(Audio/Video/Text)
Title: From What to So What
Intro:
Into the Second Half of Ephesians!
As we transition into chapter four, the beginning of the second half of Ephesians, a fair broad stroke to describe the six chapter book of Ephesians is this:
Ch 1-3 is the “What” What God has done? (create unity between the Jew and Gentile in Christ)
Chapters 4-6, is the “So What” (What are we to do now that we are united in Christ? )
The First instructive from Paul is essentially this: Don’t Mess Up This Gift of Unity!
(Story of working for the telemarketer and my supervisor taking the phone from me and saying, “next time do it yourself!” Without any teaching or instruction.)
Fortunately for us this morning, Paul is much more detailed in his approach to demonstrating the “how” so that we know what needs to be done to maintain the gift of unity in love. That is what we are going to cover over the next two weeks.
The Relevance for us here today:
Now, while we are not potentially divided by the culture differences between Jew and Gentiles here at Heritage, let’s play a strategy game for a moment.
First, can we agree that there are far more warnings in Scripture of threats that come from within the church than threats that come from outside the church?
Secondly, and here is the key question, if we were strategizing as to how to cause division within THIS church, what sorts of strategies or issues might be successful in splitting up Heritage?
- American Politics becomes blurred with Biblical Christianity? (Covid! Trump!)
- A lack of softness concerning secondary issues/convictions?
- Complacency?
- Others?
Paul as prisoner
This is the second time that Paul mentions his status as prisoner, the first being in Ephesians 3:1. Paul is being clever in his language here as his status dictates. He is both a literal prisoner of Rome when he writes this epistle, and is also a spiritual prisoner for Christ on behalf of the Church.
It is with this designation as prisoner, that Paul “beseeches” his audience.
In the English translations we see three main words used here: beseech, urge, and beg. (Any others)
“beseech”
Greek: Parakaleo
The KJV translates Parakaleo in the following manner: beseech (43x), comfort (23x), exhort (21x), desire (8x), pray (6x), intreat (3x), miscellaneous (4x), variations of ‘besought’ (1x).
So the best way to think of parakaleo is that it is urging, but urging in an encouraging way, not in an authoritative or threatening way (like an ultimatum)…because there is a best way.
Two Examples in English using the word “urge”
A police officer who already has his weapon drawn on a suspect, and there is a gun on the table:
“Sir, I urge you not to draw your weapon!” (Threatening: Consequence is assumed)
Bob Barker/Drew Carey to a contestant that has a very easy decision to make on higher/lower:
“Sir, I urge you to bid higher.” (Encouraging: Don’t want to see a missed opportunity)
Finally today:
What is it that Paul is urging us to do? To “walk worthy of the calling with which we were called.”
Now, next week we are going to look at HOW we do this, but for today, I want to close with this question: What does it mean to “walk worthy?”
- In a manner that represents Christ and His Kingdom
- With grace and patience
- As a good ambassador
- Others?