Evangelical Focus just published an interview with me. Lots about preaching in here, so I hope you find it helpful!
“The solution is not less preaching, but better preaching”, Evangelical Focus
Evangelical
Love Jesus, Love the Gospel
It does not surprise me when I find scholars who do not believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word and also have a problem with the Apostle Paul. But it still surprises me to find Bible-believing Christians who view Paul negatively. For some, this is a reaction to his argumentative persona and intellectual presentation of complex truths. For others, the antagonism comes from the feeling that he is misogynistic or overly self-referential.
Where there is a specific criticism based on a particular passage, it helps to study that passage in its context and take into account the rest of his writings as well. But where the criticism is more a general feeling (i.e. he is too argumentative or complex), I think what helps is to try to enter into his world and see Paul in action.
At the beginning of Galatians, we find an extended biographical section that, at first glance, may appear self-congratulatory. However, delving into Paul’s world is a worthwhile endeavour. Not only will we find a brilliant and articulate fighter for the truth of the gospel – perhaps even a hero of the faith – but we will also find a motivation we can emulate. Maybe most of us will never be as brilliant as Paul. But all of us could love Jesus and the truth of the Gospel as Paul did. And if we did, perhaps the global and eternal impact would be beyond anything we have dreamt.
Let me try to give you a taste of this. On Paul’s first missionary journey, as recorded in Acts 13-14, Paul and Barnabas arrived in the region of Galatia, preached the gospel, and saw churches established. They were understandably excited as they headed for home base to report what God had done. But when they arrived, they discovered that others had followed in their footsteps and sought to correct their ministry. The criticism? Paul was not a full apostle, and Paul did not preach a complete gospel message. Perhaps Paul was portrayed as well-intentioned, and his message was seen to serve as a good starting point. But these later teachers were promoting themselves as representatives of the Jerusalem apostles and their Law-based message as a more complete and committed version of what God expects.
Paul was livid! He wrote Galatians to ward off this falsehood and try to win back the hearts of the believers before they were pulled away by this destructive corruption of the good news he had preached.
Why did Paul write with an edge? (No pun intended) Why does he seem to be shouting? Why is Paul so sharp with them? (Ok, that was slightly deliberate for the context!) The answer is that Paul loved Jesus, the Gospel, and the believers in the Galatian churches. Like a parent shouting sharply at a child walking towards a busy road, Paul was desperate to get their attention.
In the latter verses of Chapter 1, he laid out his apostolic credentials. This was not about showing off but about exposing the lies being told about him. He did not derive his authority from Jerusalem. He had barely been there. His authority came from God himself. And in the opening verses of Chapter 2, he focused on his Gospel message. It was a message that he had laid before the Jerusalem apostles. Even under pressure from the same false teachers, Paul’s Gentile companion Titus had not been compelled to be circumcised. The highest council of apostles, the inner circle itself, had affirmed his calling with a hearty handshake and no doctrinal caveats.
When you ponder the world Paul inhabited, it becomes clear that he was driven not by a desire to win arguments or a passion for self-promotion like an early social media influencer. A deep love for Jesus drove Paul, and therefore, a passion for the gospel of God’s grace that truly transforms lives from the inside out. It was that deep love that drove Paul to travel, to preach, to be misunderstood, to be persecuted, to suffer, and eventually, to die for the Lord that he loved. In Galatians 2:11-14, it was that deep love that drove Paul to take a most uncomfortable step: he publicly called the great senior apostle Peter a hypocrite in front of his home crowd.
I’m not suggesting we should be looking for opportunities to poke others in the chest. I’ve seen far too much bombastic finger-wagging on social media. But I’ve also seen far too little courage in person when faced with character and behaviour that compromises the Gospel. Will we be willing to take uncomfortable steps in the face of compromise, or will we be willing to take uncomfortable steps in the calling of missionary need?
We cannot give ourselves a good talking-to and suddenly generate sacrificial motivation for ministry. Neither can we muster up Paul’s level of theological brilliance just because we start to find him inspiring. But we can gaze long and hard at Jesus. We can ponder the wonder of the gospel of God’s grace in Christ deeply. We can ask God to give us a heart-exploding glimpse into the wonder of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. Because if we see Jesus for who he is, if we get a sense of the wonder of the gospel, then perhaps we will start to share in Paul’s motivation for the truth of the gospel.
Why did Paul contend for the truth of the gospel, even in the face of opposition? Two words from Galatians 2:5 – it was so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved “for you.” And by extension, from Galatia down through two millennia, it was for it to be preserved for us. May we be ever more captivated by the glorious good news of God’s great love for us so that we are motivated to preserve it for others.
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Podcast Catch-Up: Insights for Preachers
The last couple of months have been busy, to say the least. A conference with Josiah Venture in Czech Republic, the European Leadership Forum in Poland, two family weddings, two baptism services in the midst of a busy season at church – these all added up to not sharing much on this site. So, it is time for a catch-up on the podcast. What has been happening since the last post that was linked to an episode?
Mike and I discussed the various kinds of interruptions that can add some intricate dynamics to a preaching event. We also talked through the most basic sermon preparation process. While there is plenty of potential for complexity in the area of sermon preparation, we wanted to make sure the basic process is clear.
We have had quite a few bitesize episodes, including Peter on 5 Aspects of Natural Delivery, The Four Worlds of the Preacher, and Preaching Without Notes. (I will write another post on that subject soon!) Mike shared about the courage to confront yourself, and the potential poison of preaching ministry.
Along the way, we also had a couple of episodes hearing from Si Munsie of Life Church, Southampton. (Click here for part 1 on preaching to real people, and here for part 2 where we think about past employment and preaching.) And this week, we have part 1 of my interview with Andy Paterson, currently pastoring in Hong Kong – a fascinating conversation with a very experienced pastor-preacher! We have some great interviews lined up in the next months too.
So my apologies for being quieter on here and social media in recent weeks. We really do appreciate every encouraging comment, both in person and online. If you are able to subscribe on YouTube and in whatever podcast platform you use (eg Spotify or Apple), that really does help. Also, every like, comment, share, etc., is massively appreciated. Thank you for helping to get this podcast off the ground!
Biblical Ministry?
Most people in Christian ministry would like to think they have a biblical ministry. But what does that mean? Is it simply an evaluation of whether what they do is in the Bible? Or maybe better, an assessment of whether their values and methodology reflect biblical qualities? This would be a good question to ponder prayerfully.
Let’s take a few minutes and consider what role the Bible plays in your ministry. I will start with some troubling ones I have observed, then move on to better options. I have seen all of the troubling Bible roles over the years. Perhaps one or two have crept into my ministry at times. How about you?
5 Troubling Bible Roles:
1. Token Requirement – This is where a Christian ministry uses the Bible here and there because it is expected or required. The driving energy for the ministry comes from the individual’s drive, the rhythm of habit and tradition, or the necessity of keeping their position. But the Bible seems inert, a lifeless requirement quoted here and there to endorse what is happening in the ministry.
2. Quotes and Springboards – This is a slightly more specific version of number 1. This is where the Bible gets used to either endorse the message or to launch the message. Please understand me: the Bible is capable of both roles. However, in this case, it feels more used than living. The person makes their point, then adds a proof-text. Or the preacher reads a bit of the Bible, then launches away from it to preach what is essentially their own set of thoughts (often leaving the Bible far behind in the process).
3. Magic Charm – This is where the Bible is used superstitiously to “guarantee” the effectiveness of the ministry. The people of Judah treated the temple as a guarantee in the days of Jeremiah, but they didn’t know what God was doing in their day. So, Christian ministries can hold up the Bible or quote a verse, thereby guaranteeing that their ministry should be successful. Again, the Bible seems to be used rather than alive.
4. Blunt Weapon – This is where the Bible gets used without precision. Instead of being the sharp scalpel wielded by a careful and kind surgeon, biblical words get plucked out of context and used for delivering blows to the poor recipients. Without God’s grace, character or plan, and tangible reliance on the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart, the Bible gets used to beat people into behavioural submission.
5. Self-Support – Maybe you have come across this one too? It is where the person doing the ministry uses the Bible to affirm their personal limitations and quirks. Instead of being humble, teachable, and open to help, the minister quotes the Bible to self-affirm, self-support, and defend from criticism or concern.
5 Better Bible Roles:
A. A Rule Book (An Instruction Manual) – I will start here because this could easily slip into the troubling list above. It is good to recognise the authority the Bible has in life, ministry, etc. We should be looking to see what God’s Word has to say about each issue we face and each difficulty we navigate. At the same time, I hope you can also feel the awkwardness that can come when the Bible is seen as just a rule book, an instruction manual, or a guide for life. It can so easily lose its vitality and begin to feel lifeless – one common factor in the list of troubling Bible roles. So yes, the Bible does have authority, and we should submit to what it says, but let’s not be satisfied with that. Let’s go on to the rest of this list!
