Our Great Calling.

Nate Schlomann

[0:00] Welcome again Village. My name is Nate. I’m one of the pastors here and I’ve got the privilege this morning of [0:05] Finishing out the first chapter in Ephesians. I’m gonna pick up right where Steve left off Steve our main teaching pastor here [0:12] He went through the first part of the first chapter of Ephesians during the last two weeks and somehow I know how this happened [0:17] He did the whole you know before the foundations of the earth and predestination sermons and then he just skipped out [0:23] I don’t know what the deal was with that [0:27] Now he’ll be back next week to start chapter 2 and take us through the end of the book of Ephesians on the next

[0:33] 15 weeks if everything goes as planned. I know I’ve really enjoyed everything so far [0:38] It’s been an amazing two weeks just packed full of the promises that that God has for the believer and I’ve learned so much [0:45] And I hope you guys have to and we’re just gonna jump right back into it now Ephesians chapter 1 verse 15 [0:52] You can go ahead and turn there [0:53] God’s eternal plan which he’s been working since before the foundation of the earth is to unite all things in Jesus [1:00] We saw this in the last two weeks God’s making the mystery of his will known through the work of Jesus

[1:06] He’s letting us know what the purposes of God are through the work [1:10] In Jesus and and that is that God gets glory when people are redeemed and brought to himself made his children through Jesus [1:18] That’s the mystery of God’s will and that’s been made known to us now. It’s an amazing revelation [1:24] We’re gonna see this morning that Paul kind of continues that thought this idea that the life of the follower of Jesus [1:31] Should be built on this revelation that’s been given to us [1:34] That God’s will is that people would be redeemed through Jesus Paul’s gonna continue that thought now through the last few

[1:41] Verses in chapter 1 so if you’ll join me there in verse 15 [1:45] Paul says for this reason because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the Saints I [1:52] Do not cease to give thanks for you remembering you in my prayers a couple things here really quick [1:58] And then we’ll move on we’re not gonna spend a lot of time on this section [2:01] But Paul says for this reason for what reason? [2:04] For every reason that we’ve seen the last two weeks for all these amazing blessings that we have in Jesus

[2:09] And I’m actually gonna review those in just a few minutes here, but because of everything we have in Jesus [2:15] Since Paul sees that the Ephesians faith is real [2:18] He can be thankful for them thankful that they have access to this amazing power in God that they have this unlimited amount of spiritual [2:25] Blessings like we saw in week one Paul can be thankful for that but notice in there, too [2:31] How Paul knows that the Ephesians faith is real because it’s only because their faith is real that all these blessings are there [2:37] For them, but how does Paul know that?

[2:40] He knows that because of their love for each other Jesus says elsewhere [2:43] You know we will know who are his disciples because of our love for each other [2:47] And then we also saw back in January a couple times now that the ultimate display of love is to point people to God [2:53] Because God is love so ultimately love is about showing people God [2:57] So that’s the kind of love that the Ephesians had for each other, and that’s how Paul knows that their faith is real

[3:08] So Paul’s Paul’s going into at the end of this first chapter here [3:11] He’s gonna tell them what now he hopes is gonna be true in their life [3:14] Because of all the things that we learned the last two weeks so continue on with me in verse 17 [3:19] Then we’ll do a little bit of review [3:21] In verse 17 Paul says that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ [3:25] The father of glory may give you a spirit of wisdom and a revelation in the knowledge of him

[3:31] Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you [3:36] What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints so God’s uniting all things in Jesus, okay? [3:42] Revealed that to us in the first part of Ephesians 1 that’s what we talked about last week [3:46] That’s going to happen and that’s sure because God has been planning that since before the foundations of the earth [3:52] It’s sure that God’s gonna unite all things in Jesus we can count on that and then at last week [3:57] We saw now that we’ve been sealed in the Holy Spirit

[3:59] We have a sure and true hope that is guaranteed that God is taking history somewhere [4:06] And basically what Paul is doing now is he’s gonna be telling the Ephesians because all that we talked about [4:11] The last two weeks because all those things are true. You better get on board with this now [4:16] This is where history is going and you better get on board with this because this is the revelation that God has given you [4:21] And I’ll show you what I mean when Paul prays that God will give the Ephesians a spirit of wisdom and [4:27] Revelation in the knowledge of himself

