Today, I was asked to share my heart to our church family at our South Campus Gateway in Austin.
A Quick Summary:
God’s plan for the world isn’t random or chaotic. He is intentional, redemptive, and relational. Yes, people will make harmful choices. Yes, we will face hardship. But God’s ultimate purpose—to renew all things through Christ—cannot be thwarted. He is present with us, even when life feels out of control, and He promises to make things right in the end.
For now, we can trust that He is over all, through all, and in all.
Message Video:
Message Notes:
So how has your summer been?
Summer can allow us time to rest, to have fun, to be off work, or summers for some of us can be busier than ever with lots of trips or if you have kids then you have little ones needing your attention more than during the school year.
For me this has been an interesting summer for so many reasons…
- We are truly empty nesters. We don’t have a college kid who will be back in a few weeks. Both are signing leases that last for months.
- We didn’t have any long trips as we did in year’s past. Summers without kids is very different.
- Ever since my Dad died, we haven’t had time at the lake house where my grandparents retired in the early 1970s and that my parents bought from my Dad’s siblings as my Mom had to sell it.
- It’s been a sad season as we mourned the loss of life from the flooding so close to home. I was talking to a couple that lives in Germany about how every Texan I know knows someone who knows someone directly affected by the floods.
- Plus I know so many of you in a tough spot in your marriage or with your career or with your health. At the beginning of the summer we had some staff we love step down, move, or not have a position anymore.
- What we see on the news can be overwhelming and tragic.
Even still, I have been gripped by this verse this summer that has gotten ahold of my heart and brought me peace and joy and a sense of God’s love.
So much so that I have been eager to share it with you.
You see this year I have been spending time with God by reading one letter from Paul over and over each month. January was 1 Thessalonians. February was 2 Thessalonians. March was 1 Corinthians, and so on.
I read all of it or a chapter or just a verse – depending on the day.
I then go on a prayer walk where I spend most of the time thanking God for who He is (not as much thanking Him for my blessings or even coming before Him with our prayer requests, that comes later).
Then after the prayer walk I meditate on a phrase or a verse in our hot tub which is relaxing and such a gift.
So to give us more context of Ephesians before I read the one verse, here is a quick summary of this beautiful letter to those who follow Jesus:
Ephesians 1: God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing and has begun His plan to unite heaven and earth through the resurrected and exalted Jesus.
Ephesians 2: Though once dead in sin and divided by ethnicity and hostility, we are now alive in Christ and formed into a new unified humanity—God’s dwelling place.
Ephesians 3: Paul reveals the mystery that now Gentiles are now full members of God’s family, and he prays that the church would grasp the vast love and power of Christ.
Ephesians 4: Because of our shared calling, we are to walk in unity, maturity, and love—reflecting God’s character by how we treat one another in the body of Christ.
Ephesians 5: We are to live as light in the world—imitating God in our relationships, purity, and especially in how we love and submit to one another in Christ.
Ephesians 6: Our struggle is not against people but spiritual powers, so we stand firm in Christ’s victory, clothed in the armor of God, as a unified and prayerful community.
So right in the middle of this is the phrase I cannot stop thinking about…
“… you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4-4b-6
More specifically, “God is over all and through all and in all.”
So what does that even mean and how does that apply to our life today?
I want us to look at how God is over all as the One who reigns right now, how He is working through all of us when we follow Him giving us purpose, and in all with His gentle and transformative presence through His Spirit when we choose to follow Him.
1. God Is Over All (Jesus Reigns as Lord)
“God is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:6
God is sovereign over creation, history, salvation, and the church.
Have you heard this idea that God is sovereign before?
Or have you ever heard someone say: “God is in control”?
Sometimes when life feels out of control, people cling to that phrase, “God is in control.”
But for many of us, especially in moments of deep grief or pain, that phrase can feel more confusing than comforting.
What does it mean to trust God’s sovereignty when tragedies strike?
It’s important to remember that God’s authority doesn’t mean He orchestrates evil or delights in our suffering. Instead, His sovereignty is rooted in His love—He reigns over creation and is working to redeem and restore all things, even in the midst of our pain.
The early followers of Jesus wrestled with this too. So their pastor, the one who started their churches, Paul wrote these letters to remind them – and reminds us – that we don’t grieve like those without hope.
Because Jesus died and rose again, we can trust that death is not the end.
One day, Jesus will return to set all things right.
Until then, we hold onto the promise that nothing—no tragedy, no evil—can separate us from the love of God. We may not always understand what’s happening around us, but we can trust who is with us through it all.
God doesn’t promise a pain-free life, but He does promise His presence, His peace, and His ultimate victory. He will strengthen and protect us, and one day, He will bring us safely into His Kingdom.
Until that day, we keep trusting, keep loving, and keep pointing others toward the hope we’ve found in Christ.
God’s sovereignty is both comforting and challenging:
- Comforting, because it means nothing is outside of God’s care or power — not suffering, not injustice, not our failures.
- Challenging, because it means we are not in control. If Jesus is King, then we are not. If Jesus is really on the throne, then you can stop trying to be. That truth will humble you and free you at the same time.
