Ephesians 4-6 With Jay

Here are some notes from Jay's talk this morning:

*Revelation 22: the River of Life flowing from the throne and the Lamb

The dwelling place of God will be re-established, and great orchards will grow alongside the river. Even the Dead Sea will be a place of plenty. Leaves of healing for the nations. This connects to Eph 3, that this new community of people brings together nations into a new person, a new temple.

*God's plan is not a "one location" invasion, but a dispersal. He causes us to be communities of what C.S. Lewis calls "good infections." "Every Christian is to become a little Christ." As we do this, we become "carriers of Christ." We are mirrors of Christ to others.

* "God loves you -- God loves me -- just the way you are, just the way I am. He can't love you any more and he won't love you any less. But he loves you too much to leave you the way you are." --Max Lucado. This is a reflection of the message of Ephesians 4-6.

* Paul sets up a contrast between the Christian community and the pagan community. He comes across harsh because he is contrasting that which is righteousness and beauty with that which is outside. The reality is that God is in a process of moving us toward maturity, although Paul is emphasizing the contrast in this passage.

*"The trouble with the evangelical church is that most of us don't spend enough time in the gospels." -- Dallas Willard. Jay challenges us to make time in the gospels a regular part of our spiritual life.

*The Christian life is less like obeying rules and more like painting a portrait. That portrait is of Christ.