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Ephesians 3:14-4:4
March 22, 2009
Exordium: The Christian life is partially hidden, and partially visible. Like a tree which is mainly and primarily underground until it lifts its branches and fruit up to be seen. We have been thinking about the hidden part in recent days, where the roots are. After Easter we will turn, Lord willing, to the part of the Christian life that is seen by others.
So here we are right between the two parts of Ephesians, the “hiddenness” of chapters 1 -3 and the visibility chapters 4-6. Chapters 1-3 are the secret resources of the Christian life and chapter 4-6 are their exercise in the church and in the world. We can pray 1-3 into us in order to prepare our hearts to live out 4-6. Sometimes we try to live out 4-6 without first gaining the secret resources of soul to do so.
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Ephesians 3: 14-21
March 15, 2009
Exordium: We are coming today to the end of the first half of this great letter from the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. The first half has dealt with gospel teaching in a pastoral way. The second part will present a more practical “every day” focus on how we go about living the life of a disciple of Christ. As Paul began chapter three he was about to pray in writing, when he was led to describe, before praying, the mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the covenant people and His part in that as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”
Ephesians 3: 1-13
March 8, 2009
Exordium: Last week we only nodded to the last verse of Chapter Two. “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
So we are now, as the Church, the place where God lives. For a thousand years He dwelt in the temple at Jerusalem in the holy of holies. But now He has his dwelling in the midst of His people.
What a star that is in our crown! We see the church’s weaknesses and flaws, but God says of us “This is where I live. These are my people, my beloved and I make my home with them.” So that if anyone is looking for God, they will find Him in and among His people, the church.
Ephesians 2:11-22
March 1, 2009
Exordium: In this area all roads seem to lead to Annapolis. You can get on any of them and they will bring you home. So with this text. It goes right to Christ. He is the beginning, the middle and the end of it.
It was written many years ago, under different circumstances than we face today. But it speaks to the needs of the same human heart as beats in your chest and mine.
For example, we all know what it feels like to be left out of something, to be on the outside looking in. We have experienced what it is to feel cut off from God, distant from His people. There is in every human heart the desire for unity and for peace. These are the very things Jesus Christ offers and gives.
Explication: In this passage about the Church, Paul teaches us what tremendous things God has done to build His church and meet the deepest needs in the hearts of men and women.The Church is not removed from human need. It exists to meet that need.
What do these twelve short verses say to us who share these same longings with the people of Paul’s day? The very way that God built His church out of Jews and Gentiles, people who distrusted each other, is an example of how He is building His Church today.