Growing up in church, I didn’t hear much about what Jesus is doing now. I just know He died, rose again, and was coming back one day, but the theology of the ascension of Jesus is far more important than we realize.
The resurrection and ascension of Jesus are central to Christian hope, because they show us that there is someone on the throne of the universe who loves us.
Not just a generic ‘higher power’ or an impersonal “universe” but a crucified Savior who intercedes for us.”
So when Scripture says Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, it’s shorthand for the following:
- Authority (He is Lord of heaven and earth — Matt. 28:18)
- Advocacy (He intercedes for us — Rom. 8:34)
- Victory (His kingdom is advancing — 1 Cor. 15:25)
Sovereignty is not simply God being in control over all the things that happen, but that God is king, enacting His rule through Jesus the Messiah and by the Spirit.
When Paul says in Ephesians 1:20–22 that God raised Christ from the dead and “seated him at his right hand… far above all rule and authority…”, it’s not just a spiritual truth — it’s a cosmic, and embodied truth. Jesus is Lord now.
Jesus reigning at God’s right hand is a fulfillment of Psalm 110 and Daniel 7.
This is the launch of the kingdom of God, not just an abstract position of power.
Jesus reigns not despite the cross, but through the cross — and now through His resurrection life and the Spirit-empowered church.
Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father is a direct expression of God’s sovereign rule being exercised through Christ — not waiting for a future day, but actively unfolding now.
What comes to mind when you think of “God being over all”?
How does Jesus’ position at the right hand of the Father shape your view of His authority and reign today?
Where in your life do you struggle to surrender control?
Knowing Jesus is on the throne brings me peace. I may not understand why this or why that may happen, but I know the One who does, and I know He mourns with those who mourns, intervenes in miraculous ways even when I do not see it, and brings for hope beyond this life.
2. God Is Working Through All (Jesus Gives Us Purpose)
“God is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:6
God is actively involved in accomplishing His redemptive purposes.
Romans 11:36 – “For from him and through him…”
→ His power works through all of history to fulfill His plan.
Colossians 1:16 – “All things were created through him and for him.”
→ Christ is the agent of creation and redemption.
John 1:3 – “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
→ Christ is the divine Logos, through whom God acts in creation.
1 Corinthians 8:6 – “One Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things…”
→ All things exist by His active mediation.
Acts 17:28 – “In him we live and move and have our being.”
→ God is at work sustaining all life, not passively but actively.
Questions to Consider:
How have you seen God work through difficult seasons in your life or in others’ lives?
What does it mean that Jesus is the one “through whom all things were made”?
How does trusting in God’s purpose help you respond differently to life’s disappointments or delays?
In Experience Jesus, Really by John Eldredge which I received from my uncle, he says that rather than being disciples of Jesus, if we are not careful, we are more like disciples of the internet.
- We expect answers right now, but God often wants us to lean in and wait.
- We are skeptical of what we hear and read, but God is the Truth.
3. God Is In All — (Jesus’ Presence Through His Spirit)
“God is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:6
God dwells in His people and is personally present with us.
I have been praying this for myself, for my family, and for you….
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 1:17-20 NIV
God is present. The problem is too often we are not aware or listening. He is invisible but not silent.
Listen how near He is!
Colossians 3:11 – “Christ is all and in all.”
Christ dwells within each believer, uniting all.
Galatians 3:28 – “You are all one in Christ Jesus.”
A spiritual unity formed by the presence of Christ.
John 17:21–23 – “That they may be one… I in them and you in me…”
Jesus prays for indwelling unity between the Father, Son, and believers.
Acts 17:28 – “In him we live and move and have our being.”
God is not far off, but personally present in all life.
Colossians 1:27 – “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
A central theme in Paul’s letters: indwelling Christ as the mark of believers
Here is what is amazing. Over and over and over, the eyewitnesses of Jesus (including Paul who was blinded in a vision of the Risen Jesus) wrote about how Jesus is in us through His Spirit. And as a result, we can trust in Him, lean on Him AND we need to value other believers as fellow carriers of His Spirit.
A widely recognized African proverb says this:
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”
We need each other! We can help each other!
Here’s the catch – hurt people hurt people. When you decide to connect in community, people will disappoint you. People will hurt you. People will let you down.
Now, I am not talking about putting up with abuse or allowing yourself to be in danger. If that is you, let us know so we can help you get help and healing. Counseling and Restore on Monday nights can be an important part of your journey.
Most of the time, we give up on others for far less than that.
We have to remember that we will do that too – even if we do not mean to do it.
Maybe you have “church hurt.” Maybe you’ve experienced friends who betrayed you or gossiped about you or turned on you. I have.
You know what God brings to mind in the midst of those moments?
Jesus’ prayer on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34
You know what else comes to mind?
When my daughter Trevi was in middle school, she came to me about a friend of hers who seemed to keep taking shots at her. She was tired of forgiving her and was ready to move on. So I reminded her of the time when Jesus had a similar conversation with Peter. I asked her: do you know how many times Jesus said we should forgive those who hurt us? She said: “I know. I know. To infinity and beyond.”