B. An Inspiring Book – Again, this could be an inadequate label. Sometimes, a work of art can inspire those beholding it, but the Bible is much more than a well-written collection of books. It is inspired by God, meaning it uniquely comes from God, breathed out by him. The writers were not just inspired by something divine, pulling out a pen to try to capture their feelings at that moment. They wrote Scripture, carried along by the Holy Spirit, giving us the unique Word of God. And if anything that has ever been written should stir our hearts and change our lives, it is God’s inspired and uniquely inspiring Word.
C. An Equipping Book – Whatever your ministry may be, the Bible has been given to you so that you may be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim.3:17) Whatever your ministry may be, if it is biblical, there will be an element of helping equip others for life and ministry. When the Bible is active in a ministry, both the one doing the ministry and the recipients of that ministry will be fashioned and formed for ministry in some way by the life-changing Word of God.
D. A Life-Giving Book – Because the Word of God is alive, it is also life-giving. An encounter with biblical ministry can draw a dead heart to Christ, it can call back a drifting believer, it can motivate greater godliness, inspire Christlike sacrifice, launch cross-cultural missionaries, lift drooping hands, strengthen weak knees, and comfort the grieving believer. When people encountered the Word of God incarnate (Jesus), their lives were changed. In the Gospels, many people meet Jesus and leave more alive than when they came. The same can and should be true of biblical ministry. After all, the Word of God inspired (i.e. the Bible), is a life-giving book. Biblical ministry should result in many leaving more alive than when they came.
E. A Him Book – Jesus rebuked the Jewish leaders for thinking they were so Scripture-saturated that they knew God and had life. His rebuke? They thought they would find life in diligent Scriptural study, but the Scriptures were “about me” (see John 5:37-40). Above all else, the Bible’s role in life and ministry is to reveal God to us, ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ. While we may treat the Bible as a me-book (what I need to learn for my life), actually, it is a Him book (whom I need to meet to know life). As someone involved in ministry, I need to come to the Bible and look for Him.
My God, I need you. More than I need anything else, I need you. As I open your Word on my own, show me your heart, your character, your plan, your Son. Captivate my heart afresh with yours. Then, by your grace, would you allow me to share that life with others in my ministry? May they see you because they need you, just as I need you. Amen!
Final thought – One time, a friend and supporter gave me a very generous gift. I still remember his words close to three decades later: “When others speak, I can tell they are repeating their notes from when they went to seminary. When you speak, I get the sense that you have been studying the Bible fresh.” I pray that I will not grow stale but have a freshness to my preaching. Let’s encourage one another in that!
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Click here to listen to a recent episode of The Biblical Preaching Podcast. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel, or follow on Spotify, Apple, etc. We would love to stay connected as we think about preaching together:
How to Improve Your Delivery
Delivery matters. And yet some do not want to think about improving their delivery. Perhaps they feel comfortable with the rhythm of preaching that their tradition and experience has set in place and do not want to tinker with something that seems to work. Perhaps they consider it more spiritual to avoid any hint of performance in their preaching. Maybe they believe that the content of the message, or even the vitality of their personal walk with God, should and will speak for itself.
There may be some preachers who are highly confident in their own rhetorical prowess and cannot imagine that everyone else is not continually wowed by their combination of presentational ease and flair. More likely, there could be many preachers who know they have delivery weaknesses but are hesitant to face them in case it is overwhelming. Then, there will be preachers who do not know how much their delivery impacts their communication and have never stopped to give the matter any thought.
Delivery matters. It either helps or hinders your attempts to communicate God’s Word with your listeners. Improving your delivery is both an act of love for your listeners and a matter of good stewardship of your ministry before God. It is about making sure your good study and preparation is given a chance to get through, and it is about making it as easy as possible for the listeners to hear God’s word.
What if the best message is presented at too low a volume, with a persistent cough, distracting vocal mannerisms, and you can’t quite see the preacher – is it possible for you to listen to that sermon? While it’s possible to hear and still be impacted by the sermon, it will take extra effort on your part to fully absorb what’s being said. As a preacher, it’s an act of love to minimize the effort required for your listeners to truly engage with your message.
In this episode of the podcast, I present a simple three-step process to improve your delivery. It is not complicated. But the question is, will you follow this process and improve?
I’d love to hear from you – what is the one thing that you need to work on next? Also, what have you worked on in the past and what did you find helpful? Please do comment on this post, or after the podcast episode. Please click here to watch Episode 11.
