Sermon Tone Analysis

3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 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.

8 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Good Morning Son

(ESV)

3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 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.

8 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

3For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 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.

8 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

7 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.

8 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Epiphany is season of light but is squeezed between Christmas and Lent.

The message of this season ought to shine brightly for it teaches an important topic: the mission of the church.

It progresses from bright star guiding the Magi to the shining dove at the Baptism of Jesus to the glory of the Transfiguration.

The structure of the season proclaims the mission of God’s people.

Well, Today is the start of yet another church season … The season of Epiphany.

Today, more particularly, is know as the Epiphany Of Our Lord.

In case you are not familiar with Epiphany … Epiphany is known as the season of light and it’s squeezed between Christmas and Lent.

The message of this season ought to shine brightly for it teaches an important topic: the mission of the church.

This is a topic that i have been highlighting throughout my time her at St. Paul’s.

The mission progresses from bright star guiding the Magi to the shining dove at the Baptism of Jesus to the glory of the Transfiguration.

The structure of the season proclaims the mission of God’s people.

The story of the Magi is that of distant people coming to Christ.

The light draws the wise men from far off to worship Him.

The Church calls people who are isolated from God to come.

But the invitation is not to some idea or theory but to “God in man made manifest” (LSB 394).

The Church’s mission is to call sinners to communion with the life-giving flesh of Christ.

but to “God in man made manifest” (LSB 394).

The Church’s mission is to call sinners to communion with the life-giving flesh of Christ.

The first Sunday after the Epiphany takes us to the waters of the Jordan.

There John baptized Jesus, who numbers Himself among sinners.

The bright dove, the Holy Spirit, points out Christ in the water.

Outreach to the world and into the Church points to the same water.

Those whom the mission calls to join Christ and His Church are called to the light of Christ in Baptism.

The remaining Sundays of Epiphany focus on the ministry of Jesus.

He is the light of the world.

He preaches.

He prays.

He heals those afflicted by Satan.

In other words, He does mission work.

The Church does also.

Jesus also calls us the light of the world.

The mission of the Church is like Jesus’ ministry: long and patient.

The Church’s mission is not to simply bring in as many as we can through the front door.

It is to keep shining the light of Christ through His word, season after season, so that those living in darkness may continue to see the great light.

The finale of the Epiphany season is the Transfiguration.

God in flesh is at the center but now not Magi but the glorified saints of old and the trembling disciples surround Christ.

The light that pointed to Jesus at His Baptism now shines through Him.

This is the goal of the Church’s work: to bring people into God’s presence for eternity.

The light of Transfiguration shows us how important the Church’s work really is.

The mission of the Church is aimed at that divine joy.

You have heard me talk about our mission to the community and beyond which extends past our parking lots.

We must truly realize that we are here to take the light that Christ has given us and reflect in all that we do, whether in this building, or past that parking lot.

We are tasked to save lives … ALL lives in Christ’s name.

The thing that i hope you picked up as we read this passage of scripture is that Paul is directing this message to the Gentiles specifically.

The Early Church, surprisingly, did not universally approve of the mission to the Gentiles.

Paul argues that Christ Himself commissioned him to fulfill God’s plan to bring the Gentiles the message of salvation through faith apart from works.

Paul received the Gospel from Christ Himself, including the commission to preach it to Gentiles

Paul received the Gospel from Christ Himself, including the commission to preach it to Gentiles

The Early Church, surprisingly, did not universally approve of the mission to the Gentiles (cf ).

Paul argues that Christ Himself commissioned him to fulfill God’s plan to bring the Gentiles the message of salvation through faith apart from works.

In verses 1-13, Paul is trying to explain his role within the mystery of the gospel.

Ephesians is one of four letters that Paul wrote from prison (along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon).