Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 2
He argues that Ephesians is meant to produce an “apocalypse… an unveiling” of God’s secret purpose, and that the church exists to “display to everybody and everything out there how good God’s wisdom is.” If God’s goal is cosmic display through a surrendered people, what does that reveal about what God values most—individual comfort/security, or public obedience that proves his wisdom?
Another way to ask: If God wants the church to show the whole world how wise he is, what does that say God cares about most? Does he care more about our comfort and safety, or about our public obedience?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests God’s priority is a surrendered people whose transformed lives publicly display his wisdom to “all beings,” not mainly individual comfort and security. Personal blessing matters, but it’s presented as part of a larger purpose: God’s glory and the reunifying of all things in Christ.
- Paul’s purpose: an “apocalypse… an unveiling… of the plan or the purpose of God.”
- That purpose: the church would “display to everybody and everything out there how good God’s wisdom is and how good it is when you follow him.”
- He connects this to God’s cosmic goal: “gather together in one all things in Christ… the unifying of everything through Jesus.”
- He says the response is “loving obedience and participating and being part of this purpose,” then Ephesians 4–6 is “walking out the calling.”
- He describes God’s aim: people see a believer’s fruitful life and conclude, “If I follow God… God’s the one.”