Sermons on Ephesians 2:19-20

Ephesians 2:19-20 Interpretation:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) interprets Ephesians 2:19-20 by emphasizing the historical and eyewitness foundation of the Christian faith. The sermon highlights that the faith is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone, underscoring the authenticity and historical reliability of the Christian message. The sermon uses the Greek term "dogma" to explain that doctrine means teaching, which is foundational to understanding the faith as laid out by the apostles.

Modeling Christ: The Essence of Discipleship (BIBLICALLY SPEAKING) interprets Ephesians 2:19-20 by emphasizing the foundational role of the apostles and prophets as witnesses and bearers of the revelation of Christ. The sermon uniquely highlights the distinction between the prophetic ministry and the prophets of the Old Testament, suggesting that the prophets provided the foundational information about the coming Messiah, which the apostles later confirmed through their witness of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. The sermon uses the analogy of building a tabernacle, where Moses received a divine blueprint, to illustrate how the church is built on the revelation of Christ, with the apostles and prophets providing the foundational structure.

Jesus Christ: The Cornerstone of Our Faith (Spurgeon Sermon Series) interprets Ephesians 2:19-20 by focusing on Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone, emphasizing his unique character and divine nature. The sermon presents Jesus as the embodiment of the gospel, the essence of salvation, and the ultimate proof of his teachings. It uses the metaphor of Jesus as the cornerstone to highlight his central role in the faith and the church, suggesting that all doctrines, experiences, and precepts derive their value from him.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Divine Endowments for the Church (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 2:19-20 by emphasizing the foundational role of the apostles and prophets in the early church. The sermon highlights the term "foundation" as indicative of a once-and-for-all event, suggesting that the apostles and prophets were unique figures whose roles were not meant to be repeated. This interpretation is supported by the idea that these figures provided essential teaching and instruction before the New Testament was written, serving as the bedrock upon which the church was built. The sermon uses the analogy of a building's foundation to illustrate that once a foundation is laid, it is not continued but built upon, reinforcing the uniqueness and non-replicability of the apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Theological Themes:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) presents the theme of unity in the Christian faith, emphasizing that the Apostles' Creed connects believers across time and denominations, uniting them in core beliefs. This unity is rooted in the foundational teachings of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone, which serves as a basis for all Christian doctrine and practice.

Modeling Christ: The Essence of Discipleship (BIBLICALLY SPEAKING) presents the theme of the prophetic and apostolic roles in revealing and building the church on the foundation of Christ. It emphasizes the necessity of a revelation of Christ for true prophetic ministry, suggesting that the prophetic role is to build Christ into the lives of believers, not just to predict future events.

Jesus Christ: The Cornerstone of Our Faith (Spurgeon Sermon Series) introduces the theme of Jesus as the essence and power of the gospel. It highlights the idea that Jesus himself is the proof, substance, and power of the gospel, and that faith in him is central to salvation. The sermon also emphasizes the personal relationship with Jesus as the core of Christian faith and life.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Divine Endowments for the Church (MLJTrust) presents the theme that the apostles and prophets served a unique and unrepeatable role in the foundation of the church. This theme is distinct in its emphasis on the cessation of certain spiritual gifts, such as apostleship and prophecy, after the foundational period of the church. The sermon argues that these gifts were necessary before the New Testament was completed but are no longer needed, as the foundation has been laid and the church now builds upon it.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) provides historical context by explaining that the Apostles' Creed was developed to define, defend, and declare the faith in response to early heresies. The sermon mentions the historical persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire and the role of the Creed in uniting believers and preserving the core tenets of Christianity amidst external pressures and internal heresies.

Modeling Christ: The Essence of Discipleship (BIBLICALLY SPEAKING) provides historical context by explaining the division of the Old Testament into sections, including the Pentateuch, historical books, poetic books, and prophetic books. It highlights the role of the prophetic books in foretelling the coming of the Messiah and how the apostles confirmed these prophecies through their witness of Christ.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Divine Endowments for the Church (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining that the early church did not have the New Testament for the first 20 years and relied on the oral teachings of the apostles and prophets. This context underscores the necessity of these figures during the church's formative years and supports the interpretation that their roles were foundational and not meant to be repeated.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Cross-References in the Bible:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) references 2 Corinthians 13:5, where Paul urges believers to test themselves to see if they are in the faith, emphasizing the importance of self-examination in light of the foundational teachings of the apostles. The sermon also references 1 Peter 3:15, which calls believers to be prepared to give a reason for their hope, highlighting the need for a solid understanding of the faith's foundation.

Modeling Christ: The Essence of Discipleship (BIBLICALLY SPEAKING) references several biblical passages to support its interpretation of Ephesians 2:19-20. It mentions the book of Revelation, where John receives a revelation of Christ, and the book of Exodus, where Moses receives the blueprint for the tabernacle. The sermon also references the book of John, where Jesus identifies himself as the temple, and the book of Peter, which discusses the prophets' anticipation of the Messiah.

Jesus Christ: The Cornerstone of Our Faith (Spurgeon Sermon Series) references various biblical passages to emphasize the centrality of Jesus in the gospel. It mentions Jesus' declaration as the way, the truth, and the life, and his role as the high priest. The sermon also references the apostle Paul's focus on preaching Christ and the power of Jesus' resurrection.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Divine Endowments for the Church (MLJTrust) references Hebrews 2:3-4 to support the idea that the apostles and prophets were confirmed by God through signs, wonders, and miracles, which attested to their authority. This cross-reference is used to argue that these manifestations were specific to the apostolic era to establish their foundational role in the church.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Christian References outside the Bible:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) references John Stott, who provides a framework for distinguishing between primary and secondary doctrines. Stott suggests that when two truth-seeking, Jesus-loving believers disagree on a doctrine, it is likely a secondary issue, reinforcing the idea that the Apostles' Creed contains the primary, unifying beliefs of Christianity.

Jesus Christ: The Cornerstone of Our Faith (Spurgeon Sermon Series) explicitly references the teachings of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a renowned preacher, and theologian. Spurgeon emphasizes the uniqueness of Jesus' character and the impossibility of creating a comparable narrative. He challenges unbelievers to imagine another character like Jesus, highlighting the divine and human nature harmoniously blended in him.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Divine Endowments for the Church (MLJTrust) explicitly references a book by Geerhardus Vos titled "Supreme Authority," which discusses the authority of scripture and the foundational role of the apostles. The sermon recommends this book to further understand the cessation of apostolic and prophetic roles after the New Testament was established.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Living Out the Apostles' Creed: Authentic Faith (Novation Church) uses an analogy from the book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, which states, "The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing." This analogy is used to emphasize the importance of focusing on the core tenets of the Christian faith as outlined in the Apostles' Creed, drawing a parallel between effective personal habits and maintaining a focus on foundational Christian beliefs.

Embracing Our Spiritual Family: The Church's Purpose (None) uses the analogy of a sports team to illustrate the importance of being part of a church family. It compares a Christian without a church family to someone wanting to play in the NFL without being part of a team, emphasizing the necessity of community and commitment. The sermon also references the theme song from the sitcom "Cheers" to illustrate the desire for a place where everyone knows your name and shares your troubles, suggesting that the church should be such a place of connection and support.