God’s Cosmic Plan to Unite All Things
As many of you know, I just got back from helping to lead the musical worship at a Summer camp called ETV (Experience the Valley). As I alluded to over the weekend, the camp consisted of over 250 students and an additional 100 staff from nine different churches across Clark County and the Portland Metro. During each evening session our camp speaker preached through the book of Ephesians – expounding on Paul’s main argument that God has one cosmic plan to unite all things in Christ for His glory (Eph. 1:9-10). And one of the beautiful things about this plan is that He invites US into it. WE are a part of the plan that God has to unite all things in Christ!
This is the reason that Paul teaches on God’s church so richly in the latter portions of Ephesians – because, in order for God to unite all things, He’s building and using His church to be the hands and feet through which He’ll work.
All of that being said – much of the thrust of last weeks camp was helping 250+ students get ahold of the idea that the Church is not just a human construct. It’s not man-made. It’s not arbitrary, and it’s not something that we can just take or leave. The Church is God’s, and its purpose is laid out by God! Each member of the church is beautiful in God’s eyes and has been gifted in a unique way to build up the collective body in love.
The reason I share all of this is because it’s SO easy to forget that, as the church, we’re not just a bunch of people who gather on the weekend. We are the God orchestrated way that He is bringing lost people into right relationship with Himself. We are chosen, saved, justified, being sanctified, and purposed for God to be heralds of our testimonies to others – that they too would be saved. And that is a marvelous calling.
In thinking of God’s cosmic plans to unite all things – there are two unique ways that we’ll see EBC working out those plans in the next several weeks:
JOINT SPANISH ENGLISH SERVICES THIS WEEKEND
This coming weekend, we have the pleasure of joining with our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters in Christ during our worship services. All of the services will not only be bilingual in song, but the preaching will be translated as well. It is a fantastic opportunity to see, savor, and celebrate the diversity within God’s church – and particularly, the diversity that God has blessed EBC with. To worship in multiple languages is but a small picture of how God’s people will be from every tribe, people, nation and tongue (Rev. 7:9).
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL NEXT WEEK
Next week EBC has the pleasure of hosting VBS – in which 100+ elementary aged kids will come and hear about Jesus, sing His praises, and be loved on and cared for by over 100 volunteers with different and unique gifts. Every year during VBS I marvel at the skills and heart God has placed in His people at EBC as they pour out their giftings to impart the Scriptures and the love of Christ into children from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
Church – we are a part of God’s cosmic plans to unite all things in heaven and earth. I would invite you to marvel with me over the next couple weeks and beyond at how we see this plan being worked out within the church for the building up of the body and for the good of others.
In Christ’s Mercy,
Pastor Ryan A
P.S. – Myself and the team of musicians I worked with at ETV wrote a song that hit on these themes from the book of Ephesians. In case you missed it, or wanted to listen again, here’s a recording of it from the weekend.
Categories: Evergreen Connection