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Ephesians
Over the next few weeks, our Lectionary readings turn to Ephesians and bring an up-lifting message to the church of today. Ephesus was a busy commercial port with a population of a third of a million people. It was a cosmopolitan city as you might expect of a place that had visitors from all over Europe and the Middle East. People at the time would know about Ephesus, not because of it's significance for the Christian church, but because it was the renowned centre of the cult that worshipped the goddess Diana (or Artemis in the original Greek). Luke writes about the attacks that disciples of Diana made on early the Christian community (Acts 19:23-41).
Paul spent a lot of time in Ephesus and got to know the people there really well. His first visit, recorded in Acts 18, is followed by a visit as part of his third missionary voyage when he settled down in Ephesus for over two years. His Epistle was probably written from Rome during the time when he was under arrest. It has the form of a sermon rather than that of a pastoral letter. Of all the writings in the New Testament, Ephesians is a most remarkable and unusual letter.
Sunday 12 July 2015 - Ephesians 1:3-14
Picture the scene. A child has come to appreciate something amazing for the first time. Unable to contain himself, he runs into the house full of excitement and asks "Mummy, mummy, did you know that my apple pip is growing leaves? ". His face is lit up with wonder. His heart is overcome with joy at his discovery and he is launching forth with good news without stopping to take a breath. In contrast, as adults we learn how to become more measured and reflective. Life's experiences smooth away these raw outburst of joy and we grow to become less surprised by extra-ordinary things. Enthusiasm and exuberance are more rare in grandparent's lives than those of grandchildren!
So read these verses from Ephesians Chapter 1 in the sure knowledge that Paul is no child - he is a mature adult. He has seen life - he has faced the mob, the storm, the retribution and now finds himself in prison because of his faith. Despite his age and maturity, despite his Pharisaic scholarship, despite his ability to argue a case with logic and forensic thought, he comes to dictate one of the finest affirmations of God's purpose to be found in the New Testament. It is not his usual style - these opening verses are unique amongst all our scripture and they convey such a passion with a tone of glory and praise that is worthy of the best preacher caught up in the moment. The words are tumbling from his lips in a a cascade of praise. He writes without ambiguity - his whole being overflows with assurance, hope, joy and liberty!
So, we might ask, what is it that has caused such an out-pouring from a man awaiting sentence in Rome? Paul realises that what God planned before the creation of the world, he has fulfilled in Jesus. It has happened - in Paul's own generation. It has taken place and is a reality. So this passage is all about the will of God - his desire and his intention. This is why Paul is so excited and inspired! This is all about God's abundant grace to us and just what a rich blessing God has given to us through Christ Jesus.
Question: How hard would it be to plan something outrageous in church that those present might respond with joy and laughter and praise?
Sunday 19 July 2015 - Ephesians 2:11-22
I visited the military base near Twickenham nearly 30 years ago at the invitation of Lt. Colonel George Evans. It was a relief to find that the guards on duty at the gate had my name on their list of visitors and I was duly delivered to the Colonel for our meeting. Of course, everyone on the base was dressed in army uniform and I stood out like a sore thumb despite the fact that I was smartly dressed in a business suit. It was my first experience of "being something different" from everyone else. For, wherever I walked, it seemed that the soldiers working here were looking at me as though I was an oddity - I was someone "other", an outsider/civilian and I certainly did not belong amongst them.
Paul knew what it was to be a real "insider". Raised a devote Jew, he had been schooled as a Pharisee to realise that God's chosen race was "set apart" and he applied himself to become a real establishment figure. He learned at any early age what it was to look down on the Gentiles. He was recruited as a young man to seek out the followers of The Way and bring them to justice. So it is quite astonishing to read here in Chapter 2 that Paul appreciates what it is like to be someone "different" (a Gentile) and what ALL Christians need to do to accept one another in Christ. It seems that he has come to understand that all of his early schooling has now been revised. As a follower of Christ, he - a Jew - is called to be at one with those who are called Gentiles. In Christ, the walls of hostility have been broken down ( Eph 2:14). Indeed, as he reminds us earlier in this chapter, ALL who come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved through God's grace (Eph 2:8), and now God has made us one in Christ.
