"US - Unity over Self" | Ephesians 3:1-6 - a podcast by Bend Int. Church of Christ

Ephesians 3:1-6

Why break the first sentence off? How is Paul getting distracted in his own thinking?

“I am in prison on your behalf, you gentiles” - what a cliff hanger!

What is the mystery God is revealing?

It has been planned by God for you to be United

As Christ was revealed to Paul, the plan for the gentiles was revealed all the more clearly.

He gets sucked into the vortex of grace. Have you ever felt grace like that?

To be closer to God was to be in chains for the gentiles.

Has the message of Jesus caused you to drastically change your attitude toward any group of people? Or perhaps a type of person? Or perhaps someone in this room?

There is a costly nature to this mystery. A costly nature to this grace, and a costly nature to this united church.

It will personally cost you. Is a united church your commitment or your convenience?

Have you counted that cost?

V4

These things are meant to be illuminated, and perceived by reading, not to remain a mystery.

God can only reveal as much as will be received.

Reading should be transformative.

If you don’t fall in love with this text, you won’t make it.

How can we hope to equip others, if we do not equip ourselves?

V13

Paul is in prison on their behalf, not their fault.

Paul endures prison because he is focused on others.

Unity over self.

When we are bonded to Christ, we are bonded to his mission..

Christ came not for his own sake, but for the sake of others.

Mark 10:45, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Corinthians 4:5-6

How are you becoming poor so that those on your left and right can become rich?

Paul was poor, homeless, imprisoned, convicted as a criminal following a savior who was the same.

Turn to the person on your left and right, and say “I will suffer for you, I will honor and glorify you.”

How do we anchor ourselves more deeply into this text, more deeply into one another, and more deeply into the grace of God? Read the text, share the gospel, and remember unity over self.

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