06.01.2025 | Stewarding the Mystery

Stewarding the Mystery

Eph. 3:8-12 (NIV)

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

1. Unlock the Mystery, it’s the Gospel!

Eph. 3:8-9 (NKJV) To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

The gospel speaks to every context of our life, offering a new lens of hope and joy-filled perspective.

What is the Gospel?

1. Good

2. Guilt

3. Grace

4. Gratitude

Does the Gospel Define Me?

When was the last time I applied the gospel to a problem?

Implicitly we think of ministry as our gift to God, but Paul thought of ministry as God’s gift to him. – Klyne Snodgrass

Stewarding Grace!

2. Unleash the manifold wisdom of the gospel

Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

The key to having a kingdom vision is this: No matter how dark the force or tough circumstance, you recognize by faith the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. Jack Hayford

3. Uncover access through the gospel!

Eph. 3:11-13 (NLT) This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Acts 19:15 (NIV) One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

It’s not a mystery to us. But we need to remember it’s still a mystery to many.

Questions for discussion/reflection

1. What is the mystery Paul refers to?

2. Does the gospel define you?

3. What was the last time you applied the gospel to a problem you were facing? How did you do that?