Ephesians 5:1

Our text this morning is Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of going to the Social Security office to get a new Social Security card.

! I walk into the office and the Federal Security guard calls me over real politely.

He quietly tells me that the knife in my pocket needs to go back to my vehicle.

I was shocked for a number of reasons.

First, for his request.

Second, that I actually had my knife in my pocket.

I don't usually carry one around.

And third, it's only about two inches long, so I don't know.

He saw the shock on my face and he proceeded to tell me that weapons are not allowed on Federal property.

If you've never been to the Social Security office, the new location in Gainesville, it's in an office building.

Below it is a doctor's office.

The law office next to it is a law office.

So how in the world am I on Federal property?

Because I'm pretty sure the law office and the doctor's office are not Federal offices.

When I walked through the door into the Social Security office, I was stepping into and onto Federal grounds.

That moment, I was on Federal ground.

I was told by the Security guard and there was nothing I could do about it.

I had to abide by his laws.

In all honesty, there's probably signs posted that I didn't see.

I'm sure there are signs posted.

I would make an argument this morning that the same effect should occur when people come in contact with us.

That when they come in contact with us, we should have signs up figuratively that people know exactly who we are, where we stand, and that we are Christians.

We are adopted sons and daughters of the King.

So friend or foe, enemy or acquaintance should know exactly where we stand.

I'm afraid that too often our signs aren't even up.

I'm afraid too often the doorways aren't marked in our lives.

And there's no difference between us and the world, between Christians and the world.

A couple of weeks ago, Nathan talked about six things to look for in a healthy church.

One of the things he mentioned was missional church, to find a church that is missional.

A church that believes that everyone, as Christians, are ministers sent into the world to build the kingdom of God for the glory of God.

I would argue that living missional lives is how the signs stay out.

It's how everyone knows where we stand.

Our doorways are marked.

And people will know exactly where they are and who they are in the presence of.

I am not advocating prideful arrogance because we are adopted kings, adopted sons and daughters of the King.

I'm advocating a sincere life changed by the Gospel.

I would also argue that being missional is not this one thing we do.

It's not this event that we put on or this outreach that we do or this particular Bible study that we study.

It isn't the specific way that you talk or the clothes that you wear or the way that you choose to live a certain time.

Being missional is life.

It is a life that has been changed by the Gospel and is now compelled to love all.

Friend and foe, neighbor and family, enemy and companion.

Missional is our subject this morning.

My goal is for all of us to be moved, convicted and compelled to put up a sign and make ourselves known to the world.

Ephesians 5.1 is our text this morning.

One verse.

And it reads,

Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children.

Let's pray together.

Amen.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done this morning.

I pray that You would speak through me.

That the words that are spoken would not be my words, not my opinions, not my thoughts,

but be Your words to us this morning.

That we would hear Your words and we would follow Your words with obedience, whatever that requires.

Repentance.

A step in being a little more bold.

Whatever that is, God, we would be moved by Your word this morning.

The Gospel has already changed our life.

It's already made us new creatures.

God, I pray that it would change our actions as well.

We would not hinder that from happening.

We ask that You move this morning.

That You would speak to our hearts.

Your Holy Spirit would continue to move in this room and in our gathering.

I pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

So let me define missional for you.

The definition I want to use is from a book entitled Community by Brad House.

He says,

Missional is to participate in the mission of God as a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.

So, participate in the mission of God as a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.

Before we dig any deeper into the ground of missional living, we must look at the Gospel.

The end of the definition says,

As a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.

A missional life lives in response to the Gospel.

The life-changing act of the Father sending His Son to earth to live a sinless life.

Romans 8.3

For God has done what the law we can by the flesh could not do.

By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin.

God the Father sent His Son to earth to be sin, to bear the wrath of God for us, His body, the church.

We are undeserving and in fact we did not desire Him.

He showed us favor for His glory.

He showed us grace.

His grace.

Because He is a merciful and gracious God.

Now, as children of God, we sit here.

We sing songs.

We go to work during the week.

We sit in a classroom.

And because of Jesus, our standing with God is as if no sin had ever been committed.

Because our sin was taken away and given to us was Jesus' righteousness.

Some may say that we were neutral recipients of the grace of God.

That we do good and we do bad and it just kind of evens out.

The law tells us that we were actually in overdrive, driving the opposite direction of God.

Running from Him as sinners in rebellion of Him.

We weren't just undeserving.

