The Mystery of the Gospel - Ephesians 3:1-13

Introduction

Play ChatGPT or Proverb

Catch up students on Ephesians series

Does anyone know what a mystery is?

Mystery - Something that is difficult or impossible to explain.

Does anyone have any crazy mystery stories from your personal life you’d like to share?

Losing my phone and wallet have always been the biggest mysteries!!!

Body

Ephesians 3:1–13 CSB

1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

Point 1 - Paul was super excited about the Mystery

This portion of Ephesians was during a prayer

Paul interrupted himself in prayer because he was so excited about the mystery.

Paul had such a desire to share with the gentiles the mystery of the gospel!

Paul lived his life on mission for the mystery!

Are you living your life on mission for the mystery?

Share a story of being so overwhelmed with excitement that I forgot what I was doing and just started talking about it!

We all have things that get us excited!

Maybe you get really excited when your football team makes the super bowl!

Maybe you get really excited when Taylor Swift releases a new album

You fill in the blank!

I know those things are exciting, but the good news of Jesus and his salvation for us is the most exciting thing!

Let us be so excited about the mystery of the Gospel, that we drop everything to share with others that good news!

Point 2 - God’s calling us into unity

The Jews and Gentiles did not get along

The Jews thought that they were more Holy than the gentiles.

They would commonly call the gentiles, dogs.

The head of a Jewish household would use the same prayer every morning, giving thanks that God had not made him a Gentile, a woman or a slave.

John Stott

The Jews and Gentiles didn’t have a good relationship, there was NO UNITY!

Share the story of a husband who believes that his wife was dead, but had to come to the reality that he was actually the deaf one!

Some of us in this very room are in the same boat as the husband in that story, we are always pointing fingers!

Is that you tonight?

God has a rescue mission for humanity, he wants us to stop pointing fingers at each other, creating more disunity, but rather point to the cross bringing others into a right relationship with Jesus!

Point 3 - The mystery of the Gospel means we can come boldly and confidently to Christ!

How? How do we come confidently before the God of the universe?

For there is no other mystery of God, except Christ.

Augustine of Hippo

God’s great mystery is that he would send Jesus into the world, to die for us. Offering us an opportunity at salvation and unity under him.

Living confidently with the knowledge of the mystery of the gospel helps us live all of life all for Jesus.

It helps us to glorify him in how we treat other people.

It changes us.

Knowing the mystery of the gospel is a game changer

Share story of growing older as an athlete and learning the proper mechanics behind a baseball swing. Explain how learning how to properly swing was a game changer!

Knowing the mystery of the gospel is the biggest game changer you’ll ever experience.

God’s mystery revealed is that Jesus loves you and wants a relationship with you!

He doesn’t care where you’ve been

He doesn’t care what you’ve done

He wants a relationship with you

Conclusion

So how do you that?

You have to know the gospel!

God Created us to be with Him

Our sins separated us from God

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever