ELTBefore Married לקח

ELTBefore Married לקח [∞]

The Church as the Bride of Christ

The Bible calls the church the "bride of Christ" to show the close and loving relationship between Jesus and His followers. The Hebrew word for "married" is לקח (laqach), which means "to take" or "to marry," but it also means "teaching" or "doctrine." This tells us something important: in the Bible, marriage and teaching are connected in a special way.

In marriage, a husband and wife join together in a promise, called a covenant. In the same way, the church is joined to Christ in a covenant of salvation. The word laqach reminds us that marriage shows the oneness we have with Jesus, who lives in us through His Spirit.

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Paul’s Teaching About Marriage

In the Bible, Paul gives advice to women, telling them to learn from their husbands, especially about church teachings (see Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). But Paul also says that he’s not just talking about marriage between a man and a woman—he’s talking about Christ and the church.

In this picture, Jesus is like a husband, and the church is like His bride. Just as a husband leads and teaches his wife, Christ leads and teaches the church. His Word (the Bible) is how He helps His bride grow in faith and live a holy life.

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The Church Learns From Christ

Paul explains that a wife learns from her husband, but he’s really talking about how the church learns from Jesus. Jesus is the teacher, and the church is the learner. This relationship shows how important it is for the church to listen to Jesus and follow His teachings. His Word helps the church become stronger in faith and live in a way that pleases Him.

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Marriage and Teaching

The Hebrew word laqach shows us how marriage and teaching are connected. Just as a husband and wife are united by love, the church is united with Christ in love and by learning from His teachings. These teachings guide the church in truth and help it grow in faith.

So, when we think about the church as the bride of Christ, we can see it’s not just about love—it’s also about learning from Jesus, who leads and cares for His people.

Discussion

Questions: Marriage and Teaching

1. What are the two meanings of the Hebrew word לקח (laqach), and how do they relate to marriage and teaching?
2. How does the idea of learning from each other make marriage about more than just love and promises?
3. In what ways is the church’s relationship with Christ similar to a marriage?

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Questions: Learning from Christ

1. Why does Paul encourage women to learn from their husbands, and how does this reflect the church learning from Christ?
2. How does Christ, as the "husband" of the church, help the church grow in faith?
3. Why is learning from Christ’s teachings an important part of the church’s relationship with Him?

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Questions: The Church as Christ’s Bride

1. Why is the church called the "bride of Christ"?
2. How is the church’s relationship with Christ similar to the relationship between students and their teacher?
3. What does learning from Christ’s teachings help the church achieve?

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Questions: Doctrine and Spiritual Growth

1. What is doctrine, and why is it an important part of the church’s spiritual growth?
2. How does learning Christ’s teachings shape the church in faith and holiness?
3. In what ways does the church’s learning from Christ prepare it for His return?

Conclusion: Growing in Faith

In conclusion, the relationship between Christ and the church is a beautiful picture of marriage, where the church learns from Christ and grows spiritually. Christ, as the "husband," teaches and guides the church, helping it become more like Him. This understanding shows us how important it is to learn from Christ as we grow in our faith.