[4:29] What Paul’s asking there is that the Ephesians would understand what God has already revealed that they would really take to heart and have wisdom [4:37] Revelation about the things that God’s already revealed so let’s review that right now [4:41] What has God already revealed just in these 14 verses in first verses in Ephesians just amazing amount of spiritual truth [4:49] This will be up on the screen here in just a second [4:51] Here’s the the knowledge of God that’s been revealed to us, and I’m just gonna read through these [4:56] In Jesus we have every blessing we need to live a life that pleases God

[5:00] We were chosen for adoption by God before the foundation of the world for his purposes [5:07] We’ve been redeemed and forgiven by grace God’s eternal plans to love and redeem are made known through Jesus [5:13] We are a part of God’s purposes in Jesus which unites all things in him [5:18] Our hope and redemption in Jesus brings God glory and all our blessings in Jesus are guaranteed and sealed by the Holy Spirit [5:25] I don’t have time of course to go through all these catch the podcast if you miss them [5:28] This is amazing amount of spiritual truth on what being a follower of Jesus is and what God gives his children

[5:37] And now what Paul is talking about in verse 17 if we get that back up on the screen [5:42] Is that we’re supposed to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God [5:46] He’s talking about our need to be aware of what we already have in Jesus [5:52] We need to live differently because of that because of these things that are true [5:57] We need to be aware of what God has given us and live differently the key key here is realizing [6:03] That if we are following Jesus, we already have all these blessings. Okay, we’re not searching for new things

[6:09] We don’t need more from God than he’s already given us [6:11] He’s already given us everything we need to follow him to love him to be about his mission [6:16] And so what Paul is praying now for the Ephesians [6:19] So they would have a spirit of wisdom and understanding [6:22] But everything that he’s already revealed God has given them and that’s what we need to have this morning [6:27] We’ve got a tendency to think that because our lives

[6:31] Don’t look or feel like the way we think a Christian life should should look or feel [6:36] That must mean we’re missing something, you know [6:38] So we get in this this habit of trying to find more or sometimes we pray [6:42] Actually really silly things like give me more of Jesus or give me more of the Holy Spirit when when God has said he’s already given [6:48] Us everything like we can’t get any more of the Holy Spirit. We can’t get any more of Jesus [6:53] That’s what we saw in week one where God’s given us every spiritual blessing

[6:58] Or we get in if that’s not it we kind of get in this habit of of mindset of thinking if I just read [7:03] One more good book, you know that will kind of unlock things for me and I’ll have it figured out or if I hear one [7:08] More good message. I’ll have things figured out and we’ve got to get in a different mindset [7:13] Our mindset is not so much hearing one more thing or figuring something out. It’s understanding what God has already given us [7:21] It’s it’s realizing all the blessings. We already have in him [7:25] What we actually need is wisdom to know what we already have in Jesus and to how and how to use

[7:32] What Jesus has given us to further his mission and be about his purposes [7:36] We do need to learn more now, but what we need to learn about is not what we don’t have [7:40] We need to learn more about what we do have and how to use it the Christian life [7:45] Is a journey of understanding more and more [7:48] All the amazing things that God has given us in his love [7:52] That’s what the Christian life is it’s learning more and more about all the ways that God has blessed us and then learning

[7:57] To take that and to live in light of that [8:01] I’m gonna kind of continue this thought here a little bit [8:04] But look back again verse 18 because this really becomes even more clear there [8:09] Paul says he desires for the Ephesians [8:12] And look at this this phrase here to have the eyes of their hearts enlightened that you may know [8:18] Hope to which he has called you would are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints

[8:24] The idea of having our eyes the eyes of our hearts enlightened. It’s all about realizing what we’re already a part of [8:31] So what is all this wisdom? [8:34] But this first 14 verses that kind of review we did really quick the things that we’ve learned the last two weeks [8:39] What is all that wisdom and knowledge of God about ultimately? It’s about God’s big picture plans for the universe [8:45] I mean, that’s what three times in there he talks about his purposes and his will that’s what is God doing on the earth [8:52] That’s the knowledge

[8:53] That he gives us and so what Paul is saying here [8:57] So we have to have the eyes of our heart enlightened to realize what God’s doing to realize what he’s all about [9:04] Sometimes we get knowledge [9:07] We learn all these things that God has done and we don’t transfer that into action [9:12] We don’t transfer knowledge into what we’re doing in light of that [9:16] But Paul puts it a very interesting way here