Actually that was Buzz Lightyear rather than Jesus. Here’s the actual conversation:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” – Matthew 18:21-22
Some people hurt us repeatedly. We need to forgive and forgive again. Others have hurt us deeply enough, that just a reminder of what happened brings back the pain. We need to forgive and then forgive again.
As a newlywed years ago, I heard something that really helped me. The goal of a healthy couple is not to avoid fights. A healthy couple learns to fight fairly. What was meant by that is this: we need to learn to work through our differences and come to an agreement without hurting each other or harboring bitterness. Some of us have carried broken relationships and painful moments from relationship to relationship, from church to church, from job to job, and from city to city
“As long as we hang onto bitterness against anyone, it affects others close to us who had nothing to do with the pain.” – Neil Anderson
With whom do you have bitterness?
Forgiving them is not the same thing as putting yourself back in harm’s way. You can forgive AND still maintain healthy boundaries.
Too often, we are giving the person who hurt us far too much power in our lives.
Another passage that comes to mind when I have been hurt is this one:
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:19-21
Here’s the thing: we need each other.
We learn how to become more like Jesus when we learn to say “I’m sorry” and learn to say and mean “I forgive you.”
We learn to become more like Jesus when we have others with whom we are doing life and able to live out the commands to “love one another,” “bear with one another,” “forgive one another,” “serve on another,” and all the other “one another” commands.
Several times in my 35 years in ministry, I have had conversations with people where no church is good enough for them. It reminds me of this quote from Deitrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who opposed the Nazis and was killed in a concentration camp just weeks before the end of WWII. He wrote:
“He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.” – Bonhoeffer in Life Together
So let me ask you something:
What does it mean that Christ is in all believers?
How would your relationships change if you truly believed the people around you carry the presence of Christ?
Here’s what is amazing, not only is the Spirit of God within the hearts of those who believe, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, His Spirit is within you!
So here’s what I pray for you.
- I pray that you would come to feel and experience how God is over all, through all, and in all.
- I pray that you would experience the fullness of the love of God for you.
- I pray you would understand you can trust Him – even when the world is falling apart all around you.
- I pray that you would live out your purpose.
- I pray that you would begin to experience His presence in your life more and more.
Let me give you some real tangible ways to grow in these things:
Choose to follow Jesus.
Not just once in your life but every day.
- “God demonstrates his own love for us in this… when we were still powerless, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6-8
- “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
Join us every Sunday.
Come expecting to experience God’s presence every week. The music, the message, the conversations in the lobby, the still small voice in your heart, these are all ways God can show up for you.
Pray each week: “what do you have for me and what do you want from me?”
Church is not a service. Sundays are not about the singers, the band, the speaker, the topic but the presence of God and the connection with community. Sundays give us an opportunity to live out the greatest commandment which is to Love God and love people.
Spend time with Jesus every day.
Praying and reading the Bible – start with the Gospels then the Psalms and New Testament
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.”
– John Owen
To help you with context, consider using any or all of the following:
BibleProject.com
www.youtube.com/@EricBryant777/playlists (Through the New Testament)
The New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright
Spend time with others in a group.
Consider: with whom are you growing and who are you helping grow?
This fall we will have all sorts of new groups you can try out.
We actually have a need for a few women to start a group to help others learn to hear God’s voice through the Bible and through community.
You see there are ministries out there that teach information about the Bible, but what we are looking to do is help people live out the Scriptures in community. To be in a group where people know you and you know them and together you work on living out the message of the Bible.
Serve others with others.
Jesus said: “You will find your life when you lose your life serving others.” – Matthew 10:39
Consider: with whom are you serving and who are you serving?
This could be on Sundays with our kids in the morning or our teens in the evening. Do you know we have a need for women who might be willing to spend time with teen girls?
This could be with another coworker who follows Jesus and looking for other coworkers to spend time with.
This could be with your roommates or a neighbor or your spouse or kids looking for ways to meet the needs of those living near you.
In what ways do you personally need to experience more of God’s presence right now?
Try to implement these 5 things this month.
By the end of the month, I expect you will be amazed at how God works over you, through you, and in you.
What’s your least favorite podcast you can replace with listening to the Bible app?
What’s your least favorite show you can give up to have one night of the week with others?
What if you served in one service and attended another and connected with others in between?
These simple adjustments can help us become less disciples of the internet and more disciples of Jesus.
These essential truths will help us from falling victim to the lies from the darkness or the lies of this world. When we meditate on what’s true, it helps us from allowing our feelings which can be off from leading us astray.
Your Identity in Christ
God is my Father.
I am his son or daughter.
I am loved.
I am chosen.
God is my refuge.
God can be trusted.
God has not abandoned the human race or me.
God’s presence and His Kingdom are completely available to me, and I experience them.
From – Experience Jesus, Really by John Eldredge
Consider adding verses to your list that combat the areas where the enemy comes after you.
Where do I need to surrender to God this morning?
Where do I need to trust God’s purpose?
Where do I need to experience God’s presence?
For feference, check out the Following Jesus Handout
