Unity through the Holy Spirit
Book of Ephesians (Following Lectionary Passages) • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 viewsIn Christ we have received the good news we are now part of the God's promise. Because of this we are members of God's household and he works so that we may be complete to the measure of Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Ask for 4 volunteers (to read vv. 11-13, 14-16, 17-18, 19-22)
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Introduction
Introduction
Last week relevant points
God’s gifts; last, but not least was his Spirit
All because in him, through him, with him
Gave up his glory
Not for the glory of man, but servant
took evil upon himself
died an undeserved death
rose again
This passage is no different
New Living Translation Chapter 2
because of what Christ has done for us.
In other words, in him (ESV)
New Living Translation Chapter 2
Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
God’s gifts; last, but not least was his Spirit.
Eph 1.
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
We begin today where we ended last week.
Unity through the Holy Spirit
Unity through the Holy Spirit
Ask for someone to read v. 17-18
Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
Thanks to good news Jesus brought, his faithful life, death, and resurrection we have gained access to the Father through the same Spirit (v.18) note: third doctrine; three persons
Because of this divine collaboration we have become something new in the eyes of God.
Makes us Members of God’s family
Makes us Members of God’s family
Ask someone
Read last sentence of v.19 (first two sentences)
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
I love the image of fellow citizens
Connection, something in common
It is one of the symbols in our own chapel in the American flag
World Cup in Costa Rica
Corps Officer had become part of Costa Rica
No doubt can bring people together
Read last sentences of v. 19
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
Love even more the image of God’s family
Deeper connection
I would give up anything for my wife and my son.
Makes us part of a holy temple
Makes us part of a holy temple
Read vv. 20-22
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
When I was reading this part of the passage it reminded me how important it was for the Lord for all the furniture in the tabernacle to be purified by the blood of the lambs slaughtered for that purpose.
How much so every part of ourselves now that we are to be part of his temple?
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
our thoughts,
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
sense of humor,
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
our desires
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Eph 2.3-
and even our imagination
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Heb 4.1
Summary
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
So in Christ we have received the good news we are now part of the God's promise. Because of this we are members of God's household and he works so that we may be complete to the measure of Christ.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Eph 4.11-
Altar Call