Worship is not a secondary issue for Paul – it’s primary, as evidenced here as he begins this long sentence with praise to God. He starts by reminding his listeners of all the incredible blessings that are theirs "in Christ" (this phrase shows up 11 times in the first 12 verses). All these blessings are from God and for God - "to the praise of His glory". While there's much to discover of God's sovereignty in these verses, let's not forget that it's all intended to make us into a people of praise.

- The Father chose, predestined, and adopted people for Himself. (vs 3-6)

- Through the shed blood of the Son sinners have redemption and forgiveness. (vs 7-12)

- The Spirit "seals" and "guarantees" that all those whom the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him. (vs 13-14)

A true revelation of the nature of God will always result in praise from His people!

God sovereignly saves sinners so they might be holy and blameless before Him - this is His good purpose in election. If God doesn’t choose no one would be saved, because our wills are bound by sin, making us dead to righteousness (Rom. 3, Eph. 2). If God has saved you - if you are His child - then you are here on purpose. God lovingly and intentionally brings saved sinners into His forever family.

Worship is not a secondary issue for Paul – it’s primary, as evidenced here as he begins this long sentence with praise to God. He starts by reminding his listeners of all the incredible blessings that are theirs "in Christ" (this phrase shows up 11 times in the first 12 verses). All these blessings are from God and for God - "to the praise of His glory". While there's much to discover of God's sovereignty in these verses, let's not forget that it's all intended to make us into a people of praise.

- The Father chose, predestined, and adopted people for Himself. (vs 3-6)

- Through the shed blood of the Son sinners have redemption and forgiveness. (vs 7-12)

- The Spirit "seals" and "guarantees" that all those whom the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him. (vs 13-14)

A true revelation of the nature of God will always result in praise from His people!

God sovereignly saves sinners so they might be holy and blameless before Him - this is His good purpose in election. If God doesn’t choose no one would be saved, because our wills are bound by sin, making us dead to righteousness (Rom. 3, Eph. 2). If God has saved you - if you are His child - then you are here on purpose. God lovingly and intentionally brings saved sinners into His forever family.

Worship is not a secondary issue for Paul – it’s primary, as evidenced here as he begins this long sentence with praise to God. He starts by reminding his listeners of all the incredible blessings that are theirs "in Christ" (this phrase shows up 11 times in the first 12 verses). All these blessings are from God and for God - "to the praise of His glory". While there's much to discover of God's sovereignty in these verses, let's not forget that it's all intended to make us into a people of praise.

- The Father chose, predestined, and adopted people for Himself. (vs 3-6)

- Through the shed blood of the Son sinners have redemption and forgiveness. (vs 7-12)

- The Spirit "seals" and "guarantees" that all those whom the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him. (vs 13-14)

A true revelation of the nature of God will always result in praise from His people!

God sovereignly saves sinners so they might be holy and blameless before Him - this is His good purpose in election. If God doesn’t choose no one would be saved, because our wills are bound by sin, making us dead to righteousness (Rom. 3, Eph. 2). If God has saved you - if you are His child - then you are here on purpose. God lovingly and intentionally brings saved sinners into His forever family.

Because we are “in Christ”, we are secure in Him even when opposition or difficulties arise. The identity of every believer is firmly bound up “in Christ”. Ephesus was a city wrapped up in idolatry, immorality, and spiritual warfare. Paul's letter the to the churches in and around Ephesus was one of encouragement and instruction, full of truth and grace. In it he explores and expounds the love of God in beautiful ways.

Because we are “in Christ”, we are secure in Him even when opposition or difficulties arise. The identity of every believer is firmly bound up “in Christ”. Ephesus was a city wrapped up in idolatry, immorality, and spiritual warfare. Paul's letter the to the churches in and around Ephesus was one of encouragement and instruction, full of truth and grace. In it he explores and expounds the love of God in beautiful ways.

Because we are “in Christ”, we are secure in Him even when opposition or difficulties arise. The identity of every believer is firmly bound up “in Christ”. Ephesus was a city wrapped up in idolatry, immorality, and spiritual warfare. Paul's letter the to the churches in and around Ephesus was one of encouragement and instruction, full of truth and grace. In it he explores and expounds the love of God in beautiful ways.

If Christ has saved you, you are a member of His body and you have a job to do in His Church. You belong. You have something unique and wonderful to offer that the rest of the body of Christ needs.

We don't determine our giftedness any more than we determine our eye color. God has arranged the members of the body “as he chooses”. God decides, not us. It may seem obvious, but Paul makes sure his readers understand that we are all connected in Christ. Not only that, but we are gifted for a particular reason - "...for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7). No matter what gift you have or what you think of the gifts given to those in the church, they were all given to build up the church, not divide it.

We were designed to need each other, but we are often tempted to feel useless or self-sufficient in the church. The root of both is pride, thinking about ourselves too much. And both viewpoints reveal a lack of trust in the wisdom of God.

In the Church, God's good design in that there is unity in the midst of diversity. The Church will not be known for its pastors. It will not be known for its buildings. It will not be known for its programs. Jesus says the Church will be known for how we love one another. (Jn. 13:35)

Despite what you think about the church, despite even the poor example that the church & its members have set at times over the years, God is calling you to be a part of it, to make it more complete, to operate in your unique giftedness, for His glory and for the good of the church.

This is all, as Paul puts it in 1 Cor. 12:18, “according to His design”.

If Christ has saved you, you are a member of His body and you have a job to do in His Church. You belong. You have something unique and wonderful to offer that the rest of the body of Christ needs.

We don't determine our giftedness any more than we determine our eye color. God has arranged the members of the body “as he chooses”. God decides, not us. It may seem obvious, but Paul makes sure his readers understand that we are all connected in Christ. Not only that, but we are gifted for a particular reason - "...for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7). No matter what gift you have or what you think of the gifts given to those in the church, they were all given to build up the church, not divide it.

We were designed to need each other, but we are often tempted to feel useless or self-sufficient in the church. The root of both is pride, thinking about ourselves too much. And both viewpoints reveal a lack of trust in the wisdom of God.

In the Church, God's good design in that there is unity in the midst of diversity. The Church will not be known for its pastors. It will not be known for its buildings. It will not be known for its programs. Jesus says the Church will be known for how we love one another. (Jn. 13:35)

Despite what you think about the church, despite even the poor example that the church & its members have set at times over the years, God is calling you to be a part of it, to make it more complete, to operate in your unique giftedness, for His glory and for the good of the church.

This is all, as Paul puts it in 1 Cor. 12:18, “according to His design”.

If Christ has saved you, you are a member of His body and you have a job to do in His Church. You belong. You have something unique and wonderful to offer that the rest of the body of Christ needs.

We don't determine our giftedness any more than we determine our eye color. God has arranged the members of the body “as he chooses”. God decides, not us. It may seem obvious, but Paul makes sure his readers understand that we are all connected in Christ. Not only that, but we are gifted for a particular reason - "...for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7). No matter what gift you have or what you think of the gifts given to those in the church, they were all given to build up the church, not divide it.

We were designed to need each other, but we are often tempted to feel useless or self-sufficient in the church. The root of both is pride, thinking about ourselves too much. And both viewpoints reveal a lack of trust in the wisdom of God.

In the Church, God's good design in that there is unity in the midst of diversity. The Church will not be known for its pastors. It will not be known for its buildings. It will not be known for its programs. Jesus says the Church will be known for how we love one another. (Jn. 13:35)

Despite what you think about the church, despite even the poor example that the church & its members have set at times over the years, God is calling you to be a part of it, to make it more complete, to operate in your unique giftedness, for His glory and for the good of the church.

This is all, as Paul puts it in 1 Cor. 12:18, “according to His design”.

What exactly is the “Great Commission” and what does it mean in light of our modern world? Does it apply to us small rural churches? Is it a corporate responsibility, or an individual one?

Every first-century church was the direct result of missionaries like Paul, who went out and shared the Gospel, establishing local churches and building relationships with them. Our desire to share the Gospel should be driven by love and concern for the lost and an urgency spurred by the fact that hell is real and the lost will be separated from God for eternity. If the body is healthy within the church, then a part of that is disciple making within the body here. We can’t go out and make disciples and teach unless we can put it into practice here first.

The Great Commission starts in the local church.

“The whole book of Acts centers around not just individual evangelizing and discipling, but evangelizing and discipling in the context of the local church. The story of the spread of the Gospel is the is the story of local churches.” - Mark Dever in "Understanding the Great Commission"