Sermon Notes: Ephesians 2, Walking Worthy - Hostility to Peace

Here are notes from various sources that I will be using in these week's sermon from Ephesians 2. The theme will center around the idea that while salvation comes freely, we are now called to live and proclaim peace through servanthood, which is no less than the way of the cross.

I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out. – John Wesley

Walking Worthy of Our Vocation: From Children of Wrath to Children of the Path

“For he is our peace…has broken down the dividing wall of hostility…that he might create in himself one new humanity…”

“The church is not the end of the world, but you can see it from there…to see how the church finally ends is that place where Jesus the Christ gathers his believers, the church…If you want to see a world which ends in peace, come look at the world at that point where it is becoming the church…not by staring at the church directly but rather by looking to Christ Jesus, to whom the church also looks…And what it sees, in him, is what it gets: peace” (Bertram, 155-156).

“There is a no-peacable alternative…unhappy ending, is summed up in its single word, ‘hostility”…(Bertram, 157).

“There is no place from which even to see the end of it; or almost none…It is that strange and desolate place which Ephesians locates by such graphic terms as “in Christ Jesus”, “in his flesh,” “in one body through the cross”… it ends there in peace…not a place for those who flee reality…those who cannot stand the sight of blood. It is the place where the righteous and the ungodly…the lawful and lawless finally clash” (Bertram, 158).

The cunning old Creator had been in on this whole magnificent scam from the very beginning. It is difficult even to tell that hilarious story without cracking up. But cracking up is what the wall of hostility is doing. Can’t you see it from here?...far-offs like ourselves…brought near…it may well take you to a cross to bring other far-offs near” (Bertram 159).

“…large number of those who casually call themselves Christians, the cross has become an abstract symbol of faith. It is admired, revered and displayed, but lacks personal significance…without ever becoming even in the most elementary sense a pattern for our lives….Paul called the cross a scandal and so it was” (Schroader, 16).

Even today when I read a passage like Leviticus 26:3-6, which paints a wonderful picture of the earth yielding rich harvests, wild animals that are domesticated and a condition of peace – ‘the sword not go through the Land’ – I find myself getting goosebumps. It almost seems too good to be true...[reflect also on Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3, Isaiah 11:6,9]…Such images and longing nurtured and sustained the Jewish population of Jesus’ time as they endured oppression, exploitation, brutal wars and disappointed hopes” (Schroader, 17). We need a similar vision today.

“For Jesus forgiveness was a very basic sign of the kingdom…’Father, forgive them they know not what they are doing’…Coupled with forgiveness is the clear teaching and example of Jesus that suffering servanthood has replaced violence as the way of the kingdom….before Pilate he said, “My kingship is not of this world…my servants would fight” (John 18:36). (Dick, 20).

“John Howard Yoder has summarized it well: ‘Servanthood replaces dominion, forgiveness absorbs hostility.’” (Dick, 20).

The cross means two things: reconciliation with God AND the model for a new way of relating to others and to the violent world. “The cross becomes for us a way of life” (Dick, 20).

Ephesians 5:12 – Imitators of Christ; love as Christ loved us, giving himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

“If we are not willing to accept the cross as the decisive ethical pattern for how we are to deal with opponents and enemies…then we must in the end give up any legitimate claim to be followers of the cross of Christ.” See Matthew 16:24 and Romans 12:19. (Dick, 21)

“The cross of Jesus is the norm for every area of our lives, in the home, in the church, in the marketplace and in our relationships with the state…’so that you may be sons of your father in heaven…’(Matthew 5:44-45) (Dick, 22).


Divine Product: Workmanship = poeima in Greek; From which we get word “poem”. We are the “direct result of the creative work of the Eternal God” (Hiebert, 116).

“God will use the saints to ‘display in the coming ages the suproassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus’” (Eph. 2:7) See also 1 Cor. 6:19b-20,you’re your own, bought at a price (Hiebert, 117).

