Hello My Name Is Minister

Communion

Happy new year.

I hope you all enjoyed your celebrations, even if it was celebrating an East Coast new year and going to bed early (my favorite!)

We are a celebratory species. We love to celebrate. When we do, we do so with people, decor, meaningful meals. (The holiday tree…)

When we talk about the Lord Supper, we use that same word. We celebrate Communion.

We celebrate together

We celebrate a person

We celebrate an event

We celebrate in solemness

We celebrate in joy

Let’s take together today in celebration of Christ, his birth, and most importantly, his death and resurrection when give us life and lead us to be the church today.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 cor

Chair Update

Chair Update: 17 more chairs were sponsored last week. This puts us at 88 people who are being prayed for. 88 people who do not know Jesus who have a church coming along side them in prayer. What will God do with those prayers? I can’t wait to see what he does not only in the lives of those folks, but in our hearts as they are more greatly tuned to his kingdom.

Reminder that we will officially close the books on this push on the 20th, 2 more Sundays. Then we will get out the prayer guides and really get to it.

Pray for Lost and Sermon

Introduction

Several years ago, Monica and I were foster parents. A difficult but rewarding season of life. In thinking about this morning’s text, my mind wandered to a conversation I had with our first foster son, he was 3 and came with his 8 month old sister to live with us for a few months.

I sat him down on his bed and said:

D, do you know who you are? Yes, I’m Dejavon.

Do you know who else you are? Confused look...

You are a big brother. Do you know what that means?

It means you are a protector.

You are Jazzie’s defender.

You have a job to make her feel safe and loved.

No one else is her big brother. And no one else is your little sister. She depends on you to be big brother. Can you do that?

Paul has been...

speaking profound truths about who we are in Christ for the first 2 chapters of Ephesians. Culminating with the great truth of God building his church, he is preparing to shift into the practical side of things, in other words, what that means.

Here in chapter 3 we see an interesting thing happen.

He begins a prayer…then stops. He realizes there he needs to make a point clear before he jumps to the practical. He looks back and points to his own life as an outworking of the truths in the first 2 chapters of this letter.

Let me explain why I had that conversation with Dejavon

When they came into our home, we were warned that we were dealing with a violent and defiant boy.

Truthfully, he was a 3 year old desperately in need of boundaries and stability.

Nonetheless, when they moved in, we caught him coming up where his sister was sitting and pulling her leg so she would fall down. He would bump into her in a hurtful way whenever possible.

When she would hear his voice, she would retract...

After telling him no a dozen times, we sat down for our chat.

The Ephesians

Needed to know who they were. We all do. Paul spent 2 chapters sitting them down on the bed and telling them what they needed to hear. Now we get to this great transition piece. Let’s read the text together before we break it down.

Ephesians 3:1–13 ESV

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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. 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. 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. 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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 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. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

What we will see in this section is Paul applying the truths of 1-2 to himself. Though some elements are unique to Paul, there are principles which we can take into our lives. And the great part is, this entire section…is a rabbit trail…And you thought it was just me.

Paul’s Footsteps

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

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

This will make more sense next week, but as a sneak peek, here is verse 14:

Ephesians 3:14 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

See a similarity? That dash at the end of verse 1 is the translators way of showing Paul was leaving off a thought which he would come back to. In other words, verses 2-13 are a rabbit trail, a side note, a story worth telling. Like the way my opening story makes more sense once you understand the context of my little meeting.

Paul’s story becomes the bridge between a theology of our identity in Christ to the practical outworking of what we are now through that new identity.

To give it some some context, when you take a CPR and First Aid class…Being certified is a part of your identity. Being responsible to act in a moment of need is what you are.

When you become a pastor, teacher, or social worker, you are someone people look to for counsel. Becoming a mandatory reporter, that is… is a part of what you are.

If in Christ you are Adopted, chosen, sealed, enlightened, alive from the dead, and a part of a larger and greater kingdom of God, then it follows that there will be responsibility and action on the other side.

Let’s look at some principles:

Ephesians 3:2–6 ESV

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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. 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.

You can see that Paul built through 1 and 2 up to the idea of the unified kingdom, including Jew and Gentile as a peak of that new identity in Christ. It matters to Paul that we see ourselves not according to our nationality, race, background, or other cultural identities, but as a part of a building being built by God.

In other words, the good news is that the gulf between the Jew and the Gentile is microscopic compared to the gulf between God and sinful, rebellious humanity…and Jesus overcame that gap. How much more should those smaller gaps be overcome able through him.

Paul sees in his own life the way God, in Christ, overcame that gulf in his life, and now has given him insight into that mystery…now revealed. So what did that change in Paul?

Footstep of Ministry

I finished my chat with Dejavon this way:

How should you treat her then?

We finished with a conversation about what it meant for him to have that identity. What it meant for him to be big brother.

Paul will summarize the change in him, which is a principle for us in verse 7

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.

In my early youth ministry positions, I really pushed hard against the title “youth minister”. Though I didn’t have to fight here, I made sure we titled Caleb’s position, “youth pastor”. Pastor is a role that involves leading…a group of ministers. Truly, scripture doesn’t leave room for a follower of Jesus who does not by virtue of that fact, that they are a follower of Jesus, minister.