Preaching to a Mixed Crowd – Part 3
So we have covered five principles for preaching to a mixed crowd in part 1, and in part 2. Now, I’d like to share a starter guide to evaluating the mix that makes up your congregation. Take this list and prayerfully think through it, making notes about the different groups in your church. Consider which groups are bigger, and which are smaller but still present. Then, perhaps share your thoughts with someone else involved in the leadership of your church. Together, you will be able to pray for your church and preach more effectively to your church.
1. Believers and not-yet-believers – what is the mix? How would you describe the believers? How would you describe the not-yet-believers?
2. Bible literate and Bible unaware – what is the range of biblical awareness in your church? Where do the majority currently stand on that continuum?
3. Churched and unchurched (guests/newcomers) – how often do you get visitors coming to the church? Do people feel confident to bring guests along?
4. Mix of ages in the church – what is the proportion of children, youth, students, young adults, established adults, older working-aged adults, retirees, and older seniors?
5. Lifestages in the church – as you consider the ages, how would you describe the life stages? Are people out of work, jumping between jobs, established in their careers? Are the empty nesters settled or struggling? What is the nature of the life experience of the seniors in the church?
6. The gender mix in the church – there are two options, but what do you observe about numbers? In couples where only one is a believer, which gender is typically a believer?
7. Education and employment – what type and level of education do people have in the church? How many had no higher education? What about university educated? What about vocationally trained? Or higher degrees? What type of employment do people have? How financially stable and secure are the households in the congregation?
8. Family dynamics – consider the make-up of the church in terms of married and single. Are the married couples doing well relationally? And what about the single people? How many are content long-term single, disappointed long-term single, young adults, newly single by divorce, etc.? And what about parents? Parents of young, of teens, of adults? Broken marriages? Blended families? What about those with responsibilities for elderly parents?
9. Nationality and culture – how many of the church are local first language speakers? What about non-local first-language speakers? And non-local second language speakers? Are internationals newly arrived or more settled? Are the internationals from various nations, or are there larger groups from specific countries? What are the dynamics within those groups and between the groups?
10. Is the congregation typical of the locality, or is the congregation “travelling in” to a central hub? Do people live in the community the church is trying to reach? Where do guests come from? Are guests able to connect with church regulars?
11. What other factors come to mind as you evaluate your congregation?
If you haven’t seen it yet, please check out our discussion about preaching to a mixed crowd on The Biblical Preaching Podcast.
Preaching to a Mixed Crowd – Part 1
We always preach to a mixed crowd. The mix may differ, but the one thing we can be sure of is that there will be a mix. Older and younger, male and female, biblically aware, newcomers to the Bible, church regulars and guests, and so on. In fact, in the latest episode of The Biblical Preaching Podcast, we work through six types of mix that we often have in our churches.
In this series of posts, I will share five principles to think through as preachers:
1. We must believe the Bible can be effectively presented to mixed groups simultaneously. Traditionally, many churches have targeted their preaching at either believers or not-yet-believers. So you might have an evangelistic event and a Bible study separately. However, it is possible to preach the Bible to believers and non-believers simultaneously. And if we do that, we might avoid some of the mistakes that come from assuming Christians have moved past the gospel (see Galatians 3:1-3 for a strong warning on this!)
2. We should assume a greater mix than we can see in a congregation. There are two reasons for this. First, because there is a greater mix than we can see. People may look similar on the outside but be very different in reality. And second, we should assume a greater mix because we want a greater mix than we can see. For example, how will people in a small church that often has no guests present be confident to bring guests in? One way will be for the preacher to consistently preach as if guests are present so that church members grow in confidence that they can bring a guest and it won’t feel awkward. Preach to the mix you have, and preach for the mix you want.
Click here to see the episode on YouTube. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the principles in this series.
Exchange
The essential nature of all trade is that of an exchange. I will give my ten sheep in exchange for your one donkey. Or, in more recent history, I will provide a certain number of currency units for the service you are offering. Life is full of exchanges.
One of the most potent images of the gospel is known as the great exchange. Martin Luther described the wonder of our salvation using the biblical image of a great marriage. Jesus is the great King, full of life, grace, and salvation. We are at the opposite extreme: full of death, sins, and damnation. But when faith comes between us, a most glorious marriage occurs. He takes all that is ours on himself, and we get all that is his as if it were our own. What an exchange!
