In Ephesians 3:7–12, Paul writes:
“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him.”
This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture, and for good reason.
First, it displays the centrality of the Church in God’s redemptive plan. Paul says that God’s eternal purpose is now revealed through the Church—not as an afterthought, but as the God-ordained vessel through which His manifold wisdom is made known, even to the heavenly powers. All creation exists for the glory of God and the good of His people.
As Jonathan Edwards once put it:
“The creation of the world seems to have been especially for this end: that the eternal Son of God might obtain a spouse… and pour forth all that immense fountain of condescension, love, and grace that was in His heart.”
And John Stott added:
“If the Church is central to God’s purpose, as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously?”
In other words, the Church matters—because Christ matters. C.S. Lewis wrote:
“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”
Second, this passage highlights the mission of the Church. We are not here to maintain, but to proclaim. We exist to make the glory of God in Christ known to the world—indeed, even to the unseen powers. This is not merely about evangelism in the narrow sense, but about fulfilling the Great Commission in its fullest sense: discipling the nations, teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded, and bringing every aspect of life under His Lordship.
We are called to exercise dominion, to be fruitful and multiply, to bring every thought captive to Christ, and to see His Kingdom advance in real time and space. As Doug Wilson rightly says:
“The Great Commission is not a genteel call to teach moral platitudes; it is a summons to make war on the gates of hell… until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Third, I resonate deeply with Paul’s sense of unworthiness. I, too, feel like the least of all the saints. And yet, by the grace of God, I was made a minister—called to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. And that has been the heart of my ministry here.
Though I’ve been a part of Cornerstone since April of 2008, and on staff since September of 2013, today marks ten years since I was officially voted in as Senior Pastor on June 7, 2015. A full decade of grace.
Much has changed over the years—structurally, liturgically, theologically. But one thing has not changed: the centrality of Christ and the sufficiency of His grace. Every step we’ve taken as a church has been aimed at knowing Christ more deeply, enjoying Him more richly, and proclaiming Him more faithfully.
It has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life to serve as your pastor. And though I do not know all that the next ten years may bring, I can say this with confidence: as long as God gives me strength to serve here, I will preach Christ—crucified, risen, reigning, and returning.
I will labor to help you know Jesus, love Jesus, and live for Jesus until you see Him face to face.
Thank you for the joy of being your pastor these past ten years. My prayer is that we will continue, by God’s grace, to press further up and further in together—to dive deeper into the unsearchable riches of Christ.
May our faithful Lord grant us many more fruitful years together.
In Christ’s service and yours,
Nick Esch