Sermon Notes
Where do you see the genius of God at work?
Our pastor asked this question today. My thoughts flew to the great outdoors … the ocean never swallows the land, the mountains reach for the heavens. Then I thought about our grandsons … how beautiful babies are … how amazing the human body is. We are intricately made. And then he read this scripture:
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authoritiesin the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10 – 11)
I’ve read Ephesians many, many times … have missed that verse every time! Look at it … “through the CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God will be made known!” The genius of God will be seen through the church!
Folks have many reasons for disliking church … there are hypocrites (yes!); church people have hurt my feelings (yes!); I can be a Christian at home (hmm?). I am definitely an introvert! I am energized by spending time alone. I get all of these reasons for avoiding church … and yet …
God calls us to love the “ugly bride.” In fact, the scripture says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Bottom line, we need to love what Christ loves!
Pastor reminded us … we are given grace to be a source of grace to build up the body! For that to happen we have to get over ourselves … scripture says, be completely humble, patient, bearing with one another in love. Prickly people can’t hang together, can’t build one another up.
God placed all things under [Christ’s] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
The church = his body = the fullness of him!
If you aren’t involved in a church I invite you to find one … one that loves God, loves the Word, preaches the gospel … be a source of grace … invest yourself … build up the body!