The most foundational exchange in Christianity is Christ’s life for ours. He is the God-given substitute, taking our place and facing the just punishment for sin. His death gives us life. His life replaces our death. In John 3, for instance, we see Jesus helping the impressive Nicodemus to see that all his achievements and standing meant nothing before God. As remarkable as he was in human terms, he was still spiritually dead and needed to be born from above. How could that happen? Just like the Israelites needed to look at the brass serpent in Numbers 21:6-9, so would the Son of Man be lifted up in death, and those who believed in him, who looked to him, would live.
But there are more exchanges to be found in the Gospel of John. Consider the ongoing transformation that occurs as someone follows Jesus and serves him. For instance, John the Baptist knew who Jesus was, pointed others to him, and served him faithfully. At the end of John 3, we see some of John’s disciples bemoaning that the crowds had shifted from John to Jesus. Indeed, for a life defined by the ministry of baptizing, it must have been disappointing to see the flood of people dwindle to a trickle. Not for John. He knew that his role was that of best man at a wedding, but the groom was Jesus. The bride going to Jesus only made John immensely happy (see John 3:29). So John uttered the beautiful words: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) This is the gradual exchange of self for Christ that happens as we follow our Saviour.
We can see the self-for-Christ exchange contrasted at the start of John 12. There, Mary is so captivated by Jesus that she pours an immensely valuable perfume onto his feet. Meanwhile, Judas Iscariot, captured not by Christ but by his greed, can only express his dismay at the missed opportunity for further theft. (See John 12:1-8.) Mary was the picture of a disciple who knew Jesus’ giving and worshipped Jesus by selflessly giving everything in return. Judas was the picture of someone exposed to Jesus but still gripped by the magnetic pull of self. Following Jesus should shift us increasingly from the lure of self to the wonder of Christ.
And then we see Jesus with his disciples in the upper room. In a world filled with hate, Jesus demonstrates a better way. The radical way of selfless love stands in sharp contrast to the way of our world. Today, as then, selfless love is repulsive to a world gripped by sin (Judas must have been struggling in that upper room until he left), but it is also strikingly attractive. People in a culture of hate need to see true love. How will they see it? Only if the faithful followers of Jesus are marked with his defining characteristic. (See John 13:35.)
Having exchanged death for life, self for Christ, and hate for love, the followers of Jesus are invited to also exchange comfort for calling. In John 21, we see Jesus gently remind his disciples that he called them to fish for men, to feed the sheep, and to follow him even to their death – whatever that would involve.
To be a disciple of Jesus asks much of us, but we cannot fully describe how much we receive in the process. Giving up death, self, hate, and comfort is not easy. But receiving life, Christ, love, and a calling is truly other-worldly and glorious. Praise God that he is the God of exchange – an exchange that cost him everything, that gives us everything, and that changes everything!
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Preaching Easter (Podcast Post – Episode 6)
In the latest Biblical Preaching Bitesize, I share ten pointers for preaching Easter effectively. The Easter story is the heart of the Christian faith, and a key moment in our church calendar. So why might we struggle with preaching at Easter?
1. The story is so familiar. The Easter story comes up repeatedly throughout the year as we present the gospel in various situations. Sadly, the most wondrous news of all can become stale and predictable. We can end up saying the same things about the cross and the same things about the empty tomb. Listeners can bring assumptions from artistic images they have seen, or from presentations they have heard before.
2. The wondrous truth can get buried. Each passage that we might choose to preach is saying something about Easter. But sometimes, that theological and potentially life-changing truth can get buried in the story’s recounting. Or it can be lost because listeners get the sense they are listening to a famous old myth rather than the central moment of human history. When stories feel like a myth, listeners listen differently.
3. The preacher can feel flat. Familiar material, a busy time of year, and a preacher recounting history rather than feasting on the Word of God can lead to a flattened heart at the front of the church. We don’t want that, for our sake and theirs.
So, ponder the ten pointers in this Biblical Preaching Bitesize! To watch the Bitesize, click here.
And don’t miss the encouragement at the end. What could be more powerful than a vivid image projected on the screen in a church using the best contemporary software?
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Imitate Who?
There are some strange stories of people imitating other people. For instance, in 1951, the Canadian Naval Ship the Cayuga was engaged in the Korean War. It took onboard three Korean fighters who needed immediate surgery. The ship’s surgeon, Dr Joseph Cyr, went ahead and removed a bullet from the chest of one man, amputated the foot of another, etc. He performed sixteen operations onboard and surgeries on shore in Korea. But that man was not Dr Joseph Cyr. With no training in surgery, Fred Demara had “borrowed” Cyr’s credentials to get into the Canadian Navy. He had also imitated his way into being a Psychology Professor, a university administrator, a prison warden, and a Trappist monk. It truly is a bizarre story.
