Sermon Recap: Why Join the Church

<p>Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 5 of the First Things First series.</p><p><br></p><p>Why Join the Church:</p><p> 1. Comprise some church</p><p> 2. The church you comprise is the mystery of Christ</p><p> 3. The Church displays the mystery of Christ</p><p><br></p><p>Ephesians 3:1-13</p><p>1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— </p><p>2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, </p><p>3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. </p><p>4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, </p><p>5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. </p><p>6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.</p><p>7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. </p><p>8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, </p><p>9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, </p><p>10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. </p><p>11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, </p><p>12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. </p><p>13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.</p>