Theme of Ephesians: God is redeeming/reclaiming His corrupted creation through Christ,
beginning with the church, so that we might rejoice in Him forever.
Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Ephesians
Overview:
Chapters 1-3 – our new identity in Christ
Chapters 4-6 – how we live out our new identity in our new family
Notes:
God is redeeming us in Christ, Chapter 1:1-14
God is revealing Himself to us in Christ, Chapter 1:15-23
Saints–“holy ones”–holy not because of anything in us, but because of Christ’s holiness imputed to us.
Faithful–those who trust in God’s promises, aka, believers
God doesn’t accept you because you have been good lately, God accepts you because of Christ’s merits
On your very worst days
On your very best days
Grace is mentioned 13 times in Ephesians.
All of the Trinity, and all of Time are involved in God’s redemptive plan
God the Father—planned our redemption in eternity past
“He chose us in Him.” 1:4
“He predestined us for adoption” 1:5
Salvation starts with God–His sovereignty, His initiative
Paul uses a lot of covenant language to describe God’s acts in salvation
Grace is amazing because we didn’t do anything to earn it or secure it
God the Son—secured out salvation by His sacrifice
God the Spirit—
God gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can know the Son, and He gives us the Son to know the Father.
The more that you love God the more you will love people.
Thesis: You need your local church because it’s how God protects and grows our faith.
Notes:
Read Hebrews with 3 distinct groups in mind:
The Uncommitted – those who have heard the gospel, but not yet converted
The Wavering – those who have believed the gospel, but are wavering due to persecution
The Faithful – those who are committed to Christ, but are suffering for their faith
Satan tempts with both persecution as well as prosperity.
“Cure your children’s warring madness; bend our pride to your control; shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.” — Fosdick
2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica….”
3 Commands
To the Uncommitted – Commit to Christ–the only way to God
To the Wavering – Cling to Christ–God always keeps His promises
To the Faithful – Commit to God’s people – God uses it to protect and grow your faith
1 Timothy 3:15, “…the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
“No creeds but Christ” might sound spiritual, but many non-Christian denominations believe in Jesus, but do not believe rightly about Him. Heresy thrives in ambiguity.
How we commit to each other
Consider one another
Careful thought
Compassionate concern
Who can I do the most good for my church family today?
Stir up love and good works in each other
Assemble Together
Exhort one another
Get to know your fellow church members by being a good listener
Come to church on-mission, ready to serve
How people forsake the church
We make it about “me” instead of about “us”
“If a man thinks he is not conceited, he is very conceited indeed.” –C.S. Lewis
We don’t find time to serve in regular ministry
Use the gifts Christ enabled you with to serve others
We don’t take time and energy to build gospel-centered relationships
Fear, selfishness, busyness–all impediments to relationship
Why people forsake the church
They could be woefully uninformed
They could be willfully rebellious
They could be wicked heretics
Why we need the church
We are at war
We can drift doctrinally
We can drift spiritually
We were made for community
Throughout Scripture God always calls people out into a community:
Abraham
Jacob
Nation of Israel
The Church
Live It Out!
Love your church
Make gatherings a priority
Make building gospel-centered relationships a priority
Covetous and Contentment are not money issues per se–they are heart issues.
Believers find their identities rooted in Jesus Christ.
What you look to to give you security and satisfaction is what you will worship.
Colossians 3:5, “Covetousness, which is idolatry”
Sin isn’t always desiring that which is inherently evil–sometimes it is desiring a good thing too much.
A heart that is not content will use and abuse others to get it.
Contentment in Christ
Enables you to live in any circumstance
Philippians 4:12, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.
In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need.”
Empowers generosity
1 Timothy 6:17-18, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,”
Engenders trust in God’s sovereignty
Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,
for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””
Should Pastors Be Paid?
Our gospel mission shapes our strategies
2 Corinthians 11:8, “I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.”
The church should be generous because we are family
Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
The church should view vocational ministry as a gospel partnership
1 Tim 5:17-18, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.””
1 Corinthians 9:1-27, “..those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
Live It Out!
Fight covetousness with contentment in Christ
Team leaders like family and appreciate their work.
