The Unsearchable Riches Of Christ, Part 1 Series

Outline

I. Introduction

II. Transition

a. CIT: Paul considers himself the least of all people to be chosen.

b. CIS: The most holy men are always the most humble men.

III. Exposition

a. Proofs. P.9

i. Job.

ii. Isaiah.

iii. Abraham.

b. Properties of Humble Souls. P.10

c. Purpose in why the Most Holy Must be Humble. P.26

d. Purpose to be Humble. (Motives) p.30

e. Perpetually Remain Humble. (Application) p.36

IV. Conclusion

“The Unsearchable Riches of Christ,” Part-1, Ephesians 3:8

Series Introduction

In the liturgical calendar of the Church universal, the first Resurrection Sunday marks the beginning of 8 weeks of Easter. These 8 weeks commemorate the 40 days of time which the resurrected Jesus spent They reported that He appeared to them during a period of 40 days, showing Himself to them by many "infallible proofs." Paul the apostle recounted that Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers at one time, the majority of whom were still alive and who could confirm what Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:2-6:

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” (NIV)

For the next 7 weeks we, like those early Christians, are going to consider the unsearchable riches of our resurrected savior. We will do this by focusing in narrowly on just one verse that by the end of the sermon series I suspect we will all have memorized or at the very least become intimately familiar with.

Our method will be to dissect Ephesians 3:8. The manner will be to focus on each part for the purpose of Holy illumination for the sake of practical application. That is we’ll investigate the meaning of the passage so that we can find its highest meaning in applying it to our walk with Christ.

I am a student of the Puritans; those brilliant divines of the 16th and 17th centuries who dissented from and or sought purity for the Church of England. Men like Thomas Manton, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, offer unparalleled insight into the Scriptures, the hearts of men, and the Christian life.

I will sometimes reference and often look to the book of the same name as the sermon series, by the English Puritan Thomas Brooks. As we move forward may the light of Christ flood our souls and the world around us through us!

Introduction

The greatest lesson for Christians is the lesson of the lessor. The mightiest virtue in the spiritual arsenal of the believer is that of the lowly. The highest lesson for us to learn is humility. There are many believers who seek and even find the heights of the intensity of the presence of God and yet do not find their zeal able to move them into the deeper places of holiness and spiritual power. For many people there is a subtle exaltation of self in the worship of God. We put our goodness on display in the name of His worth. We exalt our own righteousness in the name of submitting to His glorious will. If we would have the power of God it will only come through submission to God and a right, lowly, humble, estimation of self. Jesus said “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)

Transition

This morning we will begin our dissection of Ephesians 3:8 by looking at the first clause in the verse. “Although I am less than the least of all God's people…” This is a fascinating statement on the part of the Apostle who is responsible more than any other for my and your salvation, apart from God.

It was the Apostle Paul whom God used to spread the Good News to the Gentile world. It was the Apostle who is the greatest example of faith. Yet, he refers to himself as the least of all of God’s people. Why? How can we apply the answer?

CIT: Paul considers himself the least of all people to be chosen.

CIS: The most holy men are always the most humble men.

If you seek to be great, seek it not! If you seek wisdom, seek Christ! If you seek glory, prop up only the glory of God! What a dreadful day in the Church in our land when men and women seek the experience of God’s presence apart from a willingness to tremble in it! What a vile and wretched image of humility we display when we display for the sake of perceived piety. Let us proceed…