Question: How can we pray for those in our community who feel excluded because of illiteracy, poverty, disability or their lifestyle? What can we do in the church to ensure that there is no "dividing wall" that gets in the way of new people coming to worship?
Sunday 26 July 2015 - Ephesians 3:14-21
As a child, I had an irritating habit in the garden. I had watched others weeding the border and thought I could help. Sadly, weed and plant often looked the same to me. But what I lacked in horticultural knowledge, I made up for in my fascination with roots. It continues to amaze me just what elaborate structures are formed in the soil out of sight and fulfilling such a vital function. This mass of root growth is what keeps the plant nourished with food, sure footed in strong winds and robust against all kinds of affliction. There is little point aiming the watering can at the foliage or the flower - because the precious hydrating power for the plant comes from the soil around the roots. If you have ever tried to kill a rampant weed like a dandelion, then you will know that unless you completely remove all traces of the root, the weed will survive and return undeterred. The root is so important - it is the nerve centre for health, strength and abundance of flower and fruit.
Paul tells us that when Christ makes his home in our hearts, then our roots will grow down deep into God's love and keep us strong (Eph 3:17) - what a fabulous image that is! The word he uses here literally means "to become strengthened" (cf. Colossians 2:7). It begs the question as to why we still prefer a shallowness of religion when a deeper relationship with God - deeper roots - will always produce more abundant fruit in our lives. With good, strong, healthy roots, we can withstand all that life has in store for us. So it is obvious that we must make this unseen and unappreciated growth our first aim in living a life of faith. And then Paul ends this first half of his letter with a powerful Doxology (v.20-21) which reminds us that God does not have limits - there are no limits to the dimensions of Christ's love, no limits to the fullness by which we may be filled, and there are no limits to the extent to which we may be filled. An awesome promise indeed!
Question: How can we model growing deeper roots in believers? Is everyone who worships at our church part of a study group or fellowship? Or, if this is not possible for them, what alternatives might we offer so that they can grow deeper roots in Christ?
In the words of the song:
"Speak O Lord as we come to you
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take your truth, plant it deep in us,
Shape and fashion us in your likeness."
Sunday 2 August 2015 - Ephesians 4:1-16
Whatever your taste in music, surely one of the things that good musicians crave is a sense of togetherness - it is variously called "in the groove" or "ensemble" or "tight" depending on the genre. It is not just that they are playing the same tune, but that the inflections of rhythm and those tiny corrections of pitch are being processed and applied almost milli-second by milli-second to bring to our ears a truly wonderful sound. And it is this quality of "oneness" that makes musicians smile at each other - because they too are sharing in the pleasure of music well made. When the music binds each individual together - when the component parts and instruments fuse into one combined sound - that's when musicians experience an aesthetic beauty that words cannot describe.
There are no less than seven repetitions of the word "one" in this passage from Ephesians in chapter 4 - so we might well deduce that Paul is trying to emphasise something of importance! But it is not the numeral that is emphasised - it is that God's people may perceive themselves as "one" (or united) in Christ. And, of course, Paul also points to how we might achieve this - the attributes required in us are lowliness, humility, gentleness, patience and "bearing with" one another (Eph 4:2). Anyone who has experience of real church knows all too well that there is good cause for the seven-fold reminder! This passage reminds us that we give up on one another far too easily and at such great cost to the purpose of the body of Christ. This passage is about us recognising Christ in the lives of our brothers and sisters, and remembering to prize the gift that God has given to them - to be our teacher, our pastor, our prophet and our evangel.
Question: is there an opportunity to give thanks today for one another as we gather to worship together? How can we demonstrate that we truly value one another for the gifts we bring and offer to the body of Christ?
Sunday 9 August 2015 - Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2
So here is the question: "Are you prepared to change?". My answer is both "Yes" and "No". In all honesty, there are things I am willing to change - like my dress sense, but there are other things that are the same now as they we when I was a student - I haven't changed my bank since 1972! Looking back, there have been some tough changes - I know that changing my eating habits to a much more healthy menu took tenacity, but it was worth it. But, on the other hand, the pressures of the workplace also made me change as a person, and not always for the better.
