The Purpose of the Church (Pt. 5)

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:22-23

In the most emotionally impactful Marvel movie, Thunderbolts depicts Bob, a superpowered individual with major depressive disorder. In his darkest moment, he goes full evil and banishes every human in New York City to a prison cell of trauma and depression. The unlikely heroes, Yelena, The Red Star, Bucky, Agent Walker, and Ghost, desperately embrace Bob in a massive group hug to assure him that darkness and depression are not forever. This movie could have ended in a fist fight, but Marvel decided to tug at our heartstrings.

One of the most challenging points of tension is God’s control over the world, in contrast to the awful things that are happening. It’s easy to assume that God has taken his finger off the “Everything is Fine” button. Life can do some pretty horrible things, and doubt is a natural response to them.

Ephesians 1:22-23 reminds us that Jesus’ primary role is head over the church. Scripture claims Jesus will have government on his shoulders and the world will be his footstool, but I believe his favorite role is the head of the church.

With his position, we are promised completeness, lacking nothing. Every tool, solution, and goal is fully realized in the church, despite the world’s tragedies. And because of this promise we can guarantee.

1. Jesus has equipped us to minister to the pain and imperfection in life. 

2. Jesus assures us that his victory over all evil will be through his involvement and leadership.

Sin, corruption, and disappointment coexists alongside Jesus as the head of the church, but we have Jesus’ presence as our infinite resource, along with the command to minister.

Figure it Out:

Read: Exodus 14:14, Jude 1:22-23, Mark 16:15, Ephesians 4:11-12, 2 Corinthians 1:10

Exercise: Read these verses and decide if God is commanding us to help the problems around us or if God is intervening on our behalf. What hope does this give us?