Church is … part of the reason you exist – Ephesians 4:1-16

Church is … part of the reason you exist – Ephesians 4:1-16

Church is…part of the reason you exist –Ephesians 4:1-16

 “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

 Not dreams but…

 ” I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. …Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Eccl.2:10-11)

 Not dreams but … purpose

 “I want to give my life to something that will last forever”.

 As a prisoner for the Lord I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)

 1) WHO ARE YOU?

“For [God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”(Ephesians 1:4)

 

 Before there was a YOU, God chose you to be HIS.

 

(i) Ultimate identity

(ii) ultimate love.

 (iii) You are part of God’s plan

 

 Objection 1: I don’t feel it…

 

 Objection 2: I’m not a Christian

“it is by grace you have been saved – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

 “God, I’m sorry for ignoring you. Thank-you for sending Jesus to die for my sin. Please come into my life and help me to live for you.”

 

2) What’s my goal in life?

“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:13-16)

 

To become more and more like JESUS

 

 3) How do I become more and more like Jesus?

 

(i) Day-to-day

What would Jesus do?

 

 

(ii) Strategic

 “the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph.4:16)

 Choose to serve. LIke Jesus.

“I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)

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I want to know more:

  • Book: “What Is a Healthy Church Member” by Thabiti M. Anyabwile
  • More about Jesus: contact barry(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)stjamesnewbarnet.com about our Christianity Explored course.
  • Book: “Who do you think you are? Finding your true identity in Christ” (Mark Driscoll)
  • Sermon on Ephesians 4: “I am gifted”, http://markdriscoll.org/media/who-do-you-think-you-are/i-am-gifted