Why this way of life?
Recap of Ephesians 1
- It’s according to God’s good pleasure and purpose
- Communities are a prophetic movement raised up by the Lord
- treasure the Renewal, be a sign of Christian unity
- It’s a manifestation of his love and power through the BHS
- It’s all for the praise of his glory
Because we’ve been reconciled by the blood of Jesus
We have been reconciled in Christ (vertical and horizontal dimension)
- Christ has reconciled us to God through the new covenant in his blood
- In Christ, we’re also reconciled to one another – Paul talked about the dividing wall of hostility being demolished and 2 groups becoming one
- Our covenant is a knitting together of our lives
- Christine knits beautiful blankets – I can’t tell where one thread ends and another begins
- a picture of married life/family life: it shouldn’t be obvious where one ends and the other begins.
- Where does the thread of my life end and yours begin? It shouldn’t be as obvious as it usually is in our culture
- When I sign the covenant, that signals an immersion in your lives
- This presents a challenge for fallen people like us
- We commit to not letting walls arise between us (whether of personal division and unforgiveness or the walls of a busy life)
- Because we want to serve the church
Jesus is the cornerstone of the church.
- We are not a church – we each belong to different churches.
- But, together, we want to join with the Lord in building his church.
- Famous story about Francis trying to rebuild his local church building
- Realized that God was calling him to renew the church – God’s people
- How can we do that?
- Primarily by witnessing to the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Serving in our churches however God calls us.
- Famous story about Francis trying to rebuild his local church building
- By signing our covenant, you are committing to serve the Lord’s church
This is only the 2nd chapter of Eph, but it helps answer the “why” question for us.
- “To what end does our covenant way of life lead?”
- It leads to the presence of God
Why this way of life?
Because God intends to dwell with his people.
This is the great story of the Scriptures. It’s one our community’s favorite Psalm speaks about
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.