Ephesians: A Catch-Up

Main Idea: Ephesians tells the grand narrative of God’s plan for humanity.

Having a Point in Reading

The Bible is made up of books with a particular purpose & theme

There are particular authors addressing particular people and/or circumstances

It’s obvious to say, but for some reason we overlook this

Other books operate the same way

Reading is more than a haphazard activity

not a magic 8-ball

no one opens up War & Peace randomly looking for inspiration

We get scared, so we go searching for something that makes sense to us rather than reading to hear what God is saying.

Read to hear the story, the message, the purpose

This takes energy and time…but not more than you think

Paul, what are you telling me?

Ephesians: Where are we? What do we do?

Read!

It’s only 6 chapters

2,400 words (236 CITH; 10 readings)

What are we looking for?

Work of God/Centrality of Christ

Notice how much God accomplishes in Ephesians!

Ephesians shows God as the primary actor in the universe

Puts into perspective what God did, does, and will do and how we are players on his stage, not he on ours

Unity/Together-with-ness

Ephesians has one of the strongest messages of unity for the church

Reminds us of our essential one-ness in Christ

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"

He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"

He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"

Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

Heavenly realms

Not a comfortable subject for us, being post-enlightenment societies; Paul’s audience would have had no problem

Two main points on this:

What we do matters in the spiritual realm

What happens in the spiritual realm affects us

What we do matters in the spiritual realm

Mental/physical health interrelation

Renewal/Maturity

Probably a better word: rebirth

2:1-10 - Death & life; God’s handiwork

- put off your old self

Paul wants us to see that the gospel means a new life and a new maturity