We were guilty and deserving of the full wrath of God.

And He showed us grace by sending His Son for us.

God the Father has sent His Son.

And in John 20, 21, it says that Jesus then sends us.

He says, as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.

Not just His apostles.

Not just the disciples.

But all Christians are sent.

We are sent in the world, as Romans 8 tells us,

as ambassadors of Jesus, as ambassadors of the Gospel.

This is missional living.

In response to the Gospel.

From the Gospel.

Out of the Gospel.

Because of the Gospel.

This is missional living.

Ephesians 5.1 says,

Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children.

I want to unpack the second part of the verse first.

As beloved children.

We are beloved children because of the Gospel.

Romans 8.15 says,

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons,

by whom we cry, Abba, Father.

Ephesians 1.5 says,

He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1.5 says,

Through Jesus Christ.

For what part?

His entire life.

Sinless.

Perfect sacrifice for us.

Turn to Hebrews 9.10.

I'll show you something really quick,

and then we'll come back to Ephesians.

Hebrews 9.10.

Chapter 9, verse 11.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest for the good things that have come,

then through the greater and more perfect tent,

not made with hands,

that is, not of His creation,

He entered once for all into the holy places,

not by means of the blood of goats and calves,

but by means of His own blood,

thus to securing an eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls,

and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of heifer,

sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

how much more will the blood of Christ,

who through the eternal Spirit,

offered Himself without blemish to God,

purify our conscience from dead works,

to serve the living God.

Now, what I want to show you is,

in verse 12,

He says He entered once for all.

Once and for all.

Look at verse 12.

Or, I'm sorry, not verse 12.

We just read that.

Verse 26 in chapter 9.

For then He would have had to suffer repeatedly

since the foundation of the world,

but as it is, He has appeared once for all.

Verse 28.

So Christ having been offered once

to bear the sins of many.

Chapter 10.

Verse 10.

And by that,

will we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ

once for all.

And again, in verse 12.

But then Christ had offered for all time

a single sacrifice for sins.

You have been adopted once and for all.

It is over.

You're always part of the family.

You will not be let go.

You will not be discarded.

Once and for all.

It is finished.

You are a child of God.

And Ephesians 5.

1 says,

A beloved child of God.

And nothing will change that.

We are children of God.

And we are to imitate God

as children of God.

I started thinking about my kids

and the imitation of me

that they do.

They do it.

If you don't have kids yet,

here you go.

I've got an experiment for you.

Parents, try this at home.

See how long it takes.

Siblings, older siblings,

try this.

And then when you have kids,

try it.

Do some goofy dance move

and see how long it takes them

for them to add it

to their repertoire.

It will happen.

I've seen it.

It will happen.

It won't take long.

Kids and children

imitate their parents

for the good

and for the bad.

Children also trust their parents

and are in complete

dependence of them.

They're dependent

for all their needs.

You don't see a four-year-old

shopping for groceries,

but they have them.

You don't see a ten-year-old

shopping for insurance,

but they have it.

You don't see a fourteen-year-old

shopping for a house,

but they live in one.

Guys, we are beloved children of God.

We must be dependent on Him

and Him alone.

Children also are nurtured

by their parents.

The love and support they need

is there from the parents.

The touch and feel they need

is there.

Let me take a moment here.

Some of you don't have parents.

Some of you haven't received

nurture from them

in a really long time.

Maybe your dad has never said,

I love you.

Maybe he's never hugged you.

Maybe your mom has never

complimented you

or told you that she loves you.

Maybe you never have had

real parents.

Be comforted.

Be comforted

because this verse

is for you.

As beloved children,

He loves you

and He wants to nurture you.

He wants to hold you

and take care of you.

Your Heavenly Father

can and will

fill that void.

Allow Him to heal you.

Allow Him to be

your nurturing Father.

Allow Him to heal you.

Let go of whatever

is hindering you

from that happening.

Children are taken care of

by their parents.

and we are taken care of

by our Heavenly Father

as beloved children

imitate God.

So how do we imitate God?

Without digging down deep,

we know there's some things

that we just can't do.

We can't redeem

a people.

We can't forgive sins.

That is where the Gospel

comes into play.

That is where the Gospel

works.

I looked at just

the book of Ephesians.

Just one book.

And I went through

and I marked

what God does.

If we're going to

imitate Him,

let's see what He does.

So real quick,

kind of a quick run through

of Ephesians.

Six chapters.