[9:18] He says he wants the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened enlightened to know what reality is [9:25] But he says that should cause us to know the hope which God has called us to that’s a very important phrase there [9:33] And that’s really what we’re focusing on [9:35] Today in a feat at the end of chapter one is this great. Hope that God’s given us [9:40] The hope to which we’ve been called because the knowledge of God it turns into a calling from God [9:45] And that’s how it’s supposed to work. We’re supposed to learn what God’s doing in the world. We’re supposed to learn

[9:50] What he’s given us and then we’re supposed to take that and turn that into living our lives in light of that to living for God’s [9:58] Purposes so our great calling and it’s we’re gonna see for the rest of the morning here our great calling is the mission of Jesus [10:04] It is seeing people redeemed and come to know him and become God’s children [10:08] That’s the calling that’s been put on each of our lives [10:10] And that’s the message that Paul’s giving to the Ephesians here in the last part of chapter one [10:16] I’m gonna tell share a little story with you. I stole this from Matt Chandler. He’s a pastor in Texas

[10:22] He stole it from CS Lewis CS Lewis surely stole it from somewhere else. That’s what pastors do [10:27] We’re all working off the same book. So we steal stuff

[10:32] Basic idea though. There’s there’s this thought that throughout history throughout all cultures throughout all time [10:38] People have been telling the same basic stories these stories of big kind of epic themes love [10:45] lost and found [10:47] Adventure stories ultimately of good triumphing over evil [10:50] It also you probably have heard there’s basically seven movie plots that are just recycled over and over sometimes [10:56] That’s really obvious the movies that we see sometimes

[10:59] And so there’s just people keep coming back to the same stories and the idea is there’s a reason for that [11:05] It’s because these are all kind of reflective of the great big story that we’re all a part of which is God’s story [11:11] And that’s what we learned about [11:13] The last two weeks God’s story from before the foundation of the earth before creation to unite all things in Jesus to redeem [11:21] A people to himself that is the biggest story that there is and we’re all a part of it [11:27] So this comes out in our entertainment in the things we talk about because we’re all longing to be a part of that story

[11:34] But the thing is and this is really what Paul’s getting at when he talks about having the eyes of our hearts enlightened [11:40] Most people are not aware of this story that we’re a part of [11:45] The whole point in understanding that God has an eternal plan and that he’s directing all things towards us in and through Jesus [11:51] The whole point of even getting that is because God and his gracious love. He wants us to be a part of his story [11:58] That’s why he shares with us what he’s doing. It’s not just for our knowledge [12:03] It’s because God loves us so much that he wants us to be aware

[12:06] He wants the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened to know this amazing story that we’re a part of [12:13] And that’s the great calling that we have. That’s the calling of every Christian is to wake up and be a part of God’s story

[12:21] The hope we’ve been called to is the same hope that saved us and all this knowledge and revelation about God and his purposes [12:26] It’s so that we can know him better and love him better [12:29] And if we love God and his purposes those purposes are gonna start to become our purposes [12:34] That’s what we’re gonna start to live for [12:37] And that again that purpose then is this mission that we always talk about [12:40] at the village the mission to seek and save the loss to bring people to Jesus and

[12:47] Unless you understand and unless you start to think about the Christian life [12:51] Through the filter of we’re all we all have this great calling [12:54] We’re all called to be a part of God’s big story a lot of the stuff of Christianity [13:01] Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense [13:03] You know, why do we get together on the weekend and sing songs in a room? [13:07] Why do we care so much what this book has to say?

[13:10] Why do we do a lot of the things that we do as a church and that’s why studying Ephesians is so important because Paul [13:17] in Ephesians [13:18] Really like almost nowhere else has this big picture look if this is what God is doing in the world in a lot of ways [13:24] It’s like a blueprint for what’s God’s doing and what the church’s role in that is and that means for what our role in that is [13:32] But if we don’t know if we don’t make that connection if we don’t connect [13:36] What is the story of God that we’re a part of it’s what we do as a church

[13:41] Things go bad real fast. That’s a lot of the problems. We’re having with the church in America [13:46] Why why is it that so many young people and 20-somethings are leaving the church, you know at record rates? [13:52] There’s of course more than one reason but one of the biggest reasons is because we’re not [13:57] Connecting and talking about the hope that we’ve been called to [14:00] We’re not putting the context of what we do as a church body in to God’s big story [14:06] And so if we’re not doing that, why would you want to be a part of this?

[14:09] It just becomes a weird hobby [14:11] It just becomes a thing that we do for no reason and so we’ve got to continually connect what we are and what we do [14:17] as a church [14:18] To the calling that we all have in this bigger story that we’re all a part of and we try to do that at the village [14:25] By talking about the mission we try to be very intentional about [14:28] What we’re a part of and where we’re headed as a church

[14:32] We talk about why we gather together on Sunday mornings, you know [14:35] This isn’t just a thing we do for the sake of doing something [14:38] This is an intentional start to our week to come together as a community and celebrate Jesus [14:44] We’re very passionate about doing that because he is what we live for and so [14:49] It’s about having the right perspective on why we do what we do [14:54] We sing songs because we’re grateful to God and he says that he enjoys that we learn from his word because that’s the source

[15:01] Of how to live this life of mission [15:03] That we know we’re supposed to be a part of [15:06] Well, this also means we’re very aware that people are coming in amongst our midst to learn about God because that’s the mission that [15:13] We’re on and so we want to be inviting them almost nothing matters more than introducing people to God and loving them [15:20] So we’re very intentional about that [15:22] And part of that is being intentional about preaching Jesus each and every week

[15:26] You know if people are coming into our community to learn about God, we can’t take a week off [15:31] I mean, that’s ridiculous [15:32] We have to be intentional about focusing what we’re doing on being a part of this big story that we’re a part of [15:39] This great calling that we have [15:41] And that’s just Sunday morning, of course [15:43] That’s just a little part of what we do as a church

[15:45] I can’t explain everything that we do and and how that connects to God’s story [15:49] But we realize that this is just the beginning of our week from here all of us as the church gathered [15:54] We scatter we go into the world Monday through Saturday [15:58] We’re supposed to be living our lives as missionaries to the culture and we’re supposed to be very intentional about that because [16:04] We are caught up in this big story. That’s so much bigger than us [16:08] That’s why we have community groups

[16:10] I know we talk about that a lot and we talk about those because we know that we need help [16:14] To be about this calling that we have and so we have groups for that again [16:19] I can’t go over everything we have but but the point here is just to show that the things we do as a church [16:23] Are supposed to be connecting us to the bigger overall purpose of the great [16:28] Calling that God has for us and that’s the theme that we’re gonna see all the way through to the rest of [16:33] Really the first chapter really Ephesians

[16:36] We better keep going here verse 19 go ahead and join me there [16:40] Paul is still on this idea of having the Ephesians eyes of their hearts enlightened [16:46] So that’s still what he’s saying [16:48] The first thing he wants them to be a lot enlightened about is their great calling [16:51] And here’s the next thing that he wants them to be enlightened about [16:55] And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe?

[17:00] According to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him [17:05] At the right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named [17:13] Not only in this age, but also in the one that comes we’ve got this amazing revelation of the power of Jesus here [17:19] Remember now what Paul wants the church to have is the eyes of their hearts enlightened [17:24] So we’ve got this great calling and then Paul wants them to realize of the power of Jesus and how that is [17:31] Directed towards those who believe Paul wants the Ephesians to realize this in the example that Paul gives

[17:38] To show the great power of Jesus is the resurrection and that is the example that the Bible uses over and over again [17:46] To show the power of God and I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on this [17:49] But I’m not gonna pass it over either. We’ve got to remember how how much the resurrection matters [17:56] And so let’s talk about that just a little bit the resurrection is

[18:00] The power of God displayed to us in a tangible way that God could raise [18:05] Jesus from the dead and the resurrection is the thing that is responsible for Jesus’s disciples who were these timid guys [18:13] mostly uneducated [18:15] Not really doing much anything the resurrection happens in boom. They change the world in their lifetime [18:22] The resurrection had that much power for the disciples. It wasn’t just the resurrection wasn’t just the defeat of sin [18:28] It was also the power of God that he promised to give them and the assurance that they needed to live boldly

[18:35] It changed their life completely [18:38] We saw at the very beginning of Ephesians [18:41] That God has blessed us with everything we need to follow Jesus and the resurrection is the proof that God has the power to [18:47] Follow through on all those promises [18:49] So this is the great power we have access to us believers and in verse 19 [18:54] Paul is praying that the Ephesians would understand this power that they have access to that’s directed towards them to help them in their

[19:02] Great calling and I think a lot of times we hear about the power of God [19:06] All right [19:07] We hear about the power of Jesus and how we have access to that [19:10] But it doesn’t really relate because we don’t see it, you know, we don’t how do we what does that even mean? [19:16] I get God’s powerful. He’s God, of course, he’s powerful. But what does that mean? [19:20] I think the key thing is we’re not gonna experience the power of God like Paul talks about

