STRONGER-Part 7-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: WORTHY TO SERVE
Main Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13
Other scripture mentioned: Acts 20:24; Ephesians 2:10
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
To serve God in any way or capacity is a joy and privilege. Just think, according to Ephesians 2, before Christ we were spiritually dead. But by faith in Christ, we are saved masterpieces of God’s handiwork. We are works of His grace and kindness for the world to see and He is not ashamed to use us! In our scripture today, Paul gets personal. He opens up about His role of being chosen for this special task to preach the good news to the Gentiles. Paul was a great example of what God can do with anyone. Paul fiercely persecuted followers of Jesus but God changed His heart and called Him to be the preacher of this mysterious plan, the good news of Jesus to Gentiles. This was a great privilege and Paul understood that. Paul knew his place in the mission of God and He was happy to fulfill it, even if it meant imprisonment. I pray today that we are encouraged and inspired to serve God with our lives in view of what He’s done for us.
Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes:
EPHESIANS 3:1-13
3:1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.
Paul is a prisoner in Rome under the rule of Nero but since Jesus is His Lord he chooses to call himself a "prisoner of Christ." Paul reasoned that he was in prison for a purpose and the Lord led him there.
Jesus warned him on that transformation road that he would suffer for the sake of the good news.
The mysterious plan was not something Paul invented, it was from God.
4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit, he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
The mysterious plan is no longer hidden. The plan revolves around Jesus. Paul reinforces that Jesus is the pivotal change in redemptive history that includes all people, not just Jewish believers.
From God's eternal plans before the creation of the world now entrusted to man to be the messengers.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
This is a recap of the mysterious plan and what he eloquently explained in chapter 2.
"Both." There aren't two separate salvations. We all come in through Christ and we all enjoy the same blessings.
7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
This is why Paul lives. Acts 20:24: But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
For Paul, serving God is a privilege that would not be happening if it wasn’t for the grace and power of God. But these words go deeper and further than that...
“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.” NIV
The words “working” and “power” in NIV or “mighty power” in NLT is (energeia) and (dynamis) the same words used to describe the power that resurrected Jesus, also used in Ephesians 1:19-20
It’s the resurrection power of Jesus that is at work in Paul to serve God.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
In view of such a special and unique task, Paul holds a humble view of himself.
Paul says He was chosen by God. He did not volunteer for this role.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
This reminds us that we are called for something far greater than our own individual salvation. We are called to be the means by which God teaches heaven and earth a beautiful lesson of His grace and power.
The unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places have been said to be God’s angels and Satan’s forces who witness as spectators God’s eternal plan coming into fruition.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
God is approachable.
TAKEAWAYS:
Your new life in Christ plays an important role in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.
Salvation is what we are saved from and what we are saved for.
We are saved and called to serve.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Your past is not a deterrent for God’s purposes.
God doesn’t just call us to serve, He equips us to serve.
Paul’s life is an inspiration and example of how to serve God well
Serve with humility
Rely on God’s grace and power
Serve faithfully in every circumstance
Serve with the bigger picture in mind
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
How have you defined serving God?
In what ways do you serve God?
Why does your serving matter?
Did you know God wants you to be in His family no matter your background? Jesus made it possible…
If you are ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see who I am without Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray:
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for being worthy to even be used in your mission on earth. We acknowledge that we GET to serve you and what a privilege that is! We are grateful for those who have modeled what it means to serve you in all circumstances. We give you our lives to continue to spread the good news of Jesus to one person at a time! We love you and thank you for saving and equipping us to do good works! In Jesus name, amen!
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!