Stones Hill Community Church
Ephesians - Finding Our New Identity
Welcome to an exciting new sermon series on the Book of Ephesians, one of the Apostle Paul’s most profound letters. Paul proposes that we are "in Christ." We have a new identity. In a sense, he encourages us to become what we already are!
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 3:1-14
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INTRODUCTION
In Ephesians 3:1-14, Paul takes a detour. Paul starts to say something, and he breaks off, and he does what’s called a digression, a detour. He begins in verse 1, but then interrupts himself before he gets to the verb. Look at the dash. Then in verse 14, he begins again using the same words. So whatever he was going to say in verse 1, he gets back to it in verse 14. “I, Paul” is left suspended without a verb until v. 14, where it is at last supplied—“I kneel.” He was about to say, “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ, [The resumptive.] I kneel and I pray this prayer for you …” but something makes him detour.
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Paul begins in Ephesians 3 to pray that God might empower his readers to understand the vastness of Christ’s love (3:14, 18–19). But Paul takes the writing utensil out of the hand of the amanuensis and he wrote in the first person, where he interrupts himself and leaves out the verb, and gives a lengthy digression – all this tells you that this is filled with great emotion!
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Have you ever started a thought, but because of great emotion, didn’t finish it? Why was Paul so emotional? He’s in house-arrest in Rome awaiting for his Jewish accusers to show up to prosecute him, the Ephesians have identity issues, so they’re discouraged, and Paul can’t get to them.
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PROPOSITION
Do not lose heart. Jesus and His plan through His Church are greater than your discouragements! Wherever God has placed you, that is your pulpit. Use it to encourage people toward God's grace and plan.
*
OUTLINE
Paul has this incredible grasp on what God was up to in his life. How can Paul be so positive? Three reasons.
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A New Life Outlook: “I am now a servant, a prisoner of Jesus. I don’t belong to myself anymore."
*
A New Bottom Line: Paul says, “My life changed so what I’m really after, the bottom line of what I really want in life, has changed. Whatever I do, I want to do it for Christ."
*
A New Growth Opportunity: To go through hard places for Jesus’ glory really means, there’s an incredible opportunity for me to have my character shaped, to have my humility deepened, my faith focused, my patience seasoned.
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Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time. -Andrew Murray
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CONCLUSION
Where does God have you to steward or broker His grace? Who is benefiting from your suffering or new perspective? What truth are you willing to go to prison for? Do you have any prison-like experiences you’re dealing with? What are you going through? What is God teaching you? How can you not waste it, but invest it? How could your challenges be the beginning of your ministry? Love Christ and be after him more than anything else. Ministry is the free flow of grace from God through us to other people. Jail could separate them from Paul but not from God.
Ephesians 3:1-14
*
INTRODUCTION
In Ephesians 3:1-14, Paul takes a detour. Paul starts to say something, and he breaks off, and he does what’s called a digression, a detour. He begins in verse 1, but then interrupts himself before he gets to the verb. Look at the dash. Then in verse 14, he begins again using the same words. So whatever he was going to say in verse 1, he gets back to it in verse 14. “I, Paul” is left suspended without a verb until v. 14, where it is at last supplied—“I kneel.” He was about to say, “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ, [The resumptive.] I kneel and I pray this prayer for you …” but something makes him detour.
*
Paul begins in Ephesians 3 to pray that God might empower his readers to understand the vastness of Christ’s love (3:14, 18–19). But Paul takes the writing utensil out of the hand of the amanuensis and he wrote in the first person, where he interrupts himself and leaves out the verb, and gives a lengthy digression – all this tells you that this is filled with great emotion!
*
Have you ever started a thought, but because of great emotion, didn’t finish it? Why was Paul so emotional? He’s in house-arrest in Rome awaiting for his Jewish accusers to show up to prosecute him, the Ephesians have identity issues, so they’re discouraged, and Paul can’t get to them.
*
PROPOSITION
Do not lose heart. Jesus and His plan through His Church are greater than your discouragements! Wherever God has placed you, that is your pulpit. Use it to encourage people toward God's grace and plan.
*
OUTLINE
Paul has this incredible grasp on what God was up to in his life. How can Paul be so positive? Three reasons.
*
A New Life Outlook: “I am now a servant, a prisoner of Jesus. I don’t belong to myself anymore."
*
A New Bottom Line: Paul says, “My life changed so what I’m really after, the bottom line of what I really want in life, has changed. Whatever I do, I want to do it for Christ."
*
A New Growth Opportunity: To go through hard places for Jesus’ glory really means, there’s an incredible opportunity for me to have my character shaped, to have my humility deepened, my faith focused, my patience seasoned.
*
Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time. -Andrew Murray
*
CONCLUSION
Where does God have you to steward or broker His grace? Who is benefiting from your suffering or new perspective? What truth are you willing to go to prison for? Do you have any prison-like experiences you’re dealing with? What are you going through? What is God teaching you? How can you not waste it, but invest it? How could your challenges be the beginning of your ministry? Love Christ and be after him more than anything else. Ministry is the free flow of grace from God through us to other people. Jail could separate them from Paul but not from God.