God’s Bigger Dream for Your Life

Discovering How God Turns Struggles into Strength

There’s a truth woven throughout Scripture that changes how we see our lives: God’s dream for us is often bigger than the one we imagine for ourselves. Ephesians 3 opens a window into this reality, reminding us that spiritual growth in Christianity isn’t about avoiding hardships but about experiencing the power of Christ in every season. When we learn to embrace God’s vision, we find resilience, joy, and purpose—even in places we never expected.

Prisoners of Christ: Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places

Paul begins Ephesians 3 by identifying himself as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:1). At first glance, it’s a strange way to describe imprisonment. He wasn’t a prisoner of Rome, nor was he stuck because of human opposition—he framed his entire situation through the lens of Christ. This perspective reshapes how we navigate hard times as Christians. Instead of seeing hardships as signs of God’s absence, they can become evidence of His presence.

We often think life should flow smoothly if we’re following God faithfully. But Paul shows us that Christian discipleship often leads into challenges, not away from them. Strengthening your faith