The Church is called "the Bride of Christ". Jesus has offered his hand in marriage and returned to heaven to prepare a place for his Bride. We are now in our time of preparation, getting ready for his return.

The time of preparation has been very long because God is patiently waiting:

- for people to respond to his invitation

- for his messengers to deliver the invitation to all nations

We should therefore accept the invitation, get ourselves ready - and deliver the invitation to whoever we can!

Mark 13:32-33, 2 Peter 3:8-10, Matthew 22:1-13, John 3:16-17, John 14:6, Matthew 24:14, Acts 17:26-27

The New Testament uses several images to describe the church. One such image is the Bride of Christ. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is his Bride.

This image teaches us about our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus:

- He loves us deeply and is completely committed to us.

- His love has a clear goal - he is going to marry a beautiful, holy, radiant bride!

- We are now "spoken for" and must live in faithful commitment to Jesus.

- We are to "make ourselves ready" for when he returns and the wedding celebrations begin!

Let's be secure in his promise, faithful in our promise, and make ourselves ready for his return!

Matthew 9:14-15, 25:1, John 3:26-30, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Revelation 19:6-8, Ephesians 5:25-32

We are living in days of adversity, days of darkness. Yet there are opportunities in the adversity! The darkness around us is an opportunity to shine with the light of Christ! And the darker the darkness, the greater the impact of the smallest light!

Because we have been rescued from darkness, we may want to avoid dark situations, but we are called to be light in the darkness around us! We are called to make disciples - and this begins when we shine into the dark and help people to come into the light of Jesus.

We can shine by:

- being grateful instead of grumbling

- seeking to understand others rather than argue our point

- living godly lives that show God’s better way

- holding firmly to the truths of the Bible

Ephesians 5:8-16, Philippians 2:12-16, Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus is building his church - and he will not be stopped.

He is also "shaking all nations" and revealing his glory.

At the same time, the devil is angrily terrorising the world, and society is in moral decline.

In these days we should:

-Build with God according to his pattern

-Embrace the shaking

-Learn to receive from God

Jam 1:19, Mat 16:18-19, Dan 7:14, 1 Cor 8:1, 1 Thes 5:11, Hag 2:7, Heb 12:26-29, Luke 4:5, 2 Cor 3:8-11, Hag 2:9, Ex 34:6-7, Rev 12:12, Mat 12:25, 2 Tim 3:2-3, 1 Cor 6:19, 2 Tim 1:7, 1 Cor 12:27, Prov 19:11, Eph 4:31, 2 Tim 1:7, Prov 18:19, Mark 11:25, Ps 46:10, Is 40:31, Rom 6:13, Rev 3:20

Many of us think that there is "a right time and place" for ministry. But Jesus ministered when he was tired, under pressure, in stressful and painful situations, and even in his darkest hours. As his disciples, we should be ready to do the same. This makes sense when we know that God works for the good in all situations! So let's be ready to be used by God in both good times and tough times!

Mark 6:30-37, Luke 8:41-48, Luke 22:47-51, Luke 23:39-43, Romans 8:28, 2 Timothy 4:2

Jesus is altogether sufficient: he saves, perfects, completes, provides and strengthens! When we have him, we have everything we need!

The Bible teaches us to be "rooted and built up in Christ". We do this when we:

- Surrender our whole life to Jesus

- Meditate on scripture (the Bible)

- Spend regular time in God's presence

- Surround ourselves with wise people

- Humble ourselves before God

- Put Jesus' words into practice

Acts 4:12, Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2:9-10, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, Colossians 2:6-8, Psalm 1:1-4, John 11:28-30, 1 Corinthians 16:13, John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20, John 15.5, Luke 6:47-49

Although we have freedom to make choices (even disobedient & foolish ones!), what God has ordained WILL happen. So we can always trust his promises, because no-one can stop him from doing what he has promised!

Sometimes things seem to go very wrong & we may get despondent. But if God has promised to work for the good in our lives, we can be assured that he will do so!

The life of Joseph is a fine example: God revealed a great future, but his journey to greatness was extremely hard!

Jesus told his disciples to expect many troubles - but to take heart, because he will never be out of control! He WILL bring us through into our glorious destiny!

Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Matthew 16:24-25, Hebrews 12:4-7, Revelation 7:9-12

The Jewish Law, particularly the Ten Commandments, shows us what a holy, perfect life looks like. It also shows us how badly we need a saviour, because it reveals our inability to live this life!

While holiness and perfection is not achievable through human efforts to obey the Law, it is achievable through Jesus! When we put our faith in him, he fills us with his Spirit and God himself works in us - to desire and to do what God requires! As we work with the Holy Spirit, he changes our minds for the good - and empowers us to do what we know is right!

Galatians 3:25-26, Acts 17:28, Romans 8:5, 8-9, Philippians 2:12-13

God has made mankind in his image and expects him to live a life that reflects this image. We could call that a holy life, or a perfect life.

When God made a covenant with Israel, he gave them laws, including the Ten Commandments, to teach them what this holy or perfect life looks like. Jesus affirmed these laws, so they still apply to the Christian.

But the laws themselves cannot produce holiness - they only define it. And, if left on our own, we break them! We need help! Which is why Jesus came!

1 Thessalonians 4:7, Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 5:17-19, Galatians 3:23-24, Romans 8:3, Hebrews 8:7-9

Jesus taught his disciples to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The Kingdom of God comes when the rule of God is established. And when God is ruling, things on earth start to operate as things in heaven do. The order of God is established!

Salvation is about the forgiveness of sins, but it is also about a change in rule, a change in kingdom. We are rescued from the dark dominion of the devil and brought under the glorious rule of Jesus!

The Kingdom of God advances as the rule of God advances. So as we pray "Your kingdom come", we must open every door to King Jesus so that he can rule!

Matthew 4:17, 6:9-10 & 28:18-20, Acts 2:36, Colossians 1:13-14, Luke 6:46, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 3:10-11 & 4:15