Divine Purpose: Believers are saved for good works just as a tree may be said to be created for its fruit. Now that are new creatures in Christ, it is God’s purpose that our works reveal the reality of our salvation (Hiebert, 118).

The bible speaks of ‘evil works’ (Col. 1:21; John 3:12). They are the open transgressions of the sinner as outlined in Ephesians 2:2-3. “By contrast believers are presented as engaged in ‘good works’, works that are beneficial to others and have God’s approval…The Gospel is not only a wonderful message of free salvation; it is also a trumpet call to active service on the part of the saved” (Hiebert, 120).

Divine Plan: God has a plan for the lives of His redeemed children. Created in Christ Jesus for good works. “vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory” (Rom. 9:23). We may not always understand all that God has planned for us…When his plan develops differently than what we had thought or hoped, we can yet trust His wisdom...”that to them that love god, He works all things unto good, to those as called according to his purpose” (Hiebert, 122).

God desires that we cooperate with him in his plans for us (Hiebert, 123).

Notes:
Bertram, Robert W., Preaching Peace, 1985.
Dick, Mervin, The Biblial Basis of Peacemaking: Ephesians 2:14-16.
Hiebert, D. Edmon, God’s Creative Masterpiece, 1994.

Sermon Notes: Awareness, Knowledge and Trust (Eph. 1:3-23)

Walking Worthy: Awareness, Knowledge and Trust

Ephesians 1:3-23

Theme: Walking worthy of our vocation in Christ begins with an awareness, an awakening to God’s cosmic plan in Christ and our place in that plan. When we fully comprehend our place in this “mystery of his will” then we will be on our way to disciplining our minds and bodies to operate within this plan.

Introduction:

God is re-creating the human family. There are powers and principalities operating in this world under which we used to operate. Greed, division, selfishness, hate, violence. But God has now revealed a new way to live, a way that glorifies his name and places us in a position to live to our potential. We can be assured that we were chosen by God to be a part of this plan and that he will go with us as we alter our lives to walk according to his plan. This come through grace and our participation in the work of the church. This is the vocation to which we have been called to walk worthy of. But how can we be assured of this chosen-ness?

Illustration: Remember those days in elementary school and junior high when the PE teacher would have two exceptionally athletic kids choose teams. They would each start with the jocks, picking less and less able athletes in turn. Finally, those last remaining souls, their heads hung low in shame and feelings of worthlessness, were chosen only because the PE coach required it. Otherwise, no one wanted them on the team. They were slow, uncoordinated or mentally challenged. I remember seeing this process unfold and, in my own adolescent way, felt like the whole process was unhealthy and damaging.But as I read Paul I imagine a line of people stretching before God and God looking up and down the line and choosing based not on status, wealth, or even intellect or raw talent. Instead he chooses “according to the good pleasure of his will.” And we find that his good pleasure is to accept us as his children “unto the adoption of Jesus Christ” (v. 5). God looks at us and says, “Be my children,” regardless of our past or present condition. In life we have all felt what it is like to be at the end of the pickings. We all have moments when we feel inadequate, not up to the task, left out or even unwanted. But, “to the praise of the glory of [God’s] grace,” Jesus, because of his act of love and sacrifice on the cross, “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (v. 6).

We can be assured that we were chosen by God to be a part of this plan and that he will go with us as we alter our lives to walk according to his plan. Christ “because of his resurrection and exaltation is far superior to any competing spiritual powers that could threaten his predominance.” (AGT, 382).

Four Spiritual Blessings

As proof of our chosen-ness and to empower us as we commit ourselves to walk worthy of our vocation, God, through his grace, has given us four spiritual blessings.

In the heavenly realms – what is in Heaven is now being done on earth in the fullness of time through those in Christ. They are “not subject to the uncertainty of earthly life.” (Ewell, 1022).

Redemption (v. 7) – first God had to reunite the lost, to heal the broken, to position them to be his people on earth. This accomplished through Christ. Jesus’ sacrificial, innocent death for our sake led to the forgiveness of our sins.

