New Christian Education Teaching Series on Ephesians

What on earth is the church for?

Is it intended to be an agent of social, cultural and/or political transformation?

Is it a spiritual resource center where Christians gather to get their spiritual batteries recharged and to get their marching orders so that they can go back out into the world and get back to the real “kingdom work” of “redeeming culture” in their careers and by their activism?

Is it a place where believers go to receive instructions from a religious “life coach” (traditionally called a “pastor”) on how to live their best life now?

Is it a place where one goes to encounter God through a mystical ascent to God facilitated by the “worship experience” provided by the praise band and a winsome motivational speaker (uhh, I mean, the pastor)?

Is it a religious organization gathered to promote the goals of “social justice”?

Is it a place that provides religious-based entertainment and life-changing programs for all ages and every conceivable demographic niche, all slickly marketed to the meet the felt needs of the religious consumer?

Or, is the church the place where Christ by His Spirit descends in sovereign grace to meet with His people in word and sacrament in order to forgive their sins, feed their souls, and fit them for the heavenly glory for which He has redeemed them?  (Now, there’s an old-fashioned idea, eh!?)

The central focus of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians is the place of the church in God’s sovereign, eternal plan and purpose.  If we really want to know what God’s Word says about what the church is for, Ephesians is one of the best places to start.

On Sunday, June 12 during the Christian Education Hour I will begin a teaching series through Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians.  This is a magnificent portion of Scripture which combines both profound theological depth and practical instruction for our life together as God’s covenant people.  In order to help prepare us to embark upon this study of Ephesians, I will be teaching a more topical lesson on this upcoming Lord’s Day (Sunday, June 5) on the question with which I began this announcement/blog: “What on earth is the church for?”

Do you want to learn more about what on earth the church is for, and about your place in the church?  I’d encourage you to read through Ephesians, prayerfully and slowly.  And then come and join us at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings for our Christian Education Hour as we work our way through Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians!