Special Access

Friday, February 27, 2026

In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. Ephesians 3:12

Special Access

It is hard to get an audience with powerful and important people. They often do not have time and will not make time for anyone they consider unimportant and insignificant. As believers, we have the privilege of having an audience with the most important and powerful person of all time – God. 

Paul is speaking to the Jewish and Gentile believers in the church in Ephesus reminding them of some important things. He has been reminding the Gentile believers that they now have the same identity in Christ and inheritance as the Jewish believers. Beyond that he also has been reminding them of the many other amazing benefits and gifts that come from being a child of God. One of those amazing gifts is that we have constant and instant access to God.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

The "access" we have is like the access only given to the high priest to enter into the holy of holies in the temple. No one else would be allowed to enter into the presence of God. The high priest would have to enter once a year on behalf of the people asking for atonement for their sins. But because of Jesus and his atonement for our sins on the cross we have boldness to enter into the holiest of all.  We have the confidence of being welcomed, accepted, and cherished in the very presence of the King of Kings. We have the comfort of knowing we can go directly to him for mercy, grace, and help in our time of need, and especially in our times of failure.

As his children we can approach God freely, any time we want to. We can go to him without fear because of our faith in Jesus. He loves us and wants us to come to him. This freedom we have with the God of the universe gives us boldness and confidence in our relationship with him – always careful to maintain the holiest and most reverent attitude towards him. We have a heavenly Father who is always approachable. He always wants us to come to him with our hurts, needs, desires, and dreams. 

Have you realized the precious gift you have of face to face time with God? You have been granted all access through the shed blood of Jesus. Don’t hesitate to get before your heavenly Father today. 

Incalculable Riches for You

Thursday, February 26, 2026

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ… Ephesians 3:8 

Incalculable Riches for You

Some people never feel like they deserve good things. They struggle to ever feel worthy of an honor, or gift. In verse 8 of Ephesians chapter 3 Paul talks about being given a gift of revelation. Paul calls himself the least of all saints having been given the grace of this revelation and the honor and privilege of proclaiming this very special message to the Gentiles. 

Paul marveled at the grace that was given to him to get to be the one who proclaims this message. He remembered where he came from, and he knew firsthand the incalculable riches of Christ. Before he became a believer he persecuted believers. Like the Gentiles, who would have believed that the incalculable riches of Christ – the very one whose people he tried to kill and imprison – would be for him? But this is the beautiful message of the Gospel.  Paul, the least of all saints, was the perfect one to deliver this message to a group of people who had not known Christ’s hope, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, and love. 

The Gentiles were often viewed by Jews as pagans or unclean. This message would be unbelievable, not only to the Gentiles who could never have imagined being included in the recipients of the incalculable riches of Christ, but also to others (Jews) who believed they were above the Gentiles in many ways. This message would be like being handed a treasure or inheritance of which you never thought you were worthy of inheriting. 

What are the incalculable riches of Christ? They are incalculable – unsearchable – meaning there is no way we could ever even think of all of them. Here are some:

• Redemption: Saved and redeemed from our sins
• Forgiveness: The release from guilt and punishment for sins.
• Eternal Life: The promise of everlasting life with God.
• Access to God: We have instant access to God any time we need him. 
• The Holy Spirit: A helper within us granting wisdom, guidance, and boldness.
• Spiritual Adoption and Inheritance: An inheritance and adoption as a child of God. 

Christ’s incalculable riches are beyond our human comprehension. The message for the Gentiles is the same message for all of us - the profound spiritual blessings and treasures found in a relationship with Him and as a result of a relationship with him are for us. They are treasures found in Christ – for all who are in Christ.  We have been given this same inheritance of incalculable riches in Christ that we are not worthy to hold. But Jesus himself has redeemed us and justified us so that we are eligible through his shed blood – the payment for our sins. In him we are all eligible for the same riches, and that’s good news for Gentiles - and all of us. Not only has Christ granted us forgiveness and freedom from our sins, but he heaps on incalculable riches that we don’t deserve but he gives them to us because he loves us. 

Take a long look at your life. Sometimes we only see what is wrong and missing. Think of the incalculable riches Christ has given you and thank him for his unfathomable grace, mercy, and love he has given you. Share those incalculable riches with someone who needs to hear it today. 

Christ In You...The Hope of Glory

 Wednesday, February 25, 2026

I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.  God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27 CSB

Christ In You...The Hope of Glory

Paul was a servant of God, called to be a messenger to deliver a very important message – a special message revealed to him that had been a mystery hidden for ages. Paul was saved and called by God at the exact time for this mystery to be revealed. He felt the responsibility given to him to make the word of God fully known. The mystery to be revealed – the good news that the Messiah had finally come! 

To make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints… Parts of God’s plan from the Old Testament were not clearly revealed at the time because the time was not right. When Jesus came, the mystery was revealed that everyone, Jew and Gentile, could come together as one body in Christ. The Gentiles would be given the same rights as Jews – God’s “chosen” people. 

God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery… The good news that all of us could come together as one in Christ brings hope. For those who don’t come from a “chosen” background – then or now – we can still find hope in Jesus. Our world, our environments and circumstances are temporary but the hope we have in Jesus is eternal. Everyone who believes has this hope. Everyone who receives Christ as their Lord and Savior has the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

The thought of Christ dwelling inside people was not imagined in the Old Testament, especially in Gentiles. This was a mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed. God’s redemptive grace, not just reserved for Jews, but for all who would believe. This mystery was the message Paul was called to deliver, and it is our message too. Our part in God’s plan is to reveal the mystery and tell the story of Jesus as God's royal representatives in our generation, and the Holy Spirit in us wants to proclaim this great message of victory — the message that Jesus, our Messiah, our salvation, has come.

When the time was just right, God sent Jesus into the world for our salvation. At just the right moment in history, God revealed the great secret of salvation God had planned for us in Jesus Christ. Now this secret is proclaimed openly through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s telling the Colossians that their salvation is only found in Jesus Christ, not in the philosophies or Mosaic law or acts of religion they had believed in for ages. Our salvation transformation begins on the inside in our hearts. When we invite Him in, Jesus moves into our lives and changes our heart, the foundation. And this is Christ in you the hope of glory… the resurrection of our lives when we were dead in our sin. As we walk out our days on this earth in him we are transformed day by day in the new life we have in him and the promised hope of eternal life. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

Persevering Over Complacency

 Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:9-10

Persevering Over Complacency

Galatians 6:9 tells us that we will reap if we do not grow weary. To receive the full fruit of our labors, we must persevere. Keep going. We must not only keep going, but we must be intentional about what we are doing. If we are complacent or apathetic because we have lost hope and grown weary, we will not reap the harvest. We will reap nothing. The struggle and the hard things will be for nothing. 

Scripture, life experiences, and nature teach us that we reap the full harvest of the good only through persistent effort. Every farmer knows this. You can sow the seed, but if you don’t pull the weeds, water the seed, and take care of the soil, you will not reap fruit. You will not reap healthy growth and fruitful plants. The weeds of complacency will strangle a healthy harvest. 

Complacency, neglect, or wrong priorities can take their toll on everything. If you have a new car or home and you are not diligent about taking care of it but instead become complacent, it won’t stay nice for long. The same is true in our lives, our homes, and our church because of the many forces that work against the good. We have to persevere in the battle against it because if we are complacent, the devil gets his foot in the door. He cannot take us from God but he delights in our stumbles. It is especially important to persevere in our thought process. Any thought we have that is not of God we give immediately to Him. Many sins start in our thoughts, and it is our thoughts that can lead quickly to weariness and losing heart.  

Perseverance is the only way to the other side. Complacency won’t get you there. Perseverance is required to accomplish goals. It is required to see projects through to the end. It is essential to fighting battles or enduring struggles. It is the way to not lose heart in doing good and to keep weariness at bay. 

In our own strength we become complacent because we can’t do it. We don’t have what we need on our own to make it through the trials in the life. It is only in His strength that we can persevere over complacency and finish the race. It is in His strength, that we get up and keep going. In our own strength we become weary and lose heart. 

Our vision contains our purpose and when we lose our vision, we lose our purpose, and we lose heart. If we lose our vision we become complacent. Keep moving so you don’t lose it all. Keep taking every opportunity to see what God’s telling you. Fight complacency with faith and persevere over the desire to sit down and give up. 

 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ… 2 Corinthians 10:5

A Great Mystery Revealed

 Monday, February 23, 2026

The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.  This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory. Ephesians 3:3-13

A Great Mystery Revealed

This week in the series Pastor Jim is leading us through called We Are The Church – A Study In Ephesians, Paul reveals an ancient Great Mystery that will change the world. In this series we are learning what church is, our part as Christians in the church and as the church in the world. Our key truth is, The church is not a destination, but a base of operation. Church is not where we are to quietly live out our days as a believer, but instead it is a launchpad where we are equipped, encouraged, supported, loved, taught, and sent out to do the work God has called us to do as his church – to go out and spread the Gospel far and wide. That great mystery is Jesus Christ and the way it will change the world – through us – the church as we take that great mystery to the world.

What is the mystery of God revealed to the world in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Paul speaks about a great mystery that was revealed to him – a mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This mystery had been hidden for ages but had been revealed to Paul and now he was providing insight to the Jewish and Gentile believers in the church in Ephesus. The Jews were considered God’s chosen people of covenant, but this great mystery revealed that God’s mercy, grace, and salvation are available to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, through Jesus Christ. 

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

Paul is humbled by the revelation and the privilege to share this revelation with the Gentiles. In fact, he is in prison as he is writing this letter to them – imprisoned because he was sharing the gospel with the Gentiles. He had a special message to share with them, a message they never thought would be for them – the incalculable riches of Christ were for them. Charles Spurgeon says of these incalculable riches, “I am bold to tell you that my Master’s riches of grace are so unsearchable, that he delights to forgive and forget enormous sin; the bigger the sin the more glory to his grace. If you are over head and ears in debt, he is rich enough to discharge your liabilities. If you are at the very gates of hell, he is able to pluck you from the jaws of destruction.” (Spurgeon) These incalculable and unsearchable riches are far beyond our comprehension

These incalculable riches of Christ describe something that cannot be fully comprehended or measured. They are unsearchable and infinite. There are no limits to the riches of Christ for all who believe, including redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the guarantee of our inheritance. The Gospel of Jesus has been made available to all who believe, and we (believers) need to get the message of the Gospel to the world. The mystery of God is the fulfillment of his plan of salvation for the world through Jesus. 

Our job as believers is to live out the Gospel to the world around us. We say more with our words and actions than we ever can with our mouths, yet we also should “proclaim” it with our voice as well. The great mystery revealed in Jesus is revealed to the rest of the world through us as we walk in the incalculable riches he gives. 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians “The Great Mystery"

 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians
“The Great Mystery"

Ephesians 3:1-13 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.

Main Question: What is the mystery of God revealed to the world in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

1.        Mystery Revealed  (vs. 1-7) 

Paul contrasts the idea of mystery in three ways (vs5):

a.         Not made known/now revealed

b.         In other generations/now

c.         To people/to his holy prophets and apostles

 

2.        Mystery as Message (vs. 8-13)

Paul reveals his and the church’s call to preach to three groups:

a.         The Gentiles (vs. 8b)

b.         The Church (vs. 9-10a)

c.         The Rulers and Authorities in the Heavens (vs. 10b)

 

After the Message: 
 Read Ephesians 3:1-13. What is the mystery of God revealed in Jesus Christ? How have you responded to that mystery? Who will you share that message with this week? 

 

 

 

The Work of the Kingdom of God

Friday, February 20, 2026

So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

Healthy, growing churches are composed of healthy, growing believers seeking to fulfill the mission of Christ in the world.  When people believe they are doing something special they will surprise you with their willingness to serve and sacrifice.

