Richvale Community Church
Sunday, August 10 2025
- Good Morning —Imagine standing in front of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. You don’t rush past it. You pause. You stare.There’s something about a true masterpiece — it pulls you in. You notice the intention behind every brushstroke, the care in every detail. It wasn’t slapped together; it was created with intention and purpose..The 17 Century poet.Francis Quarles once wrote:“Man is heaven’s masterpiece.”What a statement!SCRIPTURE reminds us again and again: we are precious in God’s eyes. David marveled at this in Psalm 8.He looked at the vastness of the heavens and still couldn’t get over this — that the same God who set the stars in place would care so deeply for us.“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:4 AMP)We are highly valued by God — —not because of what we do, —but because He sees His own design in us.This goes back to creation..When you read the creation story in Genesis, after each day of creation we see God’s goodness.— GOD created the light, sky, land, plants, sun, moon, stars, animals — and after each day … the Scripture says.. that“God saw that it was good”But after God created mankind — something changes. On the six day God created man in his image and ..
Genesis 1:31 ESV 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.That phrase very goodIn comes from 2 hebrew words.Tev means good but me’odMeans …exceedingly..abundant.... Pam’s dad for years had a flip phone… it was good enough .. he dug his heals in… but then one day he caved… he got am old I phone. Let’s say he will never go back..Very good is a deliberate upgrade…In creation Mankind completes Gods purposes — We bring creation to its fullness…into meaningGod Values us…but -— too often we don’t see that for ourselves ..We focus on what’s broken or missing in our lives.We see our flaws.We replay our failures over and over again.We struggle to see our worthiness..Today we’re starting a -new series entitled “Who Am I?”Today we talking about living from a place of worth..When we talk about our worth, we’re really asking:How valuable am I?What makes me important?Why do I matter?These are deeply personal questions—and the answers shapes how we see ourselves, how we live, and how we relate to God and others.How do we measure our worth?First..1. we measure our worth by knowing we are Gods handiworkA couple weeks ago we visited Justin and Emma—and of course our 200-day-old grandbaby ..JASON (yes, we’re counting days!).Emma works at Patagonia, and while we were visiting, we stopped in one of their stores. Their gear isn’t cheap —but it comes with a lifetime warranty. If something breaks or tears, they’ll repair it—or replace it—.Why do they do that? Because they want to live out their values—one of them is “Build the best product.”Our worth is often tied to the wrong values..we value..other people’s opinions,or how we feel on a rough day,or our latest win or loss. ButScripture reminds us: that real worth isn’t earned—it’s conferred by our Maker.“This is what Paul tells us in Eph 2.10This is where we going to be t his morning in this one verse.. we are going to break it downand see how it fits into the rest of the flow of Ephesians chapter 2.Ephesians 2:10 ESV 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.The very first word: is “For…”(for we are his workmanship)The word “for” is a conjunction .. It connects what has just been said before and to what is coming. Paul uses it here to tie together-what God has done for us in salvation .. we have saved be Faith through grace..It goes back to the bringing of the chapter.In verses 1–3, he describes who we were before Christ. (BC)Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.Paul says Before Christ we were spiritually dead—unresponsive, separated from the life of God.The theological word for being spiritually dead is “unregenerate.” Think of it like this:It’s like trying to jump-start a car with a dead battery…You can crank the key, hook up the jumper cables, call in reinforcements—but it’s no use. That battery doesn’t need a recharge.It needs to be replaced..That’s what sinful nature did to us. It cut us off from the Source of power and life.We weren’t just out of power—we were out of life. — because we were separated from God… we kept living in our sin and trespasses..We kept missing the mark—falling short of God’s holy standard and best for us (Rom. 3:23).We kept stepping over the line— going out of boundsbecause of this.. Instead of desiring God, we followed the cravings of flesh and mind—our impulses…..before Christ we wereLeft to ourselves, we were on a road headed toward judgement.. his wrath—And judgement is God’s just response to sin.Now, this might feel heavy…—but it’s important.Because.. Unless we understand our Condition before Christ..— we will never appreciate the full extent of God Mercy and his grace...Paul goes on..Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—Before Christ ..we were on this path to destruction.. But God showed mercy..Mercy is not getting what we deserve.. Mercy can be tried up in two words But God..Those two words—“But God”—are some of the most powerful in all of Scripture.Sin had is trapped but God acted decisively in Christ to address the problem.He steps into our world.. not because we earned it, but because of who He is:“ rich in mercy…”In the parable of the prodigal son.. the youngest sontook his inheritance early and squandered it…He found himself broke, barefoot, and broken—ready to beg for a job feeding pigs. when he returns.. the father saw him while he was still a long way off. In that moment, everything turned.The story could have ended in shame, but the father ran towards him .. clothed him with his best robe .. put a ring on his finger and throws a party… because son who was lost was how found..That’s a “But God.”In that same way, our story doesn’t end in brokenness or shame. Because of God’s mercy and grace, our position in Christ has changed completely.Instead of leaving us dead in our sin, He has made us alive in Christ.He gave us a brand-new identity—alive in Christ.Paul writes in Ephesians 2:6–8 that God has not only saved us but has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly places.God not only made us alive—He raised us up and seated us with Christ. This is our position:We are no longer standing in the ashes of our past—we’re seated with the King, fully accepted, fully loved, and fully restored.Why did God did do this?To show his goodness…We are trophies of Grace… that showcases His transformative power to othersEphesians 2:7 ESV 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.T his was his intentionIf we go back to verse 10: our anchor text!Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship…”NOW..The phrase “we are” isn’t filler. IT Speaks intention..It means TO EXISTWE exist because God made it so.. We were created with divine intention.To be his workmanship..The Greek word here is poiēma—it’s where we get the English word poem. It means something crafted, fashioned, or carefully made.We are hand-crafted, artisan-level creations. God didn’t rush through you. He formed you with care… and continues to do this..C.S. Lewis once wrote: “You are, in fact, a divine work of art—something God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character.” C.S LewisThis means God is not done with you and he is not done with me..he t..When we forget we are God’s masterpiece, we:Settle for comparisonBelieve we’re not enoughLive out of fear instead of faithBut Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: You are God’s workmanship.Application:Today ..If you're struggling with insecurity or feelings of inadequacyremember this:When the world tries to define you by your failures, God sees the fingerprints of His own design.we. Go back to the canvas of Ephesians 2:10, and we see it written.. “You’re my masterpiece.”HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR WORTH?We are his masterpiece.2.We Measure Our Worth by Our Position “in Christ”When I was in seminary, I also worked as the building manager. One day, my supervisor asked me to pick up trash around the building.Honestly, I felt pretty humbled—maybe even a little reluctant—as I walked the sidewalks, picking up trash while students passed by.But it wasn’t really the job itself that made me struggle. It was a season in my life when I was wrestling deeply with my sense calling and worth.—Most of us find our worth in our work. . We build our identity around our accomplishments, our titles, our talents.And when things are going well, it can feel pretty good.But here’s the problem: That kind of value system is fragile. If our identity is built on our work, we will always be chasing approval. We’ll either burn out trying to prove our worth, or feel crushed when we fall short of expectations.But the gospel offers us something far better.Our value doesn’t come from what you do— It comes from whose you are.William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury, once said"My worth is what I am worth to God—and that is a marvelous great deal, for Christ died for me. It is not my worthlessness, but my creation and redemption through the cross that gives me value." – William Temple, Archbishop of CanterburyThe apostle Paul says we areEphesians 2:10b – “…created in Christ Jesus…”Here’s where things go deeper. We’re not just handmade—we’re re-made in Christ.This isn’t just about being physically created by God.Paul is speaking to something more profound:a spiritual rebirth, a new identity formed through the grace and power of Jesus.When we put our faith in Christ, we aren’t just cleaned up—we’re raised up.This isn’t a makeover; it’s a resurrection.Paul gives us a before-and-after snapshot just a few verses laterin verse 12 he says..Paul says remember what it felt like to be apart from Christ.in verse 11-12 he says remember who you once were..alienated from the common wealth of Israel… —Strangers to the covenant.Having no Hope.. and without God..But now…thats mercy..Ephesians 2:13 ESV 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.“ in Christ Jesus”—marks the turning point.It’s like the GPS recalculating your destination. You were heading toward destruction, but now it changed the coordinates you’re heading toward purpose, hope, and eternal life…The phrase here is “in Christ appears over 160 times in Paul’s letters.Why? Because it’s our new identity. Everything we are flows from who we are in Him.Our value is in Christ.Our purpose is in Christ.Our hope is in Christ.Our confidence is in Christ.To be “in Christ” means to be united with Him—bound together in a relationship so deep and defining that it changes everything about who we are.One of the best illustrations of this kind of union is marriage. Two people—distinct and individual—are joined together in covenant. Even though they remain separate individuals, there is a oneness, a togetherness, a shared identity.When marriage works like this it’s a beautiful thing.When we place our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His life, His death, and His resurrection. What’s true of Him becomes true of you—His righteousness, His victory, His inheritance.Paul says in Galatians 2:20:“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…”Our old identity—our failures, our past, our shame—no longer defines us. Christ does. And here’s the incredible thing:Our union with Christ transcends every earthly distinction. It unites believers across backgrounds, cultures, personalities, and social status. