[296 words]
“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5: 23).
Suppose I should want to preach on some subject pertaining to Christ but not talk about the church, what could I preach?
If I should preach about the headship of Christ, I would have to tell about that of which he is the head, and that is his church (Col. 1:18).
If I should preach about him as our Savior, I would have to tell that he is the Savior of the body which is his church (Eph. 1: 22, 23).
If I should decide to preach about his blood, I would have to tell that his blood was the purchase price of his church (Acts 20:28).
If I should preach about his giving spirit, I would have to tell that he always gave and said it is more blessed to give than to receive; I would have to tell that he finally gave himself for the church (Eph. 5:25)!
If I should preach about being subject to Christ, I would have to report that it is the church that is subject unto Christ (Eph. 5:24).
If I should preach about the love of Jesus I could not afford to leave out the fact that he loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25).
If I should tell about his sanctifying and cleansing power I would have to tell that Christ sanctified and cleansed the church with the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:26).
If I should preach about the care and concern and the sustaining power of Jesus, I would tell that he nourishes and cherishes the church (Eph. 5:29).
Obviously, one cannot preach Christ without preaching what the Bible says about his church.
Basil Overton
from Seven Score Short Sermons