through faith in the Son v23-25
13. How can you be confident that you are truly part of God’s people?
14. What things do we look to, to give us confidence that we are truly part of God’s people? How do these things enslave us?
15. How do you think being justified in Christ and adopted by the Father challenges people who are: Proud Defensive Critical Boastful Never acknowledge their own sinfulness Feel guilty all the time Never forgiving of others