In chapter 1, verse 3,

God blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing.

chapter 1, verse 4,

He chose us in Him

to be holy and blameless.

Chapter 1, verse 5,

He adopted us as sons.

Verse 7,

He redeemed us

and He forgives us.

Verse 11,

He has given us

an inheritance.

Verse 17,

He gives us a spirit

of wisdom and revelation

in the knowledge of Him.

He makes it possible

for us to know Him.

In chapter 2, verse 4,

He is rich in mercy.

He is merciful.

Also, verse 4,

He has great love.

Verse 13 of chapter 2,

He gathers His children close.

Verse 14,

He is our peace.

He unites.

Verse 16,

He is peacemaker.

Verse 22,

He continues to work.

In chapter 3, verse 2,

He is the giver of grace.

Chapter 3, verse 8,

He is bearer of unsearchable riches

in Christ.

Verse 19 of chapter 3,

He has love that surpasses knowledge.

Chapter 4, verse 1,

He calls.

Verse 7 of chapter 4,

He is the giver of grace.

Verse 16 of chapter 4,

He is the head of the body

and He makes it grow.

This is what God does.

Verse 21 of chapter 4,

He is truth.

Verse 32,

He forgives.

Chapter 5, verse 2,

He has made a sacrifice for us.

Verse 8,

He is the giver of light

so that we can walk in light.

Chapter 5, verse 23,

He is the Savior.

Verse 29,

He cherishes the church.

Chapter 6, verse 4,

He disciplines and He instructs.

Verse 8,

He is the giver of good.

Verse 10,

He is strong and mighty.

Verse 24,

He has an incorruptible love.

Now there's 65 more books in the Bible

that we should go through

and figure out what God does.

Because that's just one of them

and it's a daunting list.

How in the world can we imitate God?

The answer is by being missional.

In response to the Gospel.

Missional.

The definition is to participate

in the mission of God

as a response to the Gospel

through proclamation and practice.

See, our message,

it can redeem.

We can forgive because of the Gospel.

We can love because of the Gospel.

And when we do so,

we live in response to the Gospel.

So that list there that I just ran through,

that's what God does.

That's what God does.

So then,

what is His mission?

In other words,

why does He do those things?

God's mission can be summed up by,

God's mission is to be glorified

by making Himself known.

So how does He accomplish this?

God's mission,

be glorified by making Himself known.

Well, He accomplishes this

by sending Jesus

to redeem His people,

to build His clean kingdom

and to glorify the Father.

And then by Jesus sending us.

Jesus sending us,

as we read in John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

Matthew 28,

Matthew 28:18–20

verse 18 through 20,

is the Great Commission.

These are our marching orders.

Verse 18 of Matthew 28 says,

All authority in heaven and on earth

has been given to Me.

Go therefore and make disciples

of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe

all that I have commanded you.

And behold,

I am with you always

to the end of the age.

These are our marching orders.

We are sent into the world.

And this go here

is in our going.

Or as we go,

as we walk,

as we work,

as we sing,

as we talk,

make disciples.

The good news here

is we see this list.

We've read through that list

of Ephesians

of what God does.

We see this Great Commission.

The good news is

that we don't have to do

anything new.

We don't have to create

a new program

to reach the lost.

All we have to do

is join God

in what He's already doing.

Join Him

on His mission.

He's already working.

He's already making Himself known.

We have been invited

to join Him.

We join God

by living missional lives.

By imitating Him

out of the Gospel

and not for the Gospel.

Out of the Gospel,

not for the Gospel.

The definition was

in response to the Gospel

by proclaiming

and practicing

the Gospel.

The church is the messenger.

The universal church.

Not Christ's family church.

Not Church of Dahlonega.

Not First Baptist of wherever.

The church.

The big church.

Capital C.

Is the messenger

of salvation.

Not the means

of salvation.

So we proclaim

the message

of salvation

to the world.

God sends us.

Jesus has sent us.

And we proclaim

the message

of salvation.

In Luke chapter 4

Luke 4:43

verse 43,

Jesus says,

I must preach

the good news

of the kingdom

of God

to the other towns

as well.

For I was sent

for this purpose.

Jesus was sent

to preach the good news.

The good news

about Himself.

And we then

are sent

to preach

the good news

of Jesus.

As John chapter 20

John 20:21

verse 21 says,

As the Father

has sent me,

Jesus speaking,

even so

I am sending you.

So as the Father

has sent me,

I then am sending

you out.