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:28:“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”That’s the kind of unity the world can’t manufacture. good does not have a cookie cutter..It’s not sameness—it’s oneness in Him.Application:When we root our lives in Christ, we begin to discover the reason we were made.HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR WORTH?1..We are his masterpiece.2. Our Position “in Christ”3.We Measure Our Worth by Our God-Given Purpose…Arthur F. Miller, a researcher who spent years studying how God uniquely designs people,He observed that each of us carries a deep inner drive—a kind of magnetic pull—toward certain outcomes.We’re not just motivated to do things;we’re driven to accomplish something meaningful…We designed to make a difference..Ephesians 2:10 “tells us that we were created for something more ..for good works which God had planned in Advance..we have to ask.. Why is it thats our vocation does not fulfill completely?… our work is only part of the equation…We were created for more..l..—The bible teaches us that we are born with intention and purpose…The Lord to said to Jeremiah the prophet—Jeremiah 1:5 ESV 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”Before Jeremiah ever took a breath, before he spoke a word, God already knew him… designed him… and set his life apart for a mission.God in his foreknowledge knows each one of us..God has planted a spiritual compass in each one of us.., always pointing toward the work He’s prepared in advance for us to do.Paul echoes this truth in Ephesians 2:10The same God who has formed us in the womb also crafted our calling.Not only are we God’s masterpiece, and not only are we in Christ—we were created for a purpose.God has prepared good works for us in advance. We’re not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works.Here is the thing about God purposes - it is progressive…The bible talks a life moving along a path…Proverbs 4 tells us that the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.. they do not know what they stumble over…In contrast..Proverbs 4:18 ESV 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.there is way and there is a path.. Eph 2.10 tells is That’s what God has done. He’s prepared the path I’m advance..You have to admire the Hikers that walk Appalachian Trail. That journey stretches over 2,000 miles, winding through mountains, valleys, and forests.For most hikers, the only reason they can complete it is because others have gone before them—clearing paths, marking turns, placing signs at every fork, setting up shelters, and creating stops along the way where they can rest and get replenished.That’s what God has done for us in Christ.He has gone ahead of you—preparing opportunities, shaping your gifts, arranging circumstances,and even providing places along the way where you can be renewed—so that your purpose isn’t something you have to invent, it’s something you discover and walk in.You don’t have to figure out the entire future. You just need to take the next step.What kinds of “good works”?What is required of us..Micah 6:8 ESV 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?there are app kinds if good world.Acts of kindnessconversationsServing your communityEncouraging the wearyPraying for the hurtingSpeaking truth with graceLiving out justice, mercy, and humilityApplication:In tennis there is the sweet spot o on the racquet …you put top spin on the ball and you hit it just right and goes over the net..The sweet spot in the Christian life is our purpose… is when when our lives meets the need in someone else..Frederick Buechner (BEEK.NER) — often compared to C.S Lewis..“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick BuechnerClosing Story: The Violin MakerThere’s a story about a violin maker in the 1700s named Antonio Stradivari. Stra Da veryHe believed that if his violins were going to be used to make music that glorified God, they had to be perfectly crafted.So he labored over every detail. He once said,“When any master holds one of my violins and draws the bow across the strings, he will hear music like none other.God is the Master Craftsman. And you are the instrument.He shaped you with care. He saved you with grace. He sends you with purpose.Let me leave you with three thoughts.Believe that you are God’s masterpiece. Stop letting the world define you. Let God’s Word declare your worth.Anchor your identity in Christ. Not in your job. Not in your past. Not in your performance. But in your Savior.Step into the good works God has prepared. You were made for this. walk in his purpose—in your home, your work, your neighborhood, your church. Genesis 1:31AMP
Ephesians 2:10AMP
Ephesians 2:1–3AMP
Ephesians 2:4–5AMP
Ephesians 2:7AMP
Ephesians 2:13AMP
Jeremiah 1:5AMP
Ephesians 2:10AMP
Proverbs 4:18AMP
Micah 6:8AMP
Richvale Community Church
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