The document discusses various metaphors used in Christianity to describe the church and believers' relationship with God, emphasizing concepts such as intimacy, adoption, and identity as God's children. It highlights the ultimate goal of salvation as developing a deep relationship with God, who is portrayed as an affectionate and loving father. Barriers to intimacy are also addressed, with encouragement to grow in knowledge and communication with God to overcome these obstacles.

1. Invitation to Intimacy
The Ultimate Goal of Salvation

2. Many Church Metaphors
Citizens of God’s Kingdom!
Temple of living stones with Jesus the Cornerstone!
Royal Priesthood!
Servants of the Master!
Army with faithful soldiers

3. Many Church Metaphors
Vineyard or field!
Branches on Jesus the Vine!
Flock with Jesus as Shepherd!
Body with many body parts & Jesus is the Head!
House of God!
A New Creation

4. Many Church Metaphors
House of God!
A New Creation!
Holy Nation!
God’s Elect

5. Meaning of Metaphors
Describe the different functions of the Church!
Governmental: Kingdom, nation, army!
Structural: house, temple, field, vineyard, flock!
Functional: Body, priests

6. Our Main Identity
Adopted Children of God!
Household of God!
Bride for Jesus!
WE ARE GOD’S FAMILY!

7. Ultimate Goal of Salvation
Intimacy with God in the deepest, safest, most
powerful, most satisfying, most exhilarating relationship
as His child & His Son’s Bride.!
All of the Bible and history is about a heavenly
Papa trying to bring His children home to share
His Kingdom as joint-heirs with His Son,
Jesus.

8. God is…
The most affectionate, most joyful, most gentle, most kind,
most creative, extravagantly loving Father!
The most humble, self-sacrificing, faithful Savior Who
calls us His friends and brothers & sisters. !
The most intimate Spirit Who graciously lives inside
us to help us in every situation.

9. The Intimate God
We want intimacy because He wants intimacy!
Made like Him, walks with us in Garden, chose to adopt
us before time began and sings over loudly (Zeph.3:17)!
Became one of us, lived with us, died to bring us home!
Lives inside our frail bodies, prepared rooms for us in
heaven, knows everything about us, even # hairs

10. The Intimate God
Knocks on the door of our hearts (Rev.3:20), waiting to
come in and eat with us.!
Treats us like a Good Shepherd loves His sheep (Is.
40:11)!
Watches over us to bless us (2 Chron. 16:9)

11. Barriers to Intimacy!
Reasons to Hide from Intimacy
Fears, feeling not safe (Jer, Tom)!
Shamed by others !
Guilt for personal failures!
Feeling worthless, not good enough, invalidated!
Helpless, Hopeless!
Alone, not wanted

12. Growing in Intimacy
Enjoy sharing more with Him: feelings and thoughts!
Listen more to hear Him, including mediate on Scripture!
Your life revolves more around Him than anything else!
You communicate with Him more all day long!
Grow more satisfied in your relationship with Him

13. Know Him More !
Know Yourself More
Child of God, chosen, unique, totally known yet loved!
All by grace, God loved first and will always love!
Incredibly valuable to God. His unique delight. !
Beautiful, handsome, powerful, wise, creative to Him!
Already safe forever, already accepted, already alive
forever