Episode 132 - Mutual Encouragement

Who We Are In Jesus - A Study In Ephesians

Ephesians 6:21-24

1. Missionary Reports are Crucial – v21

a. Face-to-face is best;

b. Written communication provides a record

c. “Know how I am”

d. And, “What I am doing” i. Paul feels an accountability to report in ii. I was a missionary for 11 yrs from Feb 2011 to Feb 2022.

1. I felt this accountability to those supporting me iii. Felicia and I receive regular communications from missionaries that we support iv. Paul knows there are 2 things to communicate – How are they doing?; What are they doing?

e. Imagine trying to keep up with Paul! i. Acts 13-28 is the exhausting narrative detail of 3 impactful mission trips covering 2 continents & a misguided, attemptedvoyage to deliver him to Rome as a prisoner.

1. These letters and his envoys are incredibly important to let his churches know how he is doing.

2. Everyone needs a Tychicus – v21-22

a. Beloved Brother, Faithful minister

b. A Sent one – Trusted i. Imagine you just wrote what you know is a Spirit-driven letter ii. Who are you handing this letter to for delivery? – Colossians 4:7-8

c. Fellow slave – shared perspective

d. Purposeful

e. His job - Update and encourage

f. We all need that – Hebrews 10:24-25

g. Who’s your Tychicus?

h. To whom are you being that encourager/updater?

3. Concluding Words are Important – v23-24

a. Paul shares the 4 gifts you need to live the Christian life… i. Hint – Jesus is the source of all 4! ii. – as we bring to a close our 4-month study of this wonderful letter – as we conclude our ‘Celebration of the Church: Who we are in Christ’, the 4 gifts we need to carry forward from here are: iii. PEACE – 7 times - 2:14; 4:3 iv. Love – 15 times - so critical to ‘walk in Love’ – 2:4, 3:17; 4:16; 5:2

1. So poignant because we know what happens

2. 30 yrs later – Revelation 2:1-5 – “We leak!” v. Faith – 11 times – 2:8, 3:12, 4:13; 6:16 vi. Grace – 13 times - Eph 1:7; 2:5; 4:7; 6:24

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