Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: When you lose sight of why you do what you do.

CTS: Guard against a cold orthodoxy and tradition that lacks love for Jesus and others.

I. Closing Encouragement (Ephesians 6:21-24)

Concluding the book of Ephesians, Paul personalizes the letter.

One commentator mentioned that Paul may have been dictating the letter and at this point begins to write at the very end with his own hand.

The Promise of Encouragement (21-22)

Paul promises the church at Ephesus that he sending Tychicus, whom they seem to know well.

It has been thought that he may have originated in Ephesus himself, so as he traveled with Paul, he sends someone that knows them well back to deliver this letter.

Paul obviously entrusts this man to do what needs to be done and to be instrumental in their encouragement as a church.

Why Tychicus?

Beloved brother (he is part of the family of God): Do we view one another as beloved brothers and sisters, one where we respect and love one another.

Love should define the body of believers.

One question we can ask within in our own context and within our churches is that, do we truly love one another to say “this is my beloved brother and sister in Christ?”

And not just something we say, but really, do we really love one another in such a way that it causes our hearts to warm when we are gathered together with one another?

Are we excited to see those that have gone on from our body come back to encourage us?

Are we defined by our love for one another?

Faithful minister: Tychicus was one that was a faithful minister.

He was faithful to the Gospel ministry.

We should seek to be the same ourselves.

Do we seek to be faithful?

That word is seen as the primary descriptor of those in Scripture that are described as servants of the Lord.

Are they faithful?

Not successful.

Not having the most numbers.

Not pleasing men.

But faithful to Jesus and His Gospel message.

Faithful to disciple.

Faithful to serve the Lord.

Church, are we honoring those that are faithful in ministry?

I’m not just talking about pastors or missionaries.

I’m also talking about those that have been faithful to ministry in the church.

Sunday School teachers, children’s ministry directors and volunteers, youth ministry, women’s ministry, kitchen, hospitality.

Ect.

What would Tychicus do?

Update them on Paul and the ministry

Encourage their hearts (That encouragement would no doubt be a ministering role, not just a letter deliverer.

He would exhort them, teach them, explain to them exactly what was going on.

I imagine that if they had questions about what was written here, he could explain to them what was meant by Paul.)

Concluding Blessing (23-24)

And as a final word, he blesses this church.

The standard blessing of that time would be reformed toward a Christian worldview.

Peace - peace with God and with one another, major themes throughout Ephesians.

Love: Love is a major theme throughout Ephesians as well.

Paul reminds them with this blessing of the love they have in Christ.

(predestined in love for adoption Eph 1:4, loved by God Eph 2:4, rooted and knowing Christ’s love Eph 3:19, loving one another Eph 4:2, speaking truth in love Eph 4:15, building itself up in love Eph 4:16, walking in love Eph 5:2, loving as Christ loved the church Eph 5:25 Very clearly, this love is rooted in faith in Christ, made possible by God through Christ.

It is from him and a result of Him.

Grace - For by grace you have been saved by faith.

Grace that continues in our lives daily, as God gives us his undeserved merit to those that love have undying love for Jesus.

We are reminded though that we only love because he first loved us.

(1 John 4:19)

Application

As with anything, a resolution to the letter, the end demands a response.

That response is to be reminded that God’s ministers are meant for our good.

This letter wasn’t just written for mere information sake.

It was meant to stir the hearts of those that read it.

Paul’s concern for the church is evident, and it’s a needed word for the church.

They have been taught great orthodoxy and great orthopraxy.

To know who they are then how they should live.

They have been united in Christ, blessed with every spiritual blessing the heavenly places, once dead and now made alive, and have been made one with Christ and one with one another as the church.

They have been then called to walk worthy of the calling to which they’ve been called.

That call includes to be unified as a body, equipped as a body, ministering as a body, putting off the old and putting on the new, have biblical marriages and homes, and how all of life is to reflect the Gospel.

In the blessing, Paul reminds them of his intention.

And Paul concludes the letter that we would know these things, be encouraged in the faith, and to experience the peace and grace of God that is made available by the love of Christ for us.

The final admonition to the church is to have undying love for Jesus.

That’s the ending application for the church.

Do you have undying love for Jesus?

II.

Final Warning (Revelation 2:1-7)

I am now shifting to Revelation because I want you to see the last words written to the church at Ephesus in Scripture.

Important words also to remember.

If were to take stock of the church over its history, we would look back and see that the church had a pretty stacked lineup of leaders/pastors.

Paul obviously had a hand in plant the church according to Acts.

He wrote the letter we just walked though to them.

Timothy, Paul’s young protege pastored the church.

Church history tells us that John the apostle pastored the church as well.

But even with all of that, we see that Jesus has to warn the church, one last final time...

I am borrowing from a commentator these three C’s of this text that I want you to see, since it is a strong way to outline the text:

Commendation (2-3)

The commendation is this: Faithful to the task, they tested the truth, and they were tough, willing to endure and bear whatever came for the name of Christ.

The commendation is that they were very warrior like, the fighter.

They fought against that which was false.

They stood for something they truly believed in, and challenged anything that was against those strongly held beliefs.

They say that churches often take on the personality of their pastors/leaders.

Which is a very convicting and honestly frightening thing.

But John at one point was the pastor.

One of the sons of Thunder, he no doubt took on the passionate warrior type mentality, defended truth against falsehood.

The church had taken to that.

Passionate defense of the truth.

People of orthodoxy.

Tough and willing to endure whatever it required to stand upon it.

The church today must be strong like this as well.

Again, this is commended by Jesus.

Working hard to defend the Bible, the Gospel, even the notion of “objective truth” in a subjective truth world.

Patient endurance against those that would try to stifle it.

Standing against evil, not able to bear with those that do evil.

Waiting until Jesus comes again, a stalwart of truth and righteousness.

Good things!

Truth must be defended.

It is good to be concerned about what is right and wrong.

False teaching is seen and ignored and put out of the church.