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God’s Church is a messy community of maturing, God-glorifying servants.

We are a church of Jesus Christ. Our charter and authority to be and act as a church comes from Christ himself. We want to be a true church of Jesus Christ, so we need to think in a biblical, true way about the church. This means giving close attention to clear, concrete statements in Scripture about who we are, but we must also give heed to the truth behind the New Testament’s figures for the church. In our passage, Paul gives three key metaphors for the church.

Paul elaborates upon and develops the metaphor of the church as temple.

Paul laid out the spiritual distance of Gentiles from God in vv 11-12. We were separated, alienated, strangers. We were far off, according to v 13. Now in Christ Jesus we’ve been brought near. This morning, Paul elaborates how Christ has brought both Jew and Gentile near to God as one. Our Lord Jesus is our peace with God and with each other. The Scripture before us this morning teaches us that Christ’s cross made a people. The text suggests two ways he did this.

Verse 18 is the capstone of vv 11-18. Through Christ we have access to the Father. The word access speaks of the ability of one person in a lower status to have an introduction to someone of a higher status. We were made for communion. God’s Word teaches us that Christ is the one who has restored this communion. As we return one final time to this section of Ephesians, I want you to see three aspects of our access from v 18.

“Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” [1] Seminarians are required to study systematic theology. The required courses consist of in-depth studies of the several doctrines that define the Faith of Christ the Lord. On my computer,…

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not…

“When many of his disciples heard [Jesus’ describing Himself as ‘the Bread of Life’], they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son…

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching…

“When they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” [1] The New Testament model for a church of the Lord Jesus differs significantly from what has been commonly accepted among the churches of our Lord’s Zion during…

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” [1] Few things give me greater pleasure than seeing God raise up heralds of holiness. I taught preacher boys in Texas for a brief period. Throughout the years of my service before the Master, it has been…

“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” [1] The letter to Timothy takes a decidedly personal turn at this point. Paul…

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages.’ Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence…

“Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach…

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” [1] Our contemporaries, and likely we ourselves, esteem the rugged individual. We imagine that we are distinct from everyone else. We are taught in elementary school that there is no one…

“In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s…

“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want…

“There was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they paid attention…

Select all the text in this box and paste your sermon here... Introduction Talk about being a football fan and a Bengals fan. Glad to not give the sermon last week because of Bengals loss. Was depressed. :( Introduce series - "2 Minute Drill" - A sermon series about the Sermon text with italics and bold…

“Those who received [Peter’s] word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the…

“Many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,…

What Is the Church? Matthew 16:13-20 Intro: The next several Sundays I want to speak about church from the perspective of Jesus. What do you think of when you think of church? You get up on Sunday morning, put on your church clothes, go to church, you have church, then go home and get on with your lives.…

“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want…

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” Some…