We are to imitate

God by joining

Him in His mission.

By joining Him.

See,

missional is not

this new idea.

Missional is not

this new buzzword,

although it is

a buzzword.

It is a popular

word to speak

in Christian circles.

Missional is

the command

of God.

It is the way

that we must,

must,

live our

lives.

So then,

how do we live

missional lives?

How then do we

live missional lives?

First of all,

by being intentional

in proclaiming

and practicing

the Gospel.

Here is why

I chose

the word

intentional.

See,

we have been

given a new

life as Christians.

But as

Romans 7

taught us,

we still have

the same

corrupting

thoughts

and desires.

And Romans 8

tells us

that we have,

we no longer

are condemned,

but we still

sin.

So we have

the sin

and the corrupting

thoughts and

desires still

in us.

We're battling

it in us.

So missional

living requires

intentionality.

We have to be

intentional and

determined

to live it out.

We have to make

a point to be

missional.

have to be

disciplined,

to be determined

and to be devoted

to being

missional.

We have to

continually remember

that we are

the sent ones.

We are sent

with a purpose.

We are invited

by God

to join Him

in what He

is already

doing.

That He's

already doing.

He has

invited us

to join Him.

This,

right there,

that right there

should ease

some of our

fear and our

uncertainty.

We join God

in what He's

doing.

We then

imitate Him

and live

missional lives

in response

to the Gospel.

So here,

at Christ's

Family Church,

one of the ways

that we are

intentional is

by meeting

in community

groups.

We meet in

community groups

during the week.

The purpose

of community

groups is not

to have a

mid-week

Bible study.

Even though

that's good.

It's not

to meet

together

and fellowship

over food.

Even though

that's good.

It's not

to meet

and bear

one another's

burdens.

Even though

that's good

and that

happens.

The main

purpose

of community

groups is

to reach

the community

for Jesus.

To minister

together

to glorify

God

by making

Him known.

We have

three community

groups right now.

We have

two in

Dahlonega

and one

down in

Gainesville.

We want

to make

the communities

we are

in better

in response

to the

Gospel.

We want

all of

Christ's

family

church

to proclaim

the Gospel

and live

it out.

We want

all of

Christ's

family

church,

every person

in this

room,

to be part

of the

community

group,

so that

we can

better the

community

because of

the Gospel

and for

the glory

of God.

We want

to make

an impact

in our

communities,

not for

Christ's

family

church,

not for

our name,

but for

His name,

for His

glory.

Each group

is praying

for ministry

opportunities

to serve

the community.

We're

looking for

opportunities

to see where

God is at

work,

to see where

we can

join Him,

where can

we minister

to people

who are

in need.

We want

to love

the people

of Dahlonega,

love the

people of

Gainesville,

and

surrounding

areas of

those

to make

God

known.

Big

tasks.

Big

tasks.

But we

serve a

bigger God.

And He

has called

us to

join Him

on His

mission.

And He

will enable

us to do

exactly what

He wants

us to do.

We just

have to

trust and

obey.

If I

say

Metropolitan

Tabernacle,

you guys

know what

I'm talking

about?

No.

Metropolitan

Tabernacle

is the

church that

Charles Spurgeon

preached and

was pastor

for over

40 years

in London,

downtown

London.

In the

1800s,

the Industrial

Revolution was

coming through.

And listen to

some of the

problems that

London faced.

The Industrial

Revolution began

in the United

Kingdom in the

latter half of

the 18th

century.

And by the

1850s,

its effects

pervaded

England.

In this

period of

great

industrialization,

people left

their farms

and small

towns and

flocked to

London,

Manchester,

and other

cities.

As people

congregated in

vast numbers,

the old

infrastructure of

London lacked

the capacity and

resources to

attend to the

needs of the

new crowds.

The influx of

people into

London meant

not only a

spike in

laborers and

factories,

but also the

number of

under-resourced

women,

children,

orphans,

and widows

exploded in

London.

The city was

in crisis.

The leaders

didn't know

what to do.

They saw the

mountain of

needs that

confronted them

from every

angle.

Thus, in the

1850s, a lot

of London

churches did

what a lot of

American churches

have done during

the last 30

years.

They fled the

cities.

These churches

moved their

locations to the

outskirts of

London.

Now, we

don't deal

with overpopulation

here in

Dahlonega and

Gainesville.

We don't deal

with the

Industrial Revolution

coming through

our area.