[19:31] Unless we’re living in a way that requires that power [19:34] So we have to do is we have to live the kind of life that needs God’s power [19:39] Remember last week when we talked about the plans of God and how God gets glory when we participate in what he’s doing in the [19:46] World and then we saw that that is sure because the Holy Spirit is the only way to get glory [19:50] It’s the only way that the Holy Spirit lets us know that that inheritance is sure and that gives us the freedom [19:54] To take risks for God’s glory until to live in such a way that people come to know Jesus and come to know

[20:01] God’s glory and that’s what we’re talking about when I talk about the kind of life that needs God’s power [20:07] God’s power is shown when we live for his purposes [20:10] And so if we’re living a kind of life that is for God’s purposes, that’s when we’re gonna see his power [20:17] But still that kind of begs the question [20:20] What do we mean when we talk about taking risks for God’s glory that you know, what are we supposed to what kind of risks? [20:25] Are we taking what are you talking about there?

[20:27] Well, here’s what I don’t mean. I don’t mean that we just live recklessly without wisdom [20:33] I don’t mean that we just take randomness. I don’t mean we all become bungee jumpers or skydivers [20:37] I don’t even I don’t even get that risk to be honest with you skydiving doesn’t make any sense to me [20:43] I know there’s probably some people out there who are skydivers and you’ll tell me [20:47] Some statistic about how it’s just as safe as driving [20:50] I can’t skydive to the grocery store. That’s my big problem

[20:55] So I’m gonna I’m gonna Steve level tangent here. All right, this is cool [20:59] We’ll see how this goes my problem with skydiving is not the dying part. It’s not the splat [21:05] My problem is so I’ll be with Jesus, right? I’m gonna be with Jesus [21:10] That’d be awesome. My problem is that next conversation. So I’m there with Jesus [21:15] So he’s like a Nate a little earlier aren’t you I’m like, yeah [21:20] I know I had you know another good 40 years in me to serve you God and deliver your purposes

[21:25] But I just had to jump out of a plane [21:28] So what’s the I I can’t handle that conversation and that is honestly the reason why I don’t skydive

[21:36] Alright [21:36] If I can get back on track here. Alright, so I’m not talking about extreme lifestyle kind of risk [21:42] That’s not the kind of risk that we’re talking about [21:44] I’m also not talking about like risks where we randomly quit our job with no plan because we’re gonna serve God [21:51] Well, you didn’t have a plan and you end up just being a leech on the rest of the church [21:54] That’s not the kind of risk that I’m talking about

[21:56] I’m not talking about the kind of risks where we go into massive debt that we can’t manage [22:02] That’s not trusting God to provide. All right. That’s not the kind of risk that I’m talking about [22:07] What I’m talking about is the risk that [22:10] The risk of giving up what we know and we have and we’re comfortable with [22:14] For what God has promised will be so much better and that really is a risk to the human heart because we know what we [22:20] Have we like it even if it’s not, you know the best thing in the world

[22:23] Sometimes we’d rather be comfortable [22:26] Then then move on and have what God has in store for us [22:30] So I’m talking about the risks of believing and trusting God that what he has is better for us [22:37] Couple examples we need to risk our time [22:40] When we spend our time on God’s purposes, that’s when his power shows up and that’s a risk because we like what we’re doing [22:47] But God’s promised that if we live for his purposes and not our own

[22:52] That that is gonna bring us joy and be such a better life [22:55] So we’ve got to trust God that that’s the kind of thing that will have his power show up for us a [23:02] Big thing we need to risk our comfort and risk looking stupid and feeling awkward as we develop [23:07] Relationships and push kind of out of our comfort zone [23:10] That’s when God’s power shows up. That’s when we see him working

[23:15] God’s power shows up when redemption is happening and that can’t happen outside of relationship outside of us getting to know people [23:22] So we’ve got to take the risk to go places that we wouldn’t normally go and I’m what I mean by that is in [23:29] Relationship to to not have so many nights to ourself [23:33] But to and let’s acknowledge it’s a real risk to be in a relationship people hurt us [23:38] We feel stupid sometimes [23:40] It’s just so much easier to keep things comfortable and where we are, but that’s not where God is

[23:45] All right, God’s moving and so when we join him on that, that’s when his power shows up and that’s when we see it [23:52] We don’t experience the power of Jesus towards us that we see in verses 19 20 and 21 [23:58] Because we don’t take the risks that require it and ultimately like I said God’s power is most seen in redemption and [24:05] people getting new life and becoming children of God and so only when we participate in that [24:11] Will we see this power that Paul talks about that’s available through Jesus [24:15] this really ties right back to God’s great story that we’re all a part of and