And yet, perhaps it is even more bizarre that the Apostle Paul instructed the Ephesian believers to “be imitators of God” (See Ephesians 5:1). There are a handful of places where believers are urged to imitate Paul or even to imitate Christ (e.g. 1 Corinthians 11:1). Still, the instruction to “imitate God” is unique to this verse. Let’s probe Paul’s point.
What is Paul’s instruction? “Therefore, be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1). Paul is not suggesting that we pretend to be God or that we in any way usurp God’s position. For humans to invite worship, to function as if they are the central character in the universe, or to give the impression of being all-knowing, and so on, would be spiritual treason. God is God, and I am not.
On the other hand, we are very much expected to reflect the good character of God in every area of life. For instance, in the verses before and after Ephesians 5:1, we see instruction as honest, gracious, self-controlled, generous, kind, forgiving, loving, self-sacrificing, holy, and pure – all beautiful aspects of God’s perfections. (See Ephesians 4:25-5:4).
It would be fair to say that whatever is good about God’s character would be good to emulate and imitate, as long as we never blur the Creator and creature distinction. It would also be fair to notice that since the Fall of Genesis 3, humans have been much more inclined to get these categories reversed. How many people act as if they are the centre of the universe, worthy of worship, all-knowing, and in control, but lack the kind of goodness we have just described? The Fall absolutely messed us up!
Why should we imitate God? Because we are “children” (Ephesians 5:1). Whether it is fair or not, people observe children and evaluate the parents. Sometimes, a critical evaluation may be justified; other times, an outsider will have no idea of how much the parent is achieving considering the child’s circumstances. For those of us who are parents, we know how much we feel the watching eyes of others, so we hope our children will behave well in public situations.
As unfair as it may feel to us to have people evaluating us based on our children, how much more unfair is that for God? Imagine having your reputation and perception determined by representatives like you and me. After all, we are all flawed and broken people. Image bearers of God, of course, but so far from divine perfection!
And yet, the watching continues. People who never think about theological matters are watching you and me and assuming things about our God. This watching is not only from those outside the church but also from inside. Believers watch and learn from one another. I can think of people I have watched and from whom I learned something of God’s forgiveness, or God’s generosity, or God’s humility, or God’s redemptive power. The church is a living theological case study!
But how can we imitate God? The idea that we can and should imitate God’s character can feel overwhelming. How is it possible? Are we supposed to self-generate a super-human effort and achieve the impossible by sheer willpower? Notice the other word in the verse: “as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). This imitation instruction is not based on the burden of striving effort. Instead, it is to be fueled by the joy of a loving relationship. Being saved and brought into God’s family means we are beloved children.
The word “beloved” makes it clear that we are not “tolerated” children, or “technically” children, or even “one of millions of children.” The word “beloved” gives a sense of the lavishing of all the parental love poured out on a uniquely favoured, even an only, child. More significantly, it is the same idea used of God’s unique Son, Jesus. Remember the baptism declaration, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:17).
There are multiple layers in the idea of being a child of God. Just as we have three types of paternity tests used among humans, the same idea works for us as believers. There is the legal reality of being lovingly adopted into God’s family (e.g. Ephesians 1:5-6). An adopted child has the paper evidence of the adoption certificate. Then there is the DNA test proving something of a parent in a child. For believers, we have the Spirit of God living within us (e.g. Ephesians 1:13-14). And thirdly, there is the resemblance test. When we see a baby, some people will immediately pronounce that the baby has his father’s nose, eyes, or whatever. That is the DNA showing through immediately. But Ephesians 5:1 is calling us to a more developed character likeness. Just as a child in a loving relationship will grow to resemble the character of the loving parent, so it can be with us.
As we seek to lead other believers into greater God-likeness, we would do well to pause and reflect on this one word. Do I believe I am “beloved” of God? It is easy to say it, but then live as if I am merely tolerated. And yet, what rocket fuel for transformation there is in being loved by God, even as He loves the Son (see John 17:23, for instance).
In response to Ephesians 5:1, let us pray a simple prayer that has massive implications in our lives and those we influence. “My loving Father, what do you want to work on in me so I may look more like you?”
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Biblical Preaching 