For the Church to be Effective we need to:

Come Together – Only when we come together can we overcome all the obstacles that can keep the Church from being effective.  Unified we can come together to work as one, toward one purpose – doing God’s work. God’s people working together in unity produce amazing results.   The task that Christ calls us to, calls us to each other.  It is bigger than any of us - it is a shared responsibility.  

We do not have equal gifts, but we can have the same commitment – God gifts us all differently so our gifts will be different, but our commitment has to be equal.  We will solidify our unity by giving from our hearts.  Our commitment will show not in just being present to worship together, but in how we give – financially and with our talents and time.  The measure of a gift is not measured from the head but from the heart.  It is a gift of love and trust.  The real test of whether a person trusts God is most often how they handle what brings them security.  For us, it is most in the financial area of our lives.

Worship Together – Working together creates a social bond but worshipping together creates a spiritual bond.  We must make church a priority and set the example for our families, so they see how important it is to worship in a community with other believers.  Too many things can come between us and our commitment to worship.  Maybe it is time to review whether our children see our commitment to worship equal to other commitments in our lives.

Do the Right Thing in the Right Way - 

God’s plan is for His people to work side by side in unity to accomplish His work. No one is left out, but all have a part!  There is fellowship like no other when you work side by side to accomplish a great task. When God assigns a task, He also designates a method.  God has a plan as well as a purpose for us – both individually and collectively as a fellowship.  That means for lay people as well as staff.  Some of North Side’s most successful ministries have been the products of the burden, vision and coordination of members.

Finish What God Started – God wants us to celebrate the accomplishments we finish as a body of believers.  All glory goes to God, but He does want us to rejoice in His work being accomplished and for the part we are privileged to -play in it.  Anyone can make a commitment – the ones who change the world are those who keep them.

Not any one of us can do the task alone that God calls the church to do, but together we can see a great things accomplished!   Every stone we lay provides a foundation for the next generation.  They will remember how we worked together as a church and they will build off the foundation we leave for them so they can also accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

Breaking Down Walls

 Thursday, February 19, 2026

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:13-18

Breaking Down Walls

When we  look at the world today we can see much division and hostility - from families, in society, and even in churches sometimes. Paul is speaking to the Jewish and Gentile believers in Ephesus and they knew first hand about dividing walls. The Gentiles had been the "outsiders" because they were not God's chosen people, but Jesus changed that for all of us. Now Jewish and Gentile believers were worshipping together in the same church. 

Just like the Gentiles in verses 11-12, we were outsiders when we were dead in our sin. We were without God in the world, without promise, without citizenship, and without hope.  But now… Jesus changes everything. His shed blood brought Jews and Gentiles together, brought Gentiles near to God and into the family of God, and brought sinners out of death into a life in him. 

Sunday Pastor Jim told us he brought us all into community in three actions:

“Made both groups one…” – The ground at the cross is common for all – Jew and Gentile alike. Salvation makes the playing field level – it is the same for all. There is no difference between any of us when we come to the cross. His mercy and forgiveness are the same for all. 

“Tore down the dividing wall of hostility…” –There was a wall of division between Jews and Gentiles. There were also walls in the temple that still stood at the time Paul wrote this. There were parts of the temple that only the high priests and other priests could go in. These walls kept people separated from God. Jesus breaks down all walls of separation and brings peace where there once was chaos. He welcomes all his children with open arms, no longer strangers but family. 

“Made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations…” - Jesus ended the strife caused between the Jews and Gentiles because the Gentiles did not keep the law.  Jesus paid the debt for our sins fulfilling the law for us, we are reconciled by the cross. 

The Jews and Gentiles were brought together in peace through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. All of us are brought together as one through the cross. There is no “us” and “them” and there are no outsiders, and we all have the same access to God. 

Our heavenly Father has kicked down the dividing walls of hostility. He has brought us all together on level ground and made us one together in him, no longer strangers, but family. He is our peace, putting death hostility. We do not have to be on the outside any longer. With his death on the cross and resurrection we can be reconciled to him and to others.

What dividing walls of hostility in your life need to come down? In relationships or in your heart? 

Outsiders

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11-12 CSB

Without Christ

We are in week three of the series called We Are The Church – A Study In Ephesians. In this series Pastor Jim is walking us through what church is, our part as Christians in the church and as the church in the world. Our key truth is, The church is not a destination, but a base of operation. Church is not where we are to quietly live out our days as a believer, but instead it is a launchpad where we are equipped, encouraged, supported, loved, taught, and sent out to do the work God has called us to do as his church – to go out and spread the Gospel far and wide. 

Ephesians begins with Paul reminding the church in Ephesus of their adoption into the family of God. Chosen by the Father, adopted through Jesus, and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever. The church, or the family of God, is bound together in the Gospel regardless of any worldly boundaries such as Jews and Gentiles. Paul reminds them that in the shed blood of Jesus Christ those boundaries disappear. The last half of chapter 2 begins with another reminder to the Ephesians of who they were and their previous state when they were without Christ. 

Outsiders - 

Paul reminds the Gentiles that they were once outsiders, excluded from the promises of God, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God in the world. He reminds them of a time when they were far from God, separated by a wall of hostility. The idea that Gentiles were not circumcised indicated to Jews that they did not have five privileges given to the nation Israel.

Without Christ, the Gentiles were:

Excluded from the citizenship of Israel… Being a citizen of Israel was deeply connected to Israel’s political and religious identity. They were looked at as foreigners with no connection to the people of God.

Foreigners to the covenants of promise… The Gentiles were not part of the promise of covenant made with Jewish people. They were left out of these arrangements. 

Without hope… Without Christ and the mercy, forgiveness, and salvation he brings there is no hope. No relationship with him translates into an eternity separated from God and no life after death. They were not looking for a Messiah. In fact, they had no hope of a Messiah coming one day because they were strangers to that covenant of hope. A believer’s hope is based on the promises of God, of which they were excluded. 

Without God in the world… The Gentiles did not know God like the Jewish people did. They thought of God in heaven – separate from the world.  

Even though the Gentiles were once outsiders, excluded from the promises and covenant of God’s chosen people, living without hope and purpose, that was not their destiny.  This story mirrors the Gospel, in that before Christ saved us, all of us were like the Gentiles – outsiders, separated from God. But because of the shed blood of Jesus it does not have to stay that way. 

Without spiritual blessings. Without light. Without peace. Without rest. Without safety. Without hope. Without a spiritual heritage or a covenant promise. This is what it looked like for the Ephesians to live without hope and without God, and the same is true for us. Because of Jesus we can know true belonging and hope. We were dead in our sin, but God made us alive together with Christ.

A Unified Body With A Unified Purpose

Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.  Philippians 1:27

A Unified Body With A Unified Purpose

Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians. He was writing to encourage the churches he had planted as he faced judgement which could lead to his execution – for spreading the gospel. He wanted them to know that even if he could not be there with them, he was still doing his part in prison witnessing, and he expected them to continue to work in unity to advance the Gospel.     

Paul’s message was to the church in Philippi, but it is our message too. The Gospel is still going strong and being advanced every day, despite so many trying to stop it. God will not be stopped and as His children we are called to be a part of the movement of His story of grace, redemption, and eternal life. The church, which is the body of believers, is called to be unified and proclaim His Gospel. Paul gave us some instructions on how we can do that. 

Standing firm in one spirit…

Paul wanted to know that the Philippian church stayed together as one body, without becoming fragmented. He wanted them to have unwavering faith and there is strength in numbers. As long as they were standing firm, like soldiers, together, they could help one another and encourage each other in sharing the Gospel. We are to be unified in standing firm in one spirit. 

 With one mind…

For the church to be effective in spreading the Gospel, they have to agree on what they are all sharing. If they are all telling people different things it will cause people to not trust what they are hearing. Most importantly, we are to have one mind – the mind of Christ. How we are living our lives and the words we are using should reflect our belief in Jesus. The words we use to share the Gospel with others should line up with what the Bible says is truth.    We are to be unified with one mind, thinking like Christ and sharing the one true Gospel with everyone we can. 

Striving side by side…

We are to work together, side by side, as a team with each other. There is work involved in sharing the Gospel. It is more that just showing up for church and Bible study. It means extra effort and stepping out of our comfort zones. It is a personal “struggle” as well as a corporate “striving.” Unity as we work side by side, together for the same goal. 

And not frightened in anything by your opponents … 

Because our fearlessness is not merely human courage, God has given us this fearlessness ultimately through salvation in Christ. So that those who oppose us as Christians will come to realize that they are opposing God. – Andrew Williamson

This is a call to boldness as well as fearlessness. Paul was asking them to be bold in their faith, not deterred by anything that might cause them to hesitate. He didn’t want them to be intimidated by enemies of the faith and the devil. Fear and intimidation are weapons of the devil but we have weapons too and they are more in number and way more powerful than what the devil has. We have the power of all mighty God on our side, who goes before us, behind us, and beside us. We are enveloped in His power and goodness. 

Together we can stand firm, with one mind, one purpose, and strive together in unity spreading the Gospel.  

A Fellowship For All People

  Monday, February 16, 2026

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. Romans 15:1-2

 A Fellowship For All People

God has really called us into a simple task...SERVICE to others.  God as our Master has given a single order...Serve others as Christ served.  The thing that seems to intervene in our service to others is our feeling of personal rights.  It is not like the Bible did not expect this to be a problem.  Many scriptures speak of the attitude that must accompany Godly service...an attitude of selflessness. Here lies the real problem...the heart of a man.

Paul strikes a powerful blow to us in our feeling of personal rights in this chapter of Romans.  There is an ongoing hunger in the life of every person for acceptance.  It is what drives us into social order and relationship.  The fact that you regard me as worthy of your presence, love and support validates me as long as you are accepting me as I am and not as I am “ACTING.” 

The call of God to Christian service involves the responsibility of Christian patience with others.  To "bear the weaknesses" does not mean to solve their problems.  God never made us responsible for another man's burden.  To "bear" in this passage is a word that means to endure patiently.

God is dealing with every individual at their personal pace of growth.  The fact that someone does not agree or does not act properly does not mean they are less than you.  When someone says, “that is just the way I am", they may be sharing a place of weakness rather than personality.

A major problem for these people was cultural differences and expressions of worship. Paul told the church at Rome, Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  (Romans 14:1-4)  

Methods of ministry and worship are varied but we are all responsible to God.  The key to the need outlined is "not pleasing ourselves". The course of self-denial is the only course for the believer.  Anytime that you can serve God and always get your way, you can know that you have lost somewhere the servant spirit that is sensitive to others.  The Christian is most pleased with himself when others are benefited.  

This is a good word for all believers seeking a fellowship that is for all people.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 

 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians “A Call for Peace"

 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians
“A Call for Peace"

Ephesians 2: 11-22 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.

Main Question: What does it mean to be a part of the church and who makes up this community of faith? 

1.        We were once outside of community. (vs. 11-12) 

Paul spells out their separation in four phrases:

a.         “Excluded from the citizenship of Israel…"

b.         “Foreigners to the covenants of promise…”

c.         “Without hope…”

d.         “Without God in the world…”

2.        Christ brings us into community. (vs. 13-18)

Three actions:

a.         “Made both groups one…” (vs. 14a)

b.         “Tore down the dividing wall of hostility…” (vs. 14b)

c.         “Made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations…” (vs. 15a)

Two results:

a.         “Create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace…” (vs. 15b)

b.         “Reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death…” (vs. 16)

3.        Biblical community pursues the mission of God. (vs. 19-22)

After the Message: 
Read Ephesians 2:11-22. What is the state of an unbeliever? What happened when God intervened through His Son, Jesus? How then are we to relate together as the new community of faith called the church.