All Saints

Sermon Notes Sunday 2nd November

by Mark Stuckey

What springs to mind when you hear the words All Saints Day advertised?Is it someone who is a well-known saint? Is it one of the images depicted in our stain glass windows around the church?Is it someone known more personally to us, who has encouraged us by their faith. Today, on All Saints Day, we pause to remember those who have gone before us – those lives bore witness to the grace and power of God. Some were famous, like St Augustine or Mother Teresa. While others were quiet saints known more personally to us, parents, grandparents, neighbours, mentors. These peoples’ witness of faith have shaped our own faith story. All Saints Day is not about honouring the past; it’s about recognising the inheritance we share with them and the calling we now carry. Today, friends, our bible passages see us looking through two windows into the heart of God’s kingdom. One is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – a soaring declaration of our identity in Christ. The other is Jesus’ teaching in Luke – a radical call to live out that identity in a broken world. Together, these passages answer two questions: Who are we in Christ? How should we live because of it? Let’s begin by deep diving into what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians.

Part 1: You are Chosen and Empowered (Ephesians 1:11-23)

Paul begins with a bold claim. In verse 11 we read, “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will…” This verse tells us that you are not random. You are not forgotten. But in fact, you are chosen! We have an identity in Christ. To give some context about inheritance we need to return to the earlier verses of Ephesians chapter 1. In verse 4 it points out that God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. We were chosen!

As part of our identity in Christ, the Apostle Paul highlights that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (v.13). What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit? In ancient times, a seal was a mark of ownership, authenticity, and protection. Kings sealed letters to prove they were genuine. Merchants sealed goods to show they belonged to someone. And God seals us with His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s mark on your life. He’s the guarantee of your inheritance. He’s the presence of God dwelling in you. “He has put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:22) That means your salvation is secure. Your identity is sealed. You are not just saved – you are sealed.

This inheritance that we have been offered is not just to be used for future glory – it’s present identity that exists in each of us and that we can use as we go about the ministry we have been called to perform. The saints we remember today lived with this assurance as part of their identity. They new they belonged to God, and this radiated from them when they did their ministry tasks. The application for us is that we can be encouraged. Be encouraged that you, too, are part of this inheritance. You are sealed with the Spirit. You are not forgotten but rather loved. You are not alone. You are part of the communion of saints.

Eyes of the Heart

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul prays that the “eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (v.18). What does it mean by the eyes of your heart may be enlightened? Paul tells us that we can recognise the hope to which He has called you. We can recognise the riches of His glorious inheritance. We can recognise His incomparably great power for us who believe. This power, Paul says is the same power that raised Christ from the dead (v.20). That means resurrection power lives in you. Not just to survive – but to thrive. Not just to be saved – but to be sent. The saints we know lived with their eyes wide open to God’s work in

the world. In very individualised ways each of our saints demonstrated love in action, they did things with their hands, they visited the lonely and the sick, cared for people, listen to people, led people, prayed for people. But most of all they showed Christ’s love to people in a broken world. For each of them they saw beyond suffering, beyond injustice, beyond death.

Our application here is we can ask God to open our eyes and hearts. Allow us to see the world as the saints did – with hope, with courage, with love. As we go about our lives, our ministries, let our testimonies of faith display the power of Christ working with us.

Part 2: Living the Kingdom Way (Luke 6:20-31)

We have seen how Paul instructed the Ephesians about how to live a life pleasing to God. As we move into Luke’s Gospel, we see how Jesus instructs his disciples to live life. Life as the disciples know it is about to turn upside down. Jesus says to the disciples:

“Blessed are you who are poor…

Blessed are you who are hungry now…

Blessed are you who weep now…” (vv.20-21)

Here we see Jesus redefining blessing. The blessings are not offering as comfort, wealth or applause – but rather the blessings are as dependence, longing and humility.

Reversal of Values

As we move through the beatitudes in Luke’s Gospel a reversal of values becomes obvious to us with the woe statements. Jesus warns the rich, the full, the laughing, and the praised about their lifestyle. Why does Jesus offer this warning? Because the kingdom of God is not built on self-sufficiency. It’s built on surrender. This echoes Paul’s message. You were chosen not because you were strong, but because God is gracious. This is the kingdom the saints embraced. The Kingdom Way. They lived counterculturally. They chose humility over pride, sacrifice over comfort, mercy over vengeance. “Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, for your is the kingdom of God” (v.20).

For us what is the application? What does sainthood look like today? It looks like choosing the way of Jesus when the world chooses power. It looks like standing with the marginalised. It looks like living generously, even when it costs us.

Radical Love

Jesus doesn’t stop at the blessings and woes when instructing his disciples. Jesus continues and offers a most challenging command. He calls us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you (vv.27-28). This is resurrection power in action. This is what it looks like when the eyes of your heart are enlightened.You turn the other cheek (v.29)You give freely (v.30)You treat others as you want to be treated (v.31)

This is the heart of sainthood. This isn’t weakness – it’s kingdom strength. It’s the power to forgive, to bless, to love radically. The saints were not perfect, but they were transformed by love. They forgave when it was hard. They served when it was inconvenient. They loved when it made no sense.

For us what take away can we obtain when considering radical love. Consider radical love this way - Who is hard for you to love right now? And what would it look like to live as a saint in your workplace, your family, your community?

At the beginning of the sermon, I indicated that our bible passages today were like looking through two windows into the heart of God’s Kingdom. Our passages align with each other. In Ephesians it states you are chosen. In Luke, it says you are blessed even in poverty. In Ephesians it states you are empowered. In Luke, it says you are called to love radically. In Ephesians it states you have hope. In Luke, it says you live with kingdom values. In Ephesians it states you are sealed with the Spirit. In Luke, it says you reflect the Spirit through mercy.

Paul gives us the foundation. Jesus gives us the application.For us to be saints, be encouraged and know that you are chosen, sealed and empowered. Let that shape your decisions, your relationships, your worship. Be prepared to practice upside-down love – love the unlovable. Forgive the unforgivable. Bless the undeserving. That is kingdom living. Ask God to open your hearts to see His hope, His riches, and His power. And be the church that reflects Christ just as the saints who have gone before us have done. For the saints that we have loved they stood in awe of Jesus in their lives. We too as saints can stand in awe of Jesus and be guided by him. In a world of division, let us be a community of mercy. In a culture of revenge, let us be a people of grace.

Conclusion: You are the light.

Paul ends by saying that Christ is the head of the church, “which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (v.23)That’s you. That’s us!We are the fullness of Christ in the world. So, let’s live like it. Let’s love like it.Let’s be the people who know who we are – and live it out with radical grace.