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We have spoken of the reality of the Love of God. We have been reminded that the eternal redemption accomplished by the work and person of Jesus were always the plan of God. This redemption is NOT an afterthought, it is the purpose of God accomplished in the fullness of time. He has chosen us before the foundations of the world, called us with an effectual calling which at the instant of its working made us alive through regeneration… with that regenerating work of the Holy Spirit God also imparts to us faith and makes us repent… This is not a partial thing, it is a soul transforming, mind renewing, desire imparting reality that alters every single part of who and what we are… and it is ours because of Christ Jesus and His finished work for the redemption of His own bride!

The New Testament gives us three primary metaphors to help us understand what the church is and how the members are to relate to one another. We are the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, and a building, a temple.

The sermon emphasizes the necessity for the church to maintain spiritual vigilance and purity, particularly in the aftermath of a revival experience. Drawing primarily from Ephesians 5, the message argues that God values the holiness of the bride of Christ over her fruit, urging believers to remain without spot or blemish. The text uses the narrative of Achan and Joshua to illustrate how individual sin and a lack of prayer can jeopardize the entire congregation, while also warning against false teachers who cause division and serve their own interests. By citing examples of apostasy and false prophecy, the speaker encourages the congregation to rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment and to continue seeking God's face through prayer to sustain the work of the Spirit.

This sermon explores Jesus' teaching on marriage in Matthew 19, framing the institution as a divine covenant designed for unity and shared purpose. The central message emphasizes that while sin and selfishness often divide couples, the gospel provides the ultimate healing and restoration for marriages. By contrasting the Pharisees' legalistic approach with Jesus' return to creation, the text highlights the spiritual and physical union of spouses as a reflection of God's character. The preacher encourages believers to trust God's design, viewing their spouse as a gift for sanctification rather than a source of personal fulfillment. Ultimately, the sermon points to the broader biblical narrative where the church, as the bride of Christ, finds its true hope and identity in Jesus, offering a model of faithful love to the world.

The sermon explores the prophetic narrative in Hosea 2, where God pursues, betroths, and ultimately marries His unfaithful bride, Israel, as a typology for the church. It outlines three stages of this divine relationship: the initial alluring of the people through comfort and restoration, the formal betrothal based on God's righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, and mercy, and the final consummation at the Second Coming. The preacher emphasizes that this covenant is not merely historical but is currently fulfilled in the lives of believers who are being sanctified by the Word of God. The message contrasts the temporary nature of false idols with the eternal, unbreakable bond of Christ's love, urging the congregation to view their present worship as the preparation for the eternal marriage supper of the Lamb.

This sermon explores the theological significance of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22, arguing that the description represents the present reality of the church rather than solely a future eternal state. The central message emphasizes that the church is the temple of God, illuminated by His glory, and called to reflect the light of Christ to a world in darkness. Key themes include the universal mission of the church to preach the gospel as the sole means of healing and salvation for the nations, drawing on Old Testament parallels in Isaiah and Ezekiel. The preacher urges believers to recognize their identity as the bride of Christ and to actively engage in evangelism, asserting that the open gates of the city invite all who believe while excluding the unclean. The tone is pastoral and exhortative, encouraging the congregation to boldly proclaim the gospel with the assurance that God alone converts hearts.

God's love for his people is redeeming and restoring. This is illustrated by Hosea's buying back his wandering bride at great cost. Too often we run after things that cannot satisfy and forget the God who can; he brings his starying people back.

When you believe in and belong to the Lord, you can then live for Him in a way that is worthy of Him.

The sermon explores Paul's instructions on marriage in Ephesians 5, presenting the relationship between husband and wife as a living portrait of the union between Christ and the church. It emphasizes that while wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, this authority is bounded by Christ's supreme headship, and husbands are commanded to love their wives with the self-sacrificial, sanctifying love Christ demonstrates for His bride. The preacher argues that these roles are not arbitrary social constructs but divinely ordained stations that reflect the gospel, aiming to transform the household into a witness of God's grace. By grounding marital duties in the gospel rather than mere duty, the text seeks to elevate the affections of believers toward Jesus, encouraging them to live out their roles with joy and intentionality. This approach counters the world's distortion of marriage and addresses the specific needs of married, unmarried, and widowed believers, urging all to find their identity and motivation in their union with Christ.

This sermon explores the vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, interpreting the holy city as a symbolic representation of the church, the bride of Christ. The preacher contrasts this glorious depiction with the world's often critical view of the church, emphasizing that the church's identity is defined by God's redemption rather than human imperfection. Key themes include the church's stability and security, illustrated by its walls and gates, and its holiness, described as the ultimate Holy of Holies where God dwells with His people. The text highlights the immense value God places on His people, adorned with precious stones to reflect His glory and majesty. The sermon concludes with a pastoral exhortation for believers to value the church and one another as Christ does, finding comfort and assurance in their secure and treasured status before God.

God has a charge against his people - by idolatry they have violated the marriage covenant. They have imagined that the blessings he gives have come from the Baals. He will discipline, yet he will do so to bring them back. So we see in Hosea 2 how God's love is greater than we often imagine.