Let’s define that word a bit. The first dictionary definition references clergy. This is an unfortunate commentary on where the church (or the perception of the church) has gotten twisted. Dig deeper into the word, or look at it’s other uses and a better picture forms for us.

Ambassador.

One who provides aid or assistance.

One who applies resources to another.

I would suggest that then to be a minister of the gospel looks an awful lot like “Go make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all I have commanded you.” Or even, Loving God, Loving People, and Making Disciples to use our phrasing.

Paul here says I am an ambassador for the gospel. I am one who applies the gospel to the needs of another.

Going on, he makes it clear that he did not take this position upon himself, but that it was “according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”

He didn’t decide to do it, and as a follower of Jesus he is bound to do it. Which leads into the next point.

Footsteps of Qualification

What is Paul’s qualification to be a minister of the gospel?

Is it in his education? His heritage?

Philippians 3:2–11 ESV

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Phil 3:2-

Paul counted those things as loss, instead looking where for his value? Where for his identity?

Ephesians 3:8–10 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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Eph 3:

Paul looks at the realities of his life and sees he is not worthy. He is not qualified. Except on these grounds: Grace.

God’s purposes beyond our understanding was to give grace to the unqualified to be his ambassadors to a world he aims to redeem.

As I continue my weight loss journey, do you know who I get the most encouragement from?

The person who is fit, and has been most of their lives? Nope. The person who is just a little farther on their journey than I am.

In the same way, Paul isn’t a super-saint. It doesn’t just come easy to him. He is man struggling in the life of faith. Given grace by God. Inviting us to join him.

And what a journey that led to for Paul. A journey of highs and lows.

Footsteps of Suffering

If you recall from our series in Acts, Paul faced danger, beatings, and imprisonment. In fact, this very letter was written from a place of captivity. Recall verse 1

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

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

He wasn’t just using a fun illustration. He was actually a prisoner.

In fact, it seems his reference to his being a prisoner is the motivation for this tangent. He wants them to understand the call which led him there. And he wants them to see something essential in being a follower of Jesus, a minister of the gospel: The call is worth the pain. The pain brings greater joy to the call.

This is how he concludes the rabbit trail:

Ephesians 3:11–13 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. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Eph 3:

Some great principles we have here.

First, God’s purposes are winning. As Paul sits in a cell, God is still in control, in power, and is still good.

Second, as Paul is in his cell, it actually furthers the kingdom in some powerful ways.

Paul’s suffering creates opportunities to speak Christ.

Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered in German Concentration camps made the comment that she considered wherever she was, including the camps, was just the part of the world that God wanted her to take the gospel to. Paul saw it the same way.

When our lives lead to the prison cell, to the hospital room, or the graveside, that is the place to declare Christ. That is the place where he will shine through you. He can shine at the awards ceremony, in an average day on the job, and the family celebration…The point is that Christ should shine wherever we are.

Let’s read that last sentence again: “So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”

Peter Scazzero, Author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality ( a great read) makes the point that the dark nights of the soul serve a powerful purpose in our lives if we allow them to do their work. They lead us to deeper intimacy with God. They force us into the last thing we have.

This past week, a member of a pastor’s Facebook group I am a part of shared his struggle. “I am preaching on joy this week, but I have none. I am not even sure I find joy in my call.”

I responded from my experience, while reflecting on this passage, what I would like to think Paul might have said to this young preacher:

I've often found the best time to preach peace is when I'm lacking it. The best time to preach love, when I don't feel it. Patience when I don't have it. I'm forced into a place where Christ is the only answer, only motivation, and only resource I can offer. Don't lose heart, God wants to use you where you are in this moment to serve his purposes in his people. As to your call, remember that the call exists outside of our feelings. God may be calling you to change, but it's equally likely that in this moment He is showing you a need to go deeper in intimacy with Christ.

Our suffering, the suffering we witness is to our glory when it drives us deeper in love with Jesus. When it causes us to give up all that we think we have for the one thing we can never hope to gain on our own.

As your pastor, I am not a holy man on the mountain who has arrived and is ready to dispense the wisdom of a thousand journeys. I am the pilgrim on the journey toward Christ with you. It is my work to keep climbing, to try to have a large enough view, allowing me to keep pointing toward the top of the mountain.

You are a Minister

Though in this text, Paul is speaking of his own experience, what we will see as we go through the rest of this letter, is that the outworking of this new identity in Christ is that you too are a minister of the gospel. You have been appointed to apply the good news where it is called for. You are an ambassador, appointed by the king of kings to represent a new kingdom in a foreign land.

Over the next 7 weeks we will be doing just what I did with D and begin applying the truth of our identity to the practical working in our lives.

I can’t speak for where D and J are today. They moved around some more after us and then were adopted in another part of the country. But I can say this. By the time they left our home...

Your identity is in Christ. You are a chosen, adopted, resurrected, member of his kingdom. And just like we said at the outset, this isn’t about you. It goes far beyond you, but at the same time is your highest and best purpose.

Prayer team, worship team, invitation