Proclaiming the Boundless Riches of Christ

THE COSMIC MISSION OF THE CHURCH

Ephesians 3:7–13

An Overview

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Being on mission with God means joining His eternal purpose to make Christ known through His church before heaven and earth.

I

God's Glorious Work

vv. 7–9

II

God's Glorious Display

vv. 10–12

III

God's Glorious Strength

vv. 12–13

EPHESIANS 3:7–9

⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

ESV

EPHESIANS 3:10–13

¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

ESV

I

EPHESIANS 3:7–9

The Cosmic Mission is

God's Glorious Work

MINISTRY IS A GIFT OF GRACE

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God calls.

God appoints.

God equips.

OUR PART

Trust and obey.

Don't judge your ministry too soon. Take the long view.

JEREMIAH 9:23–24

²³Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

ESV

II

EPHESIANS 3:10–12

The Cosmic Mission is

God's Glorious Display

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“So that through the church…”

PAUL WASN'T THE POINT. THE CHURCH IS THE POINT.

Ephesians 3:10

EPHESIANS 2:4–7

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

ESV

THE MYSTERY

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Concealed

hidden for ages in God

Revealed

now made known in Christ

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

EPHESIANS 3:6

EPHESIANS 1:9–10

⁹making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

ESV

EPHESIANS 1:20–23

²⁰…he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²²And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

ESV

EPHESIANS 6:12–13

¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

ESV

COSMIC SHOW & TELL

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Before people on earth and the hosts of heaven, the church shows and tells that Jesus Christ…

Lived

sinlessly

Died

sacrificially

Rose

victoriously

Reigns

supremely

Your little church matters more than you could ever imagine.

III

EPHESIANS 3:12–13

The Cosmic Mission is

God's Glorious Strength

STRENGTH FOR THE CHURCH

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1

Be Bold

“in whom we have boldness”

V. 12

2

Take Hold

Communion precedes commission

V. 12

3

Don't Give Up

“not to lose heart”

V. 13

JOHN 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

ESV

JAMES 4:8 · GALATIANS 6:9

ESV

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

JAMES 4:8

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

GALATIANS 6:9

EPHESIANS 3:20–21

²⁰Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

ESV

Your church is more important than you think.

THE GOD WHO SAVED IN EPHESUS SAVES HERE

Being on mission with God means joining His eternal purpose to make Christ known through His church before heaven and earth.