I found the following article interesting. It takes the scriptural allusion to the "Bride of Christ" and draws lessons for those in leadership of the Bride. It was first written for pastors, but has implications for teachers and small group leaders also.
Provide. A father provides the basic needs of life for his daughter: food, shelter, clothing. He also provides education, discipline, and many of the mere wants of life. In the same way, a pastor provides spiritual food appropriate to the maturity of his daughter, the church (1 Cor 3, Heb 5). He provides for at least some physical needs (Ac 6). He provides training (Ac 11, 15; 2 Tim 3) and discipline (Mt 18; 2 Tim 3). Certainly the pastor is a provider.
Protect. A father protects his daughter from disease, from external dangers, from her own self-destructive potential, and even – if he is a wise father – from his own failures and shortcomings. A pastor protects the church from false teachers, legalism (Ac 15), doctrinal errors, and from the church’s own tendency to get caught up in needless, fruitless arguments (1 & 2 Tim, Titus).
Nurture. A father nurtures his daughter spiritually, emotionally, socially, intellectually. He helps her to be healthy in each of these areas. This is a harder concept for me to grasp because it is less concrete, but a pastor must love and nurture his church to healthy growth in these areas, as well.
Prepare. A father prepares his daughter generally for life, but he also prepares her specifically for her role as wife and mother. He provides an example of a godly man, a godly husband, a godly father. He prepares her to choose wisely the man she will marry, prepares her to meet her new husband and to be united with him. A pastor prepares his church for life in a hostile world, for its role as salt and light in that world, for its roles as defender of the faith and attacker of the gates of hell.
Present. On the day of her wedding, a father presents his daughter to her new husband. There is great significance in this, not only for the daughter but for the father as well: he is turning over responsibility for these tasks to the man with whom she will be united in marriage. Will he be able to say that he has done his job well? Is his daughter prepared? Has she been well-protected, provided for, and nurtured? Will you, pastor, be able to say to Jesus that the bride whom he has entrusted to you is well-prepared for her union with him? Have you protected her? Trained, nurtured, and provided for her?
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