[24:21] Helping us to understand our great calling look again verse 21 in verse 21 [24:27] It says far above all rule and authority and power and dominion above every name that is named [24:32] Not only in this age, but also in the one to come [24:36] This is the power that we have access to in Jesus [24:39] And I think specifically the last part of that where it says not only in this age [24:43] But also in the one to come we kind of tend to get that flipped

[24:47] I think because we kind of think only in the age to come, you know [24:51] That’s only where Jesus’s power is this is gonna take us to heaven Paul actually had the complete opposite [24:56] To him it was obvious that we would have the power of Jesus in this age [25:00] To be about God’s purposes to see people come to know him [25:05] So Paul’s explaining the power in place of prominence that the Father gives to the Son [25:11] And then let’s continue on here

[25:13] I’ll start just back in verse 21 again far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [25:19] And above every name that is named not only in this age [25:22] But also in the one to come and he put all things under his feet and game gave him as head over all things [25:29] To the church he’s talking about Jesus here, which is his body [25:32] The fullness of him who fills all in all [25:36] Alright, so God has raised up Jesus in power and then God has given Jesus to the church and the church is Jesus’s body

[25:44] And what we have here at the end of Ephesians 1 I think is one of the most clear and dramatic [25:50] Explanations of the part that we’re supposed to play in God’s big story

[25:55] If you don’t catch anything catch this last part this morning because everything else we’ve been talking about has been leading up to this point [26:02] We have this amazing revelation that Jesus is the head of the church [26:06] And that we the church as his body are the fullness of Jesus as he fills all in all and this is amazing because the text [26:13] Is literally shouting here that we have an important part to play in God’s story [26:18] We as the church are the fullness of Jesus [26:21] And first we see that Jesus rules over everything. Let’s see that first

[26:26] The father gives him to the church as its leader. We are the church [26:29] I don’t think I really need to explain this so much in this context [26:32] But let’s remember the churches is never referred to in the New Testament as a building [26:36] The church has never referred to as a meeting time either the church is God’s called out redeemed people [26:43] Gathered to worship Jesus and then scattered to live for his mission in the culture that they find himself [26:48] That’s what the church is and Jesus is the head of that. That’s why we say around here. Jesus is our senior pastor

[26:54] We have leaders in the church. Yes, we have you know, Steve’s elite preaching pastor [26:58] I lead in some other areas, but Jesus is the senior pastor. He has final say and that’s that’s important [27:06] And if Jesus is the head in verse 23 [27:09] We see that we the church are the body under the head and then we see something [27:14] That honestly is a little strange if we think about it because the text says

[27:21] We as the body are the fullness of Christ who fills all in all and how could we be the fullness of Jesus? [27:28] All right. I mean God doesn’t need anything God is full and complete in himself. God doesn’t need us [27:34] How could we be the fullness of him? [27:38] And so we’re gonna flesh that out a little bit because that’s important to understand how we [27:42] Take part in this great story that we find ourselves in the church doesn’t complete Christ as if he was missing something [27:49] But the fullness of Christ is revealed through his body his body the church

[27:54] There’s some tension here definitely with God sovereignty just like we saw the last two weeks [28:00] Because God doesn’t need anything. I said God doesn’t need us and yet right here his eternal plans include us [28:06] We get to be the body of Jesus. He rules over everything. He’s above everything [28:12] He reigns now and he will reign forever [28:14] But the tech and the text says that he fills all in all and yet as the church as his body [28:21] We have the privilege and this is what our great calling is that great calling that we saw earlier that we are to participate in

[28:28] God’s story [28:29] Is to play a part in what Jesus is doing [28:33] God gets glory by us playing that part in being the fullness of Christ [28:38] And there’s no real answer to why God did that other than he loves us [28:43] I mean that is his love on display for us that he would include us [28:47] So prominently and so importantly in what he’s doing. It’s just it’s a gracious gift from God

[28:52] That should really drive us to just praise him and thank him [28:57] And this idea of the church being the fullness of Christ this makes sense when we understand our identity in Jesus [29:06] Okay, this is kind of the idea of it’s not I but Christ [29:10] It’s now Christ who lives through us and so as we are the church we are Jesus’s body and as Jesus’s body [29:17] We very much are the fullness of Jesus to the world. We are his hands and feet to the world. And so in that way [29:25] How the church is the fullness of Jesus

