Ephesians 3:1-13

Introduction: Open your bibles

Mothers Day

Housekeeping Details (Restrooms) (Mothers room)

Recap: W1: The Background (who is he writing too)

W2: Jesus does the work, Jesus gets the glory (why is he writing)

W3: Pauls Prayer (heart towards them)

W4: The Message “The Gospel explained”

W5: The How behind the Gospel W6: Paul explains his role (and ours)

This Week:

Chapter Three

For this reason… (I am a steward of the Gospel )

Last week we left it stating we are stones in Gods temple..

this week … we are going to press in on Pauls example as working for the gospel

Next week: For this reason I pray.

This morning Paul is going to take all the truths he has discussed in prior chapters and apply them personally.

Illustration:

Have you ever been entrusted with someone that is valuable and messed it up or maybe been so thankful that you didnt?

Babysitting, driving someone else's car, borrowing something from someone.

1) Lost my friends sisters Dog.

Stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something.

especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

We have spent the last 4 weeks looking at the message of the Gospel

Today we are going to talk about how we steward it. Big Idea: We are stewards of the Gospel.

Read & Pray

For this Reason (Steward of Gods Grace):

Jesus (His work in my life, his authority, and access to the father)

New Identity (Adopted, Child of God, Citizen of the kingdom, on and on)

The Gospel (Outside of Christ, Jesus Stepped in, Bring him Glory)

These things have radically changed my life…

Transition: and here is now how I respond… in these five ways identified from the passage number 1

1) I am a prisoner v1

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Literal Imprisonment:

to the point I will go to literal prison

Paul is currently in Prison in Rome as he writes this letter

A steward of all God has given me

Taken Captive by the Gospel:

Do Not be taken Captive By the World (2 Cor 10, Col 2)

Be taken captive by the Gospel

A people that do not want anything to control them…. to a people completely consumed with the spread of the Gospel.

This was Pauls testimony (Persecuting Christians, Meets Jesus, entire life becomes consumed with spreading his message)

Transition: so reason #1 in response to what Jesus has done… I am captivated by it to the point I will go wherever it will take me. whatever it leads too.. (missions, adoption, vocational ministry, joining a church plant). I am captivated by the gospel it has taken me prisoner.

2) I Write v3

Ephesians 3:3 ESV

how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

God reveals to him…. so he writes

We then have the ability to read because of this writing

Paul has writes 14 books.

This truth is some what unique for Paul but it is so important for us.

Putting Pen to paper about what we believe about God.

Charles Dickens “The Life of Our Lord” I must tell you children about the most important man who ever lived.

Transition: What are we doing with that God has revealed to us. Who are we telling, how are we telling them… #3 Paul continues…

3) I minister v7

Ephesians 3:7 ESV

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

Paul is an Apostle but he describes himself as a minster

all who respond to the gospel in faith become ministers

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ministry Definition: attend to the needs of.

The Primary work of the church is in the hands of all the saints….

You are stone in the Church you are a member of the body.

Transition: A Minister according to Gods gift of Grace in your life.

A Minister to what… here is the last two identifiable Traits of Pauls life as laid out in this passage

The Spread of the Gospel

The Needs of the church

Compassion towards the community (that those who do not know Jesus may come to know him)

4) I preach v8

Ephesians 3:8 ESV

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

To Preach = To Herald the Good News.

This is preaching in the general sense.

John Calvin wrote, ”God has chosen so to anoint the lips and tongues of his servants that, when they speak, the voice of Jesus yet resounds in them.”

Yall…

We should be talking about Jesus.

The gospel is a message that must be heard… and we are Gods plan to share it.

To Preach to Whom? (The Gentiles)

To Preach what? The Unsearchable riches of Christ.

If your preaching doesn’t sound like “unsearchable riches of Christ you are doing it wrong”

The Gospel is a beautiful thing.

Transition: So I paul (a prisoner) (write) (minister) (preach) and lastly… I take part in the building up of the church

5) I take part in the work of the Church v10

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

The church is being built

The only institution that will stand

Not simply Ascend… but the Big C Church.

Last Week: The Church is build on Build on…

1) Citizens/Saints/Members of Gods household 2) ) The Bible (foundation of Apostles and Prophets)

2) Christ (the cornerstone) 3) The Dwelling Pace of the Spirit of God

This is the new temple of the Lord! In this place God dwells.

Recap in a way that builds up the church:

As a Prisoner

When I write

When I minister

When I Preach

the Church is build up by the work of Jesus through me…

How can I do all of this?

Ephesians 3:11–12 ESV

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

This is not a self improvement plan.

It is not a task list

We are compelled or Controlled

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 ESV

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

In Jesus:

Boldness

Access

Confidence

Ephesians 3:13 ESV

So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Do not lose heart:

Give up hope…

Stop working

God is at work!

Jesus is building up his church.