But like

Metropolitan

Pabernacle,

they had a

decision to

make.

We have a

decision to

make.

Are we going

to be

intentional and

live in response

to the

gospel, or are

we going to

ignore the

needs of

people and

ignore God?

This is our

decision to

make.

We ignore

problems.

We stub our

noses sometimes.

When are we

going to get

involved?

When are we

going to live

intentional,

missional lives?

Are we going

to fear the

growing gay and

lesbian culture

because we

don't know how

to love them?

Are we going

to ignore the

growing drug

culture?

Or are we

going to fight

it and love

those who

are in the

middle of

it?

Are we

going to

embrace the

art culture?

Are we

going to

just be like

most churches

of the last

century and

ignore it?

These are

questions that

we have to

ask and

answer because

we are in

Northeast Georgia.

Are we

going to live

missional lives

that are

intentional,

that are in

response to

the gospel?

Read what

Metropolitan

did.

Metropolitan

Tabernacle

pastored by

Charles Spurgeon

decided we're

not going to

do that.

We're going

to stay

here.

We see

this as an

opportunity

for the

gospel.

Metropolitan

Tabernacle

looked at the

needs of the

people in the

city and

began to

engage in

helping them

with their

problems.

The problems

of the

desperately

poor were

the most

pressing,

so Metropolitan

Tabernacle

leaders created

almshouses for

people who

lost their

jobs and

needed time to

get back on

their feet.

The poor

houses in

London operated

in terrible

conditions,

but the

almshouses of

Metropolitan

Tabernacle

provided a

crucial

alternative.

The church

also built a

large number

of homes for

the elderly

where they

would care for

them and

help them die

with dignity

and peace.

The church

created an

orphanage where

they educated,

cared for,

and fed

thousands of

orphans.

they created

homes for

single mothers

who had lost

their husbands

and helped

them find

employment.

Metropolitan

Tabernacle

started a

school for

pastors from

rural areas to

receive a

theological

education and

help clothe and

provide books

for these

impoverished

pastors.

They started

programs for

businessmen to

use their

entrepreneurial

efforts to

expand the

kingdom through

their businesses.

Now listen to

this.

Metropolitan

Tabernacle's

influence spread

so quickly

throughout the

poor and all

the way up

to the

class ladder

to the

aristocracy.

It got to

the point that

if Metropolitan

Tabernacle had

shut down at

any point during

that decade of

grappling with the

problems of the

Industrial Revolution,

the city of

London would have

been crippled.

They would have

grieved the

loss of the

Tabernacle.

Can you imagine

serving the needs

of the city,

being so attuned

to the common

good for the

sake of the

gospel,

that your city

would grieve

if you picked

up and

left?

Are we going

to live

intentional lives

in response to

the gospel?

Another way of

living missional

life is having

ownership of the

gospel and the

mission of God.

Have you ever

rented a car

and found

yourself treating

it worse than

you would your

own?

You get in it

and the first

thing you look at,

and this might

just be the

guys.

You get in it

and you look at

it and you

look and see

how far the

speedometer goes.

120, 125,

what are we

looking at?

And then you

say, let's see

what this baby

will do.

We do this

because it's

not ours.

We don't have

ownership of it.

We don't care

as much about it.

We don't think

about it as much

and we certainly

don't live for it.

It's the same

with the gospel

and the mission

of God.

If the gospel

and the mission

of God are just

religious activities,

if they're just

things that we

do that just

happen on Sunday,

there's no

ownership.

If there's just

another activity

on our list

of responsibilities,

there's no

ownership.

You abuse it,

you ignore it,

and you don't

live for it.

But if,

if you have

ownership,

you take care

of it,

you love it,

you cherish it,

like your car,

you baby it,

and very seldom

do you floor it.

You find yourself

caring for it,

wanting to take

care of it,

cherishing it,

because it's yours.

Well,

I'm here to tell you

that the gospel

and the mission

of God is yours.

It is yours

and it is mine.

Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

Flip back to

Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

real quick.

Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1:3

verse 3.

It says,

Blessed be the

God and Father

of our Lord Jesus

Christ,

who has blessed

us in Christ

with every

spiritual blessing

in the heavenly

places,

even as He chose

us in Him

before the

foundation of the

world,

that we should

be holy

and blameless

before Him.

In love,

He predestined

us for

adoption as

sons through

Jesus Christ

according to

the purpose

of His will,

to the praise

of His glorious

grace with which

He has blessed

us in the

Beloved.