So Paul is testing our commitment to change in this extended passage from the end of Chapter 4 to the first couple of verses in Chapter 5. He tells us that anger and deception and abuse have to be set aside - these things are not qualities that we should nurture in our lives and making these changes may present a bigger challenge to some than others. We feel guilty about some of our bad habits, but it seems that the guilt is not always sufficient motivation to make us change our behaviour. So Paul offers an alternative - he invites believers to learn how to "imitate" God and in doing so, he provides a method that is certain to change and mould us. I may well wish to aspire to wearing clothes with a smaller waist- size, but there is no guarantee that I can achieve this change by sheer will-power alone. But, by imitating the diet and exercise regime of someone I respect - who looks so much slimmer than I do now - then I might just see the change I need as achievable. In wanting to be an imitator of God, I am committing myself to profound change in my lifestyle, in my relationships and in my devotion and faith in Christ. This must be our life-long challenge - to allow the Spirit to mould us and renew us each and every day.
Question: Is it possible for us to remind ourselves half way through the year of the promises we made in our Covenant Prayer in January? Are we ready to be changed as we surrender to God? "Put me to what you will . . . . "
In the words of the song:
"Jesus, you are changing me,
By your Spirit you're making me like you.
Jesus, you're transforming me
That your loveliness may be seen in all I do"
Sunday 16 August 2015 - Ephesians 5:15-20
I found myself on the London Underground during a recent visit to the capital. There's no place like it! No-one speaks; everyone avoids eye contact. It seems that for those who travel most regularly you prepare for this ordeal by bringing a book, or by rehearsing your most passive and vacant face for the duration of your journey. But an unexpected treat was in store for me that day. As we filed off the platform in a long snaking queue, I could hear something in the distance - a musician was making use of the acoustics of a tunnel and was beckoning the travellers towards the light and fresh air of the street. Absolutely delightful!
And so, amongst all the warnings contained in these chapters in Ephesians, Paul also reaches for something higher. It is the heavenly sound of singing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" that we might lift our hearts in praise. Paul wants his readers to "give thanks to God for everything" (Eph 5:20) - and in his current imprisonment he probably means "everything" literally. It was a lesson that he and Silas had learned together some years earlier (Acts 16:25), having endured a severe beating and been thrown into prison. Truly "he (God) soothed his sorrows, healed his wounds, and drove away his fear" as they sang in their chains.
Question: Methodism was born in song! Is it possible for us perhaps, just for one Sunday, to allow our music to be more creative in leading us into the presence of God so that we are bathed in the sound of praise?
"To be in your presence,
To sit at your feet,
When your love surrounds me
And makes me complete -
This is my desire, O Lord!"
Sunday 23 August 2015 - Ephesians 6:10-20
I have only broken my leg once - it was a fracture of my right femur when I was young. I can say without hesitation that it was my own fault because I was not taking the advice Paul gives us in his last chapter. You see, there were some big lads that I did not want to trouble (yes, I admit it, I was afraid of them) and so I took a short cut which caused me to fall. To my surprise, I simply could not stand up again. And it was nearly ten weeks of traction before I was able to hold my own weight again. That was then - a weak little five year old learning a very painful lesson. So what of now?
Paul wants the believers to learn how to stand firm (Eph 6:11), but he recognises that not everyone is as bold and strong as he is. So he reminds us again that we need not be alone when conflict comes. Helmets and a sturdy belt and shoes are the order of the day - it is wonderful imagery from someone who can witnesses the common sight of many centurions moving around Rome as they go about their daily business. So, what about us? What would it be like if, even before we left home, we take a moment to remind ourselves of our salvation in Christ, and to know that we take his truth and righteousness with us into every situation! In short, Paul reminds us that we must prepare ourselves at the start of every day by drawing on all that God provides for us. We only stand our ground in strength when we allow the Spirit to direct us and fill us with his presence.
Question: The news is full of physical violence against individuals and groups. The media makes it attacks on Christian values all day long. How does our being church together (our cohort) strengthen us against the forces that oppose us?
