Towards An Epiphany Sermon for a New Year (Ephesians 3)

One of the things about preaching from the Lectionary is the same texts and themes year after year. Yet I have found the Epiphany surprisingly rich and fresh year after year. 

(See further: https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-epiphany-matthew-2.html)

It is a suitable theme for New Year because it presents us with:

(1) A grand compelling vision 

(2) Our part(s) in it

This is the kind of thing that can motivate and inform our plans for 2021 whatever our circumstances. 

Thinking of Christ, the Magi and the lectionary reading from Ephesians 3, one could preach Ephipnay in terms of:

(1) The REVELATION of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations

(2) A faithful RESPONSE:

(a) Seek Jesus

(b) Serve Jesus

(c) Share Jesus

Or if you wanted to focus more on Ephesians 3, it might be summed up in two words: REVELATION and PROCLAMATION. 

Some further jottings on Ephesians 3 (mainly stolen from John Stott, I suspect):

3:1-13

 

3v1 – “for this reason” – link back to 2vv19-22 and God’s plan to include the Gentiles with Israel in the church

 

V1, v14, “For this reason I…”

vv2-13 grammatically, a digression sparked by Paul’s mention of himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles

 

Vv2, 7 repeat the same words: “God’s grace that was given to me”

2 privileges which God in his unmerited favour has given to Paul:

a certain revelation as a result of which Paul had come to know something (vv2-3)

a certain commission as a result of which Paul was responsible to make something known to others (vv7-8)

 

Vv2-7 – how the grace of God gave Paul this message and ministry

Vv8-12 – how the grace of God empowered Paul for this ministry

 

A revelation and a commission

 

(1) Revelation – the mystery revealed (vv2-7)

 

mystery: v3, 4, 9

 

V6 tells us the content of the mystery:

 

V6 tells us the content of the mystery:

the equal inclusion of the Gentiles with Israel

 

3 things – in the NIV 3 “together”s

(a) Co-heirs: fellow heirs of the same blessing

(b) Con-corporate: fellow members of the same body

(c) Co-sharers: fellow partakers of the same promise

 

I.e. the mystery is what Paul explained in 2:11-22

 

The OT did reveal something of God’s purpose for the gentiles: Gen 12:1-3; Ps 2:8; Is 42:6; 2:2-4 – radical nature of God’s plan for replacement of nation with international people of God not clear in OT times, equal union

 

(2) Commission – the mystery must be made known (vv8-13)

 

V8 – Paul the least because of his persecution of the church of God – 1 Cor 15:9

 

Paul elaborates the privileged ministry entrusted to him in 3 ways:

 

(a) Making known Christ’s riches to the gentiles (v8)

 

(b) Making known the mystery to all men (v9)

 

(c) Making known God’s wisdom to the cosmic powers (v10)

 

SO, v13, don’t lose heart

 

Conclusions:

 

(a) The church is central to history

 

(b) The church is central to the gospel

 

(c) The church is central to Christian living

 

To put it another way / application / how this might be preached:

 

(1) The shock of revelation: you can be part of the church

 

(2) The necessity of proclamation: the world must know this truth

 

(3) The result:

Satan will see God’s wisdom

Sinners can approach God’s throne

Suffering for the gospel makes sense