2025 and Ephesians Intro

2025

The New Year is often a time of new beginnings. It has no power in and of its self. But it is a good time to consider a starting something new. It’s a good marker.

Since August, I have been doing my best to get to know you personally, the church, and the community. During this time I have also been asking God what He wants 2025 to look for our Northwoods family. I believe He has given me 2 distinct directives. To be clear, I am certain about what these will look like or how things will play out specifically. Consider it our theme for 2025.

First, health. I believe God wants us to get healthy mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Not because we are sick or there is some glaring issue. But because there is always room for improvement. In order to accomplish all God is calling you to in your life, you need to be healthy in these areas. When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” He responded with, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart (emotions), soul (spirit), mind (mentality), and strength (physical). The 2nd is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself (community).” You cannot fulfill the 2nd if the 1st part is not a priority. Am I saying to be selfish? No. You do have to care for and love yourself so you can take care of and love your neighbor. I’m also not saying you have to be 100% all the time. This year we are going to work towards being healthy in these areas because God calls us to be His witnesses to the world.

Second, discipleship. “Do as I say not as I do” doesn’t fly in the Kingdom of God. So as we are working on health we are also working on guiding other people into a healthy relationship with Jesus. Discipleship is a program, but it is also a lifestyle. It means inviting someone or a group to walk with you as you walk with Jesus through day to day life. It is meditating on the Bible and sharing with others. It is walking with people, not simply checking a box. Systems help disciple people, but they are not the only part of it. Part of this will be a difference in how I structure my teaching on Sunday mornings. For example, today we are starting a series through the book of Ephesians. We will start be getting the context of who it was written to and why. Then, we will go through the entire book. Sometimes section by section, sometimes verse by verse. Instead of going by topics, we will be learning together how to study the Bible and how it affects our day to day life.

I am so excited to go on this journey together. I truly believe we will see the fruit of obedience as prodigals come home, we find our purpose and direction from God, all while drawing closer to Him.

One last thing before we get into the message. Those of us who have been walking with Jesus for a while, I want to give you a bit of a challenge. You get out of this what you put in. There are new Christians that need you to help guide them on this journey of living for Jesus. Sometimes the messages may seem very basic or elementary to you. There will be times that things are changed and it is uncomfortable or doesn’t make sense to you. It will be different than it’s ever been done. I humbly ask that you trust me. The message will not change, but the methods have to. Ask questions if something doesn’t make sense. My desire is to faithfully steward the role God has given me through honesty, transparency, and humility.

With that, lets get into Ephesians!

Ephesus was the most important city in what is now Turkey. It was a port city making it the center of commerce and trade. One of the biggest attractions to this city was the temple of the goddess Diana (Artemis is Greek). Diana was the goddess of fertility, magic, and astrology. She was often portrayed as savior and able to answer prayers. In fact, in Acts 19 we read of a silversmith named Demetrius who leads a revolt against Christians because they are converting from the worship of Diana. This is causing a real economic crisis for all the craftsman who built idols of the goddess.

Ephesus was also known as a hotbed for witchcraft. In fact, any document containing magic spells or formulas were called “Ephesian writings.” This was of course met head on by the power of God through the Apostle Paul. Also in Acts 19 we read about how his handkerchief and apron were placed on the sick and they were healed. (Not televangelist style). There was even a group of traveling Jews who went from town to town casting out evil spirits. A specific group called the 7 Sons of Sceva were trying this in Ephesus. They began saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out.” An evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them and attacked them with such power that the men ran away naked and afraid.

Another part of Ephesus was a religion called gnosticism. This is a religion of knowledge. Gnostics believe that knowledge is salvation which joins the knower and the god who gave it.

Magic also had a stronghold in this city of about 250,000 people. In fact, it was so prevalent among the poor and uneducated that any document which included spells or magic formulas were referred to as “ Ephesian writings.”

Why am I giving you all this overwhelming info? To show that the world the Bible was written in was not so different from where we live today. However, it is also important to know what specific issues the recipients of these letters were facing and why the Holy Spirit led Paul to write them.

So who is this letter addressed to? The Ephesians, right? Well, not exactly. These letter were written to be passed around to all the churches in that area. So most of Asia Minor probably heard this letter read to them. The instruction is for a specific group of people though which is stated in the very beginning.

Ephesians 1:1–2 NLT

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Here the Apostle Paul is setting the tone for the entire letter. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus chosen, not by man but God.

Paul is showing that no man gave him this authority or title. That it came directly from God. In this Paul is clarifying that this isn’t his words, but God’s.

Have you ever heard people say, “Me and the man upstairs have an agreement..” This is usually followed by saying something that lets them off the hook. This is dangerously arrogant. The Word of God is clear that God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. By Paul stating that God has chosen him as an apostle he is stating that these are not his own words, thoughts or ideas. This is God speaking to them.

Now that we know the author, he tells us the audience. “…faithful followers of Christ Jesus.” This is very important, though we often fly passed it.

This letter, along with the rest of God’s Word, is written to His people. This is very important to remember when dealing with those who do not believe in Jesus and His Word. Yes, this is truth. Truth cannot be denied or changed. We also cannot hold people to a standard they do not willingly adhere to. In short, we cannot be surprised when the world acts like the world.

So what does a faithful, Christ-follower look like?

Everything you say and do is influenced by the presence and character of Jesus.

This does not happen over night. It requires work, but you aren’t alone.

The Holy Spirit begins to change your wants and desires from the inside out by giving you a new heart.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Obedience is greater than sacrifice. 1 Sam 15:20-23

1 Samuel 15:20–23 NLT

“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Sacrifice without obedience is easy.

Obedience and submission are active only when we are asked to do the uncomfortable.

There should be a difference between Christ followers and those who do not follow Christ. If there is no difference, then why are we here? This is what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable. Christians who act like everyone else. But what happens when we lay our selfish desires and motives down? Jesus begins to leak out of us.

The letter to Ephesus was not written to those who worshipped false gods to convince them of the gospel. It was written to Christ-followers so they would know what it means to follow Jesus.

Our world is not much different. There is social pressure to follow the gods and customs every one else is following. We are mocked for what we believe and how we live. The world desires knowledge and short cuts.

This letter is helpful because it shows us how to live in this world. It calls us “God’s holy people, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.”