The Church: Christ's Bride and Our Sacred Calling

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as the Bride of Christ

The church is not a human invention or a mere social gathering; it is the beloved bride of Christ, chosen, cherished, and redeemed by Him. Just as a groom treasures his bride, Jesus laid down His life for the church, demonstrating the depth of His love and commitment. To dismiss or neglect the church is to misunderstand its central place in God’s heart and plan. As members of Christ’s bride, we are called to honor, love, and participate in the life of the church, recognizing that our relationship with Jesus is inseparable from our relationship with His people. [08:24]

Ephesians 5:22-33 (CSB)
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Reflection: In what ways have you undervalued or neglected the church, and how might you begin to honor Christ’s bride more intentionally this week?

Day 2: Submitting to Christ as the Head

Just as a body cannot function without its head, the church cannot thrive apart from Christ’s leadership and authority. Submission to Jesus means actively participating in the life of the local church, not isolating ourselves or becoming “disembodied body parts.” When we separate from the body, we lose the vital connection that brings spiritual life, growth, and accountability. God designed us to need one another, and it is through our unity and submission to Christ that we become a healthy, functioning body, able to fulfill His purposes in the world. [21:16]

Ephesians 5:22-24 (CSB)
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are resisting Christ’s leadership or holding back from full participation in the church? What step can you take this week to reconnect and submit to Him?

Day 3: Washed and Sanctified by the Word

The church is in a process of being made holy, cleansed by the washing of water through the Word of God. None of us are perfect, and the journey of sanctification requires that we continually come under the authority of Scripture, both individually and together as a community. When we isolate ourselves, we risk misinterpreting God’s Word and missing out on the refining, correcting, and encouraging work that happens in the context of the church. The Word, taught and lived out in community, is God’s means of preparing us for the day when we will be presented to Christ, spotless and blameless. [35:30]

Ephesians 5:25-27 (CSB)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.

Reflection: How can you intentionally place yourself under the teaching and accountability of God’s Word in community this week, allowing it to wash and sanctify you?

Day 4: Leaving the World and Cleaving to Christ

Just as marriage requires leaving one’s family and cleaving to one’s spouse, following Jesus means leaving behind the world’s values and loyalties to be united with Him. We cannot serve two masters or try to keep one foot in the world and one in the kingdom of God. True discipleship calls for a decisive break from sin and worldly attachments, and a wholehearted devotion to Christ. The church, as the bride, is called to forsake all others and cling to Jesus, finding in Him the love and fulfillment that nothing else can provide. [57:07]

Matthew 6:24 (CSB)
No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Reflection: What is one thing from the world or your past that you need to “leave” in order to more fully “cleave” to Christ today?

Day 5: The Transforming Love of Christ

Human love, even at its best, is imperfect and often fails, but the love of Christ for His bride is perfect, sacrificial, and unfailing. Jesus alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts, offering a love that completes, heals, and transforms us. As we experience His love, we are called to respond with repentance, faith, and a desire for holiness, letting go of sin and embracing the new life He offers. The invitation is to leave behind what cannot satisfy and to cleave to the One whose love is greater than we can imagine. [01:03:55]

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Reflection: Where do you need to receive and rest in the perfect love of Christ today, trusting that He alone can satisfy and transform you?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from Ephesians 5:22-33 draws us into the profound mystery of the church as the bride of Christ. This image is not just a metaphor, but a living reality that shapes our identity, our relationships, and our calling as God’s people. Just as marriage was God’s idea and design, so too is the church—created by Him, defined by Him, and cherished by Him. The relationship between Christ and the church is the ultimate model for marriage, and our marriages should reflect the sacrificial love, unity, and commitment that Christ has for His people.

In our culture, many have dismissed the importance of the church, believing that faith can be lived out in isolation. Yet, Scripture is clear: we are not saved by church attendance, but genuine salvation produces a longing to be united with other believers. To say, “I love Jesus but not the church,” is to misunderstand the heart of Christ, who laid down His life for His bride. Just as a husband would be wounded by someone who claims to love him but despises his wife, so too is Christ grieved when we disregard His church.

The first-century Jewish context of marriage helps us understand our current place in redemptive history. We are betrothed to Christ, awaiting the final consummation at His return. In this in-between time, the church is being sanctified—washed by the Word, made holy, and prepared for that glorious union. This process is not always easy. The church is imperfect, full of spots and wrinkles, but Christ’s love is relentless, cleansing, and transformative.

