I had the privilege of teaching in our children’s ministry yesterday, and the Ephesians 2 10 sermon was such a joy to deliver. A few years back, I spent several weeks going verse by verse through the first three chapters of Ephesians with a very wise teacher, and I have come to love them.
Ephesians 2 10 Sermon
At the heart of the Ephesians 2 10 sermon is a simple, but overwhelming message of grace, glory, and purpose. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV
The preceding verses make it clear that our status is a result of God’s grace. He freely gives his favor to those who accept Jesus, despite the fact that we are all undeserving. It is not a matter of works; yet, here in verse 10, Paul writes of the works that we are to do.
Our salvation is not a result of good works. But a meaningful relationship with Christ should inspire and lead us to do them. The text states that God has prepared a to-do list for each of us. We are invited into collaboration with him. Why? For his glory.
What is Glory?
You don’t have to travel far to find a place where you can gaze in awe upon the majesty of creation. The beauty and the complexity of nature is staggering. And, it brings him glory. What is glory?
Well, as I explained it to the kids on Sunday, glory is the cheering from the fans at a football game. It’s the “Wow!” that you find yourself uttering when you see the detail in a masterful piece of artwork. It’s when you turn to your friend, and ask in awestruck disbelief, “YOU MADE THAT?!?”
When you allow yourself to be transformed by God from a flawed, shameful, selfish person into the Spirit-filled believer that God desires to make you, it brings him glory. This is the creation and handiwork of which Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10.
He references it again in 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This new creation is the most compelling argument God makes for His mastery over the universe.
So, there you have it. God’s grace saves us. He gives us new purpose to perform good works. And this, in turn brings him glory as others see the transformation and new creation within us. The kids grasped it easily. That is always such a gift to see.
Now for the cool part. Or, at least, I think it’s cool. Ephesians 2:10 was the focus of yesterday’s message in the children’s ministry at my church (and their monthly Bible verse for August).
Then, today it was referenced again in the message during Church of the Highlands’ service for 21 Days of Prayer. And, THEN, it was the daily Bible verse in the Bible app. I don’t ascribe significance to these things, but I do love when they happen.
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