1. God’s brilliant plan revealed – Eph.3 1. God’s great plan revealed – 3:1-13 a. What is it? – 1:9,10 a. What is it? – 1:9,10 b. Carrying out the plan – Ch.2 b. Carrying out the plan – Ch.2 - reconciling us to God –v.1-9 - reconciling us to God –v.1-9 - reconciling us to one another –v.11-18 - reconciling us to one another –v.11-18 - equipping us to be “active agents” with him in his plan – 2:10 - equipping us to be “active agents” with him in his plan – 2:10

2. c. Revealing the plan fully – 3:1-13 1. Revealed to Paul – 3:2-5 O.T. hints – Ps.2:8; Is.2:2-4, 19:23-25, 42:6, 49:6 etc 2. The revelation – 3:6 3. The revelation proclaimed & displayed a. Proclaimed by Paul – 3:7-9 a. Proclaimed by Paul – 3:7-9 b. Displayed through the Church – 3:10-12 b. Displayed through the Church – 3:10-12

3. 2. Prayer & God’s love & power - 3:14-21 a. Inseparable twins – truth & prayer b. Our attitude in prayer – humble & expectant c. What to pray for – v.16-19 1. For Christ to be our Master – v.17 1. For Christ to be our Master – v.17 a. To be rooted in love – v.17-19 a. To be rooted in love – v.17-19 b. To be willing to surrender – v.16 b. To be willing to surrender – v.16

4. 2. For us to be more like Jesus - 3:19 - Jesus is the perfect image of God – Col.2:9 - God’s plan is to make us like Jesus – Rom.8:29 - The Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Jesus – 2 Cor.3:18

5. 3. Responding to God’s brilliant plan God’s brilliant plan is to: a. Unite all under Jesus’s rule - Is he your Saviour & Lord? - Is he your Saviour & Lord? - Are you at odds with others? - Are you at odds with others? - Do we display the wisdom & power of the Gospel as an “international church”? - Do we display the wisdom & power of the Gospel as an “international church”? b. Transform us to be like Jesus - reflecting his character - reflecting his character - Are you “Christ-bathing”? - Are you “Christ-bathing”?