Our calling is to submit to Christ as our head, to remain connected to the body, and to allow the Word to shape and purify us. Disembodying ourselves from the church is like severing a limb from the body—it cannot survive or function apart from the head. We need one another, not only for encouragement and accountability, but also for the sanctifying work that happens as we forgive, serve, and grow together.

Finally, just as marriage requires leaving and cleaving, so too must we leave behind the world and cleave to Christ. We cannot serve two masters. The love we long for—the love that completes us—is found only in Jesus. He invites us to let go of sin, to repent, and to embrace the fullness of life as His beloved bride.

Key Takeaways

1. The Church as the Bride of Christ is not a sentimental metaphor, but a sacred reality that shapes our identity and purpose. To love Christ is to love His church, for He laid down His life for her. Dismissing the church is to misunderstand the depth of Christ’s commitment and affection for His people. [09:54]
2. True spiritual growth cannot happen in isolation. God designed us to be part of a body, where we are challenged, encouraged, and sometimes even wounded—so that we might learn forgiveness, humility, and love. Disconnection from the church leads to spiritual deadness, just as a severed limb cannot live apart from the body. [26:34]
3. The process of sanctification—being washed by the Word—requires both personal devotion and communal accountability. When we isolate ourselves, we risk twisting Scripture to fit our desires. In the context of the church, we are protected from error and shaped by the collective wisdom and teaching of God’s people. [39:47]
4. The call to “leave and cleave” applies not only to marriage but to our relationship with Christ. We must decisively turn from the world and its values, refusing to straddle the line between culture and the kingdom. Divided loyalty is impossible; we are called to wholehearted devotion to Jesus, our true Bridegroom. [57:07]
5. The love we seek in human relationships, even in the best marriages, is but a shadow of the perfect love Christ has for us. His love is unwavering, sacrificial, and redemptive. Only in Him do we find the fulfillment, security, and joy our hearts long for. He invites us to repent, to be washed, and to cleave to Him alone. [63:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Introduction & Scripture Reading
[01:00] - Stripping Away Tradition: What is the Church?
[02:33] - Ephesians 5: The Church as the Bride of Christ
[05:30] - The Modern View of Church: Is It Optional?
[08:24] - “I Love Jesus, But Not the Church”
[09:54] - The Bridegroom’s Heart: Insulting the Bride
[11:42] - First-Century Jewish Marriage & Betrothal
[14:03] - The Church’s Betrothal and Future Consummation
[15:36] - Marriage as a Picture of Christ and the Church
[18:00] - The Church’s Failure to Honor Marriage
[20:10] - Submission: The Church to Christ
[25:06] - The Danger of Disembodied Body Parts
[29:27] - The Necessity and Challenge of Community
[33:58] - Spectator Christianity vs. Active Participation
[34:43] - The Church’s Sanctification: Washed by the Word
[39:47] - The Peril of Private Interpretation
[42:07] - Recovering Doctrinal Teaching in the Church
[45:53] - Leaving and Cleaving: Marriage and the Church
[52:19] - You Cannot Serve Two Masters
[54:45] - Cultural Christianity vs. Authentic Faith
[57:07] - Wholehearted Devotion: Leaving the World, Cleaving to Christ
[61:04] - The Perfect Love of Christ
[64:26] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:22-33 (ESV) — Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 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. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 5:22-33, what are the specific ways Paul compares the relationship between husbands and wives to the relationship between Christ and the church?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the cultural view that “I can be a Christian without going to church”? How does he challenge this idea? [[06:24]]
What does the pastor say is the purpose of the church being “washed by the Word”? [[35:30]]
How does the sermon describe the process and meaning of “leaving and cleaving” in both marriage and our relationship with Christ? [[47:04]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the image of marriage to describe the relationship between Christ and the church? What does this teach us about how Christ views the church? [[15:59]]
The pastor says that to say “I love Jesus but not the church” is to misunderstand the heart of Christ. Why is this such a serious misunderstanding, according to the sermon? [[09:54]]
The sermon talks about the church being “sanctified—washed by the Word, made holy, and prepared for that glorious union.” What does it look like for a church or an individual to be “washed by the Word” in real life? [[35:30]]
The pastor warns against “disembodying” ourselves from the church. What are some of the spiritual dangers he mentions that come from living out faith in isolation? [[26:34]]

Application Questions

The pastor compares leaving the church to a limb being cut off from the body. Have you ever felt disconnected from the church? What were the effects on your spiritual life, and what steps could you take to reconnect? [[26:34]]
The sermon says that true spiritual growth cannot happen in isolation. Are there any ways you have tried to “go it alone” in your faith? What is one practical way you can lean into community this month? [[29:27]]
The process of being “washed by the Word” involves both personal devotion and communal accountability. Do you have people in your life who help you stay accountable to God’s Word? If not, what is one step you could take to invite that accountability? [[39:47]]
The pastor says that being part of a church means sometimes being hurt, but also learning to forgive and grow. Is there someone in the church you need to forgive, or a relationship that needs healing? What would it look like to take a step toward reconciliation? [[30:23]]
The call to “leave and cleave” means turning away from the world and holding fast to Christ. Are there specific habits, relationships, or values from the world that you need to “leave behind” in order to follow Jesus more fully? [[57:07]]
The sermon says the love we seek—even in the best marriages—is only a shadow of Christ’s love for us. Where have you looked for fulfillment or security outside of Christ? How can you intentionally seek your identity and joy in Him this week? [[01:03:55]]
The pastor challenges the idea of “spectator Christianity.” In what ways are you actively participating in the life of the church, and where might God be calling you to step in more fully? [[33:58]]

Sermon Clips

If we, as the body, separate ourselves from the head and will not submit to it, then we cease to function as the body. Yes, you can sit on the beach and contemplate the deep things of God. You can sit on the deck at home with a cup of coffee and your Bible open, reading Scripture. Yes, you can do all of those things. But if you are not present in the body of Christ, you are a disembodied body part and you are dead. You are dead. You're about as useful to Jesus as a screen door on a submarine. [00:26:18] (48 seconds) #ArroganceInIsolation

When you disembody yourself from the body, you are saying to God, I do not need anybody. Therefore, you're saying to him, I don't need you. That's arrogant, isn't it? How arrogant is it for us to tell God that we've got a better plan? I've got a better plan for my spiritual growth than you do God. I know what it says, but I don't need other people. [00:28:14] (32 seconds) #GodDesignedUnity

The fact is, God has designed. Remember, just as I said, God designed marriage. It was his idea. So, too, God designed the church. And so we need to let God define for us what we need. And what we need is one another. [00:29:18] (28 seconds) #EnemyTargetsAttendance

Have y' all noticed when you miss a couple of Sundays, how easy it is to miss a third? Have you noticed that that's by design? That's the enemy. Have you noticed how easy it is to get offended by something? When you come in the doors looking for offense? Have you noticed that? I mean, being a part of the body of Christ is not easy all the time because people do incredibly dumb things sometimes. Amen. People hurt us sometimes, don't they? But see, here's the thing. It's necessary that in our closest relationships that we experience some hurt. You know? Why? How can we learn to forgive one another if we never hurt one another? [00:29:49] (55 seconds) #ForgivenessThroughCommunity

If we disembody ourselves from the church, we are opening ourselves up to error. You know why? When I read scripture by myself and I isolate myself from other believers, then I make this of a private interpretation. I privately and individually interpret this scripture. And you know what? Do you trust you to do that? I know how selfish I can be. I know how I can read a passage of scripture and squeeze it just enough just to get out of it what I want to see. [00:39:21] (43 seconds) #RecoverBiblicalDoctrine

You can't serve two masters. The church can't serve two masters. You as a disciple of Jesus, you can't serve two masters. You can't simultaneously be devoted to your flesh and submitted to the Holy Spirit church. We can't simultaneously try to keep one foot in the culture so that the world will like us and try to keep the other foot firmly planted in the kingdom of God so that God will accept us. [00:53:20] (47 seconds) #ChurchMustRepent

There is no demilitarized zone between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. We're either following Jesus or we're still in the world. There can be a lot of surprise, people on the day of Jesus coming because they've trusted the wrong things. Are you trusting Jesus to save you? Are you committed to leaving the things of this world and cleaving to Christ? Are you committed to firmly planting your feet in the kingdom of God as we await our consummation with our king and our groom? [00:57:23] (61 seconds)

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