Last week, the sermon focused on the necessity of being active in a local fellowship if we are to grow as Christ’s disciples. This week, Part 3 of our series builds on the theme of fellowship. We learn that engaging in the diversity God has brought about at ALCF is essential for us to experience the fullness of God mentioned three times in Ephesians. By diversity, we mean that ALCF is comprised of people from different ages, religious backgrounds, education levels, socio- economic classes, political convictions, ethnicities, and races. Out of these many and varied backgrounds, God has made us one body. Together, we are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

The sermon makes three specific points:

1) The gift of diversity is a gift from God that needs to be unwrapped and used;

2) The challenge of diversity recognizes that before we were in Christ, our identity came

from other sources fragmented by sin, e.g. our class or ethnicity, etc. Consequently, we learned to fear and have negative feelings towards others who are different than us. However, if we can see our differences with the other members of the body like a church potluck, i.e. to be explored, enjoyed, and intended for mutual blessing, then we can overcome our fears and feelings and experience more of God’s fullness;

3) The power of diversity in Christ speaks to the way God uses our participation in a diverse body of believers to break the bonds of fear and negative feelings. Thus transforming us more into the image of His Son, Jesus.

This week marks the beginning of a six-week series on discipleship based on the book of Ephesians. The series will focus on “making disciples,” that is sold-out followers of Jesus Christ, who go where He leads and do what He commands so that God is glorified. Thus the good news of His kingdom is experienced by more and more people whom He loves and for whom He died.

The call to discipleship begins with God’s grace. Ephesians 1:3-7 is just one of the Bible passages that tell us His grace is what has allowed us to be in Christ in the first place. In other passages, we see that God’s grace is what provides us strength each day to live out our call as faithful disciples. When we respond to God’s grace by giving our lives to Him, we have a “glorious grace story” about how Jesus saved us from our particular path of sin and death.

We also respond to God’s grace by worship. Worship comes in many forms and is known in our lifestyle choices; however the focus here is on corporate worship—coming together to worship the Lord. When we worship together, four things happen: 1. We have a spiritual encounter with God (Psalm 22:3); 2. We experience spiritual connection with each other (Ephesians 3:17-19); 3. We acquire spiritual victories (2 Chronicles 20:21-22); 4) We make it a priority.