Connecting the Dots with Dr. Lanker

The story of the church is an Epic. Where do you fit in in the story?

Ephesians 2:1-7 We are so bound and determined to make our lives work that our natural tendency is to shut God out and just work harder. But God couldn't  leave us in that state of rebellion. So He came to His creation, to bring us home. Whether we can make it there is the question.

Throughout chapter 1 Paul has been building the point that the church is full of: ·      A bunch of unqualified people are brought into God’s family ·      Given a new identity and more responsibility than they deserve ·      Filled to overflowing with God’s gifts and His Spirit ·      Who still can’t grasp why God planned to choose us So he  prays that we would be enlightened by the Holy Spirit  to grasp: ·      God’s hope in calling us ·      His value in choosing us, and ·      His power at work in us Paul pulls all of this together in this episode by illustrating what God’s plan combined with His power can accomplish- in His Son and in His Church.

Paul prays that the Church will know why God has called - them. They they are so valuable to God's eternal work. And just how powerfully God could work through their simple obedience. It's a lot to grasp and a lot to put into practice, but imagine if those of us in the Church actually did!

Ephesians 1:13-14 - The Church accomplishes its purpose simply by trusting the work of the Triune God more than our paradigms.