[29:27] We are the fullness of Christ in the sense of God making his presence and power felt and known on the earth through the church [29:36] All right. Here’s the key though the body of Christ. The church is the fullness of Christ [29:41] You are not the fullness of Christ. And so when we say that you are the church, that’s a collective you [29:47] Maybe we should say we are the church. Okay, we together are the fullness of Jesus [29:53] The individual you is just you the individual me is just me and I think we we kind of get that we could never alone [30:00] Be the fullness of Jesus

[30:02] That’s why we’ve got to understand our identity as a part of the body of Christ talking about the body of Christ [30:08] Really? It’s a whole other message. There’s it’s a series of messages. We could go through about that metaphor and what it means to be the body

[30:16] Well, look at that just a little bit [30:18] If you want to kind of remember where to find about the body of Christ in the Bible just remember the 12th Roman 12 [30:25] 1st Corinthians 12. These are the two big passages [30:28] I want to look at Romans 12 just a little bit with you because I think there’s a key little thing here for us to [30:33] Understand how we play a part in what God is doing by being a part of his body [30:39] Start with me there in verse 3

[30:44] Paul says [30:46] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think [30:53] But to think with sober judgment each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned and stop right there for a second [31:00] I think [31:02] Interesting thing is we often take that first section a little bit differently than I think [31:06] God really intends because we read you know not to think more highly of himself

[31:11] We shouldn’t think too highly of ourselves and we kind of read that as well [31:14] Don’t think you’re so great. Don’t think you’re so awesome. You should kind of have this lowly [31:18] Almost like a low self-esteem thing that we know it doesn’t really mean that but that’s kind of the connotation that we take from that [31:24] And I don’t think while it’s true that we shouldn’t be prideful and think too highly of ourselves [31:28] I don’t think Paul meant it so much and I don’t think you’re great kind of way. Look where he goes with this [31:34] For as in one body we have many members and the members do not all have the same function

[31:39] So we though many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another and this has a specific [31:46] Context and what Paul is actually warning against is not so much not thinking of ourselves as a great and being kind of [31:53] Happy with who we are what Paul’s warning against is thinking of ourselves as anything apart from the body of Christ [31:59] He’s saying do not think so highly of yourself that you think that you have anything to offer [32:04] Apart from your identity in the body and that’s that’s why he’s talking about each of us having a part to play [32:09] I want you to think you’re great

[32:12] I want that to be grounded in reality because you’re serving Jesus, but it’s okay to think that but it’s not okay to think [32:19] That we have anything to offer apart from the church and apart from our role and [32:25] Ways to be a part of the body and that’s what Paul is really saying here. We’ve got to identify [32:31] With who we are in Jesus and how that makes us a part of the body. We’re never going to [32:36] Understand all this knowledge there we started all this knowledge about God and how that reveals our great calling [32:41] That only finds its place within the body of Christ and within the church

[32:47] So when scriptures say that we as the body are the fullness of Christ [32:51] God is showing us that we only function together as only when we function together as the church [32:56] Do we really understand our great calling to spread the hope of Jesus only as we function together as the body each part doing its part [33:04] Will we experience the power of God through us like we saw you are not the fullness of Christ the church is you don’t make God’s [33:12] Presence known but the church does and you are the church [33:15] So what I want to encourage you today is take hold of that and pursue being a part of the body

[33:22] Do you want your life to have meaning do you want to become aware of this great story that we’re all a part of? [33:28] This great work that God is doing calling a people to himself [33:31] You’ve got to identify yourself then as part of the body because that is what [33:37] That is how we take part in the fullness of Jesus in the world [33:42] God is not incomplete. Okay, we’re the ones who are incomplete [33:46] And so we need the body to participate in the fullness of Jesus

[33:50] None of us alone can be the fullness of Jesus. We need each other each one doing its part [33:56] It’s no mistake that God set us up this way God knew that we would need each other [34:01] He knew how easily we’d stray he knew how easily pride would overtake us [34:07] He set it up so that no one person could be the fullness of Jesus [34:11] Could fully represent God on the earth has what we’re called to do and as he wants us to do [34:16] So that can only happen through the church you can kind of buck against that

[34:20] You can you cannot like the fact that you’re not complete on your own. It’s only gonna end in dissatisfaction [34:26] It’s only gonna end in unfulfillment [34:29] So what I want to encourage you to do is live the way your creator has made you as a part of the body [34:36] We can do far more for the kingdom together than we can do apart [34:40] We are so much more than the sum of our parts when we’re acting as the church together [34:46] We don’t have time to go through everything that the local church does but that doesn’t matter really this morning this morning

[34:52] I just want to encourage you to [34:54] Take that next step at the village to be a part of the body be a part of the church and the mission that is [35:00] Happening here. So I just want to end with giving you guys just a couple ideas of how you could do that [35:06] The first thing you could do [35:08] Is build relationships in the body?