Revelation of God’s plan (v. 9) – We now know what God is up to in the world, “the mystery of his will.” That he might “gather together in one all things in Christ, which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him (v. 10)”. Paul believed that Christians would “one day share in his risen glory” when these things take place (AGT, 383). In fact, in a way, we have already been raised in Christ, says Paul (v. 2.6)

Inheritance (v. 11) – We will enjoy the fruits off the kingdom of God when it comes in its fullness. Predestined to live in a new heaven and earth in which all powers and principalities come under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit (v. 13) – A promise, earnest payment from God

Notes:
Actemeier, Paul; Green, Joel; Thompson, Marianne Meye, (AGT), Introducing the New
Testament: Its Literature and Theology, Eerdmans, 2001.
Ewell, Walter A., Baker Commentary on the Bible, Baker Books, 1989.

Sermon Ponderings: When God Chooses His Team

I’ll be preaching from Ephesians 1:1-14 this Sunday (August 3) and continue to be drawn to the themes of grace and chosen-ness which Paul says are the good fortune (“spiritual blessings”) of those of us in Christ. Remember those days in elementary school and junior high when the PE teacher would have two exceptionally athletic kids choose teams. They would each start with the jocks, picking less and less able athletes in turn. Finally, those last remaining souls, their heads hung low in shame and feelings of worthlessness, were chosen only because the PE coach required it. Otherwise, no one wanted them on the team. They were slow, uncoordinated or mentally challenged. I remember seeing this process unfold and, in my own adolescent way, felt like the whole process was unhealthy and damaging.

But as I read Paul I imagine a line of people stretching before God and God looking up and down the line and choosing based not on status, wealth, or even intellect or raw talent. Instead he chooses “according to the good pleasure of his will.” And we find that his good pleasure is to accept us as his children “unto the adoption of Jesus Christ” (v. 5). God looks at us and says, “Be my children,” regardless of our past or present condition. In life we have all felt what it is like to be at the end of the pickings. We all have moments when we feel inadequate, not up to the task, left out or even unwanted. But, “to the praise of the glory of [God’s] grace,” Jesus, because of his act of love and sacrifice on the cross, “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (v. 6).

Those are my ponderings leading up to this Sunday at Greenhill United Methodist Church. Please give me your thoughts and meditations on this passage, as we prepare our hearts and minds to hear God’s Word in worship.

Greenhill's Upcoming Spiritual Formation Journey 2008-2009

This fall members of Greenhill United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky will begin what I hope will be a transformative spiritual formation journey. The journey is one that is essential for us to begin. A casual read of the powerful stories in Scripture of Jesus' teachings, life, death and resurrection and the deeds of the early New Testament Church, lead one to wonder why the Church today does not look like Christ. Why do its members not look like Christ? Have we made the conscious decision to follow Christ but then failed to enter into the disciplines required to change our habits, our thoughts, our life-style so that they conform to Christ and the life that he lived? The spiritual formation journey will take those who embark upon it into a period of examen, a period of learning about what the spiritual life is, and a period of practicing the disciplines that lead us into the powerful, joyful life in the Spirit that Christ lived and Christ promised for us.

The books and authors that we will use in our periods of examen, learning and practice are the following:

September – October
“Exploring the Way: An Introduction to the Spiritual Journey” by Marjorie Thompson
November – December
“As If the Heart Mattered: A Wesleyan Spirituality” by Gregory Clapper
January – February
“Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts” by Charles Bryant (includes a spiritual gifts inventory)
March
Lenten Spiritual Formation
April - June
“The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives” by Dallas Willard

The books are great reading for the journey, and we will study them in depth. I encourage all members and attenders at Greenhill and anyone else interested in a deeper, more authentic walk with Christ to join us in this transformative journey. As Dallas Willard has said, "Salvation is not an event; Salvation is a life." Let us start living a life of salvation.