In Him,

we have

redemption

through His

blood,

the forgiveness

of our

trespasses

according to

the riches

of His grace,

which He

lavished upon

us in all

wisdom and

insight,

making known

to us

the mystery

of His

will,

according to

His purpose

which He

has set forth

in Christ

as a plan

for the

fullness of

time to

unite all

things in

Him,

things in

heaven and

things on

earth.

It is

personal.

This

salvation,

this adoption

is personal.

It's just

not an

activity.

No one

is adopted

without it

being personal.

Britain,

my oldest

is adopted

and it

has been

personal.

Her life

has been

affected by

her adoption

for the

good.

Let's be

honest.

it is

personal.

But,

we cannot

believe the

gospel without

being moved

to action

by it.

We cannot

believe the

gospel without

being moved

to action

by it.

See,

we know the

commandments of

God.

We know the

love that God

has for us.

And in turn,

we're supposed

to have for

others.

We know

these things.

We know

God's mission.

And because

we do,

we must

act.

In the book

Community

that I quoted

earlier,

it says,

when our

hearts beat

in rhythm

with His,

we begin

to see His

mission and

are ready

to take

ownership

of it.

I see it.

Do you see

God's mission?

Do you see

why He's doing

what He does?

Why He

redeems a

people?

to glorify

Himself by

making Himself

known.

Ownership is

marked by a

get-to

sacrifice and

not a got-to

out of duty.

Ownership is

a get-to.

We get to be

part of God's

mission.

We get to

join Him.

We get to

love people.

We get to

live the

gospel out for

others to see.

We get to

be on mission

with God.

We get to

join Him in

the work that

He is

already

doing.

There is

not a

got-to

attitude in

ownership.

It is a

get-to

sacrifice for

His glory

and His

name.

Own the

truth of

God and

get in the

game.

It is

real and

it is

personal.

Here's some

good news

though.

Here's some

really good

news.

God has

created us

for His

good work.

Ephesians

Ephesians 2:10

chapter 2

verse 10.

For we

are His

workmanship

created in

Christ Jesus

for good

works which

God prepared

before Him

that we

should walk

in them.

Not only

has God

created us

for His

good work,

we are

equipped for

His good

work.

Chapter 4

verse 11

and 12.

And He

gave the

apostles,

the prophets,

the evangelists,

the shepherds,

and teachers

to equip the

saints for the

work of the

ministry,

for building

up the

body of

Christ.

Not only

has God

created us

for this

work,

not only

has He

equipped us

for this

work,

but He

empowers us

and compels

us through

the gospel.

Again,

Ephesians

Ephesians 3:20

chapter 3

verse 20

and 21.

Now to Him

who is able

to do far

more abundantly

than all

that we

ask or

think,

according to

the power

at work

within us.

To Him

be glory

in the

church and

in Christ

Jesus

throughout all

generations

forever and

ever.

Amen.

God has

created us

for His

work.

He equips

us for His

work and

He empowers

us for His

work through

the gospel.

There is no

reason to

fear.

There is no

reason to

worry.

There is no

reason to

doubt.

There is no

reason to

question.

He has

created us

for His

work.

He has

equipped us

for His

work and

He empowers

us for

His

work.

It is

why the

verse 1

of chapter

5 says

and walk

in love.

We can

walk in

love because

He has

equipped us,

created us,

and empowered

us to be

able to do

just that.

Missional is

participating in

the mission of

God as a

response to

the gospel

through

proclamation

and practice

that is

missional.

We join

God in

His

mission,

on His

mission.

We don't

create a

new mission.

We join

Him in

what He

is already

doing.

That is

missional.

When we

are living

missional

lives,

by imitating

God,

people will

know.

Like when I

walked into

the Social

Security office

and I was

told I was

on federal

ground.

Nothing I

could do

about it.

I just

knew.

I guess.

I was

told and

I knew.

I was on

federal

property.

People will

know immediately

we're living

missional

lives.

You're

a Christian

on mission.

On God's

mission.

That is

being

missional.

Being

missional

begins and

ends with

the gospel.

We are

sent from

Him for

Him.

We have

been chosen

for His

mission,

for His

glory and

His name.

God.

See,

the gospel

compels

us.

It empowers

us.

And it

is the

message we

share.

Let us be

on mission

with God

and for

God.

That is

missional.

Let's pray

together.

Let us

desde