[35:11] Get to know some people. I mean that’s so practical and so simple, but you’ve got to start somewhere one thing [35:18] Have coffee with me. I know I say that sometimes and no one ever takes me up on it a couple people do [35:23] I don’t know if it’s me

[35:26] We’re all busy I know but that is why I’m here that is why Steve is here that is why James is here [35:32] We would love nothing more than to talk with you about these things that we talked about on Sunday morning [35:37] So build some relationships. It doesn’t have to be with us build some relationships within the church get to know people become an active part [35:43] of the body for some of you [35:46] It’s as simple as finding a community group and being a part of it. And I know again [35:50] I know we hammer on that it’s because we love you. It’s because we want your own joy

[35:54] We know that we cannot possibly [35:57] Live the life that God has for us being a part of this big story without other people in our lives [36:03] Encouraging us to do that knowing us being involved with us each and every week [36:08] So I’d encourage you to take that step and then lastly [36:12] Some of you agree with what we’re doing here at the village [36:15] But you need to own some of the work of advancing the gospel with the village church and what do I mean by that?

[36:22] What do I mean about owning the work of advancing the gospel? Do I need do I mean that we need more setup help? [36:29] Well, I was any more setup help, but no that is not [36:32] At all what I mean [36:33] Do I mean that if you’re a great graphic designer if you’re good with websites if you’re organized and can do paperwork [36:38] If you can build stuff that we need you to start doing those things we do [36:43] But no that that is not what I’m talking about here

[36:46] What I’m talking about is we need you to labor with us in the work of seeing people redeemed [36:52] What I mean is each of you have spheres of influence and have relationships people who need Jesus [36:58] And so your part in the body the most important part that you play [37:03] Is to share Jesus with them to bring people [37:07] In to hear the gospel to go out and to spend time with people to share Jesus with them [37:13] That is your part in advancing the mission and together we do that as a church

[37:18] And so it’s not about pastor standing up here and preaching. It’s not about the leaders being out and sharing [37:25] It’s about all of us together as the body [37:28] Being on mission for Jesus [37:30] Interacting with the people that God brings into our lives for the purpose of loving them with the gospel. There’s no greater love [37:36] That’s what I mean when I say we need everyone on board [37:40] Owning this mission of Village Church, and so that’s really more than anything what we want for you

[37:47] That’s our mission together. We amplify our praise to Jesus. That’s why the church is so important [37:52] I could preach a whole nother sermon on the church and I know we don’t have time for that [37:56] But that’s our mission. That’s what we’re always trying to take what we talk about here back to we are part of this [38:02] Giant story this massive story of God bringing all things back to himself [38:07] And as you are a part of the body the church you’re the fullness of Christ [38:11] You’re fulfilling your calling in the world to be a part of what God’s doing

[38:15] So I hope that you’ll take some steps to do that [38:19] This morning now as the band comes up and we transition to a time of communion [38:24] it’s neat that we take communion each and every week here at the village because [38:29] It gives us a chance to to reflect on what we’ve learned it gives us a chance to respond [38:34] To God and this morning as you respond [38:38] I just want you to be thinking about this story that you’re called up in and how you’re in it because

[38:43] Of Jesus’s work on the cross all right you are involved in this story because God has redeemed you and so think about that as you respond [38:51] Communion is open to anyone who are a follower of Jesus. We welcome you to do that if you’re a guest with us this morning [38:57] Feel free to take communion with us feel free not to if you’d rather not you can just observe, and that’s absolutely fine [39:03] The other great thing about communion though [39:06] Is if you’re not a follower of Jesus if you’re not aware of this story that you’re a part of if you’re not aware [39:11] Of this calling that you have on your life that can change today

[39:15] Communion represents that so if that’s you I’d welcome you to come up and talk to me [39:20] And I’d love to talk to you about that. Let’s pray [39:23] God I just thank you for this morning [39:25] I just pray for each person here God that the eyes of our heart would be [39:30] Enlightened to everything Jesus has done for us and everything that he has for us, so we pray these things in Jesus name