Grace Community Church Listen Again

Often overlooked and often misunderstood. The Ascension of Christ is probably more significant than we realise. We may look at this moment as an evacuation. Rather, we want to propose that it’s the opposite. It’s the beginning of his pervasive presence everywhere.

On a daily basis we have many moral decisions to make, in most areas of life we have rules or guidelines to help us make the right decision or enforce it in our lives. But, what if God’s plan is for a people who don’t need rules or laws to guide their moral decision making? What if their lives were dictated by love and specifically putting the other first? The world would be a different place. As we read Ephesians 4:17 – 32, we look at the topic of moral development and decision-making according to the ways of Jesus. The seven levels of morality: Rewards and punishment Marketplace exchange Social conformity Law and order Love for others Principle-based living Understanding friend of God

In Ephesians 4, Paul talks clearly about unity being the driving factor in building a healthy church. We often hear about speaking truth in love. But firstly, what do we mean by truth? Facts can be truth. Meaning can be truth. Wisdom can be truth. Secondly, when we speak truth in love, does that person feel loved? As we grow together, we learn together. It’s not just about our opinions.

The death of Jesus stirred up many emotions among the people looking on: sadness, anger… even vindication. But as we look at how the events of Easter affected those around him, we ponder three responses that can help us make sense of the cross and the the empty tomb:  Courage (Joseph of Arimathea) Compassion (the women at the tomb) Curiosity (Peter)

As Alexander the Great marched through Persia, Zechariah painted a picture of a very different king. The conquest of many lands by Alexander the Great was marked by the cry of war and, of course, Alexander’s trusty warhorse, Bucephalus. But years later there was to be an altogether different king. Riding through streets once trode by the aforementioned Alexander, but this time on a colt. One king was met with swords; the other, palms. One: the king of war. The other: prince of peace.

The Church, as Christ intended it, is both unified and diverse. Everyone has been given a different gift (or grace). There are arguments that the gifts Paul talks about in Ephesians 4 are not for today. We believe they are. We believe gifts are intended to equip the church so the universe can be filled with his presence. The five gifts (or five-fold graces) are: Apostle (the Architect) Prophet (the Analyst) Evangelist (the Broker) Shepherd (the Carer) Teacher (the Guide) Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. From Ephesians 4 (MSG)

As we enter into the second half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, our focus moves to how we live out who God is in our church families. How we model church can be defined in one of three ways: Kerygmatic This is a style of church we’ve more-or-less come to adopt in Western-style Christianity. The preacher at the front and the congregation listening on. Didactic This is often referred to as the small-group method. A teacher and a group of Christians who discuss what’s being taught. Paracletic This appears to be the model that Paul is talking about in Ephesians when he talks about church. At its heart is discernment and conversation. No one’s in charge and everyone has an equal voice. The Holy Spirit is often described as ​“Paraclete”. An advocate who positions himself alongside you. This side-by-side nature is something that Paul talks about in his letter.

We look at the ​“who”, ​“what”, ​“where”, ​“when” and ​“why” of Ephesians 4:2. Paul was a cruel man. Before his encounter with Jesus, he did unspeakable things to believers. That gives a verse like this a bit more weight when you realise it’s come from the heart of someone who spent a good portion of his life displaying the complete opposite of those things. Paul understood how devastating the alternative was. Here, we learn a little about who Paul was and then explore how we can put his instruction into practice. Humility, gentleness and patience aren’t just good virtues, they are live-giving.

As a church that lives day by day, it’s difficult to cast a vision for the future. Instead, we look to the words of the Lord: ​“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city you’ve been called to.”

The central prayer in the letter to the Ephesians bridges two halves: the first outlining the gospel story and the second the practical working out of that story. The prayer reveals Paul’s dream for the church: that we receive our identity within the depths of God’s love for us. He knows that in God is overflowing everything we need.

The Greek for ​“manifold” in Ephesians 3:10 is πολυποικιλος (polupoikilos), which means ​“much variegated” or ​“multifaceted”. When describing God’s wisdom, this invites us to take a step back and take in all the colours. Often the idea of Christianity is it’s ​“part” of your life… an add-on. But if it’s to mean anything, it ought to encompass our whole lives. In the same vein, the idea of church should not be an add-on. It’s not something that’s confined to a Sunday morning but, instead, it’s integral to who we are: Jesus’ design for his people. Every tribe. Every tongue. Every nation. When the Church follows the wisdom of God, everyone notices. Everything notices.

We were created by God for good works. But these works are do by done through the Spirit; not by our own power.

Circumcision divided Jews and gentiles. Some in that ​“club” saw themselves as above others. But circumcision is a one-time thing, rather than an ongoing ​“heart” thing. Paul often wrote letters (eg. Romans) addressing how we learn to live in a multicultural society. Christ, himself, brought peace to earth. If we are to live in peace, we should learn how to unite despite our differences. Sadly, Christianity today is full of division. Something that flies in the face of Christ’s message and Paul’s teaching.

Resurrection defines the life of Jesus: the bringing to life that which was dead. If a brother or sister is sinning, how do we speak to them? Do we see them as a lost cause? Or do we look at ourselves, take stock of how fallen we are and reflect on the grace of God on our lives? It’s grace that brings the dead to life. And although works cannot save us, they are an outworking of the grace that is at work within us.

The church in Ephesus is highly complimented by Jesus in Revelation 2. Though his final comment is a damning one. Jesus commends the church for its perseverance, holiness, endurance, hard work and faithfulness. Yet, as impressive its works were, he exposes a hole in its heart. For some time, it had forgotten its first love: Jesus himself. In Ephesians 1, Paul reminds the church who they serve. ​“Who fills everything in every way”.

The first 14 verses of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian is dripping with passion, joy and wonder. The Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in Scripture. However it is clear that God is a community: mutually dependent, participating together. If we are made in God’s image, then his blessings for us are for the church (community) — not just us as individuals. In the first chapter of Ephesians, we explore seven verbs. 1. Blessed 2. Chosen 3. (Pre)Destined 4. Bestowed 5. Lavished 6. Made known 7. Gathers up

The church of Ephesians was a small congregation in a large city where Romans and Greeks met to worship their famous gods. The letter to the Ephesians is special in many ways. It contrasts from Paul’s other letters in that it does not set out to critique problems that exist in the church in question, but instead instructs the church on how it can further grow. The pivot in the letter comes in the fourth chapter. Switching from the story of the gospel to our story, it encourages us to ​“grow up”. Over the next number of weeks, we will be exploring what it means to mature as Christians. “[Being nourished] us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love”.

If you’re familiar with liturgical churches, Epiphany is an annual tradition. It marks the story of the magi: mysterious figures in Matthew 2, possibly astronomers, astrologers or magicians who trek many miles from the East following a particular star that would eventually lead them to Jesus. The gifts they bring with them are equally cryptic. We assume that gold represents royalty, frankincense divinity, and myrrh death. Despite the unusual aspects of the story, there are lessons we can take home. The Son of God made himself accessible. His humble birth and life made getting to him relatively easy. However, an encounter with the living God meant that life would never be the same again. For the magi that meant returning to their home country via a different route. How has your encounter with Jesus changed your life?

To respond to the burden God gives you, we’re tempted to make a grand gesture. New year resolutions are often grand gestures. Usually ways to make up for where we’ve failed. This is not what God’s asking us. He’s asking us to act justly, love mercy and walking humbly with him… and one another. Doing this means that questions are more often answered with ​“it depends” rather than ​“yes” or ​“no”. Walking with God and one another means we are less likely to jump to conclusions but to explore what’s presented to us, and to be prepared to say ​“I don’t know”.

Mary is special. She is favoured because of how she received Jesus. We can receive Jesus because we are highly favoured. We are ​“accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians, chapter 1). For Mary, there is little doubt that her pregnancy with Jesus was a difficult time, filled with doubt, worry and fear, but she's reminded that she was favoured and loved. When our response echo's Mary's, we are pregnant with life, hope, joy, peace and possibilities.