God is Generous and Gives Gifts and Empowerment to Build the Body

In Ephesians 3, Paul writes about his ministry of bringing "the news of the boundless riches of Christ" to non-Jews (Gentiles), "to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God" (3:8) "now revealed...by the Spirit" (3:6).What is this mysterious plan now revealed?

Would you believe that it's the church? "Through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known...in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord" (3:10-11).

The good news is that all—Jew and Gentile alike—have "access to God" (2:17 cf. 3:12) as they are incorporated into a people, "members of the household of God" (2:19), even "a dwelling place for God" (2:22). Does the church, the Body of Christ, feel like good news to you?

Join us this Sunday as we reflect on just how closely connected the good news of Jesus is to the church in the letters of the New Testament we've been reading together this summer. We'll make space for folks to share how they've experienced the good news of Jesus in and as an invitation into the church and also engage with God about what we might need to persist in or move closer to the church as the fundamental location of our lives with God. We'll also look at Ephesians 4, where Paul describes God as a giver of good gifts, empowering each person to build the Body of Christ and find a place in it through the exercise of those gifts. We'll make time to reflect on the gifts that we've each been given and seek both new gifts and an increase in fruitfulness as we invite the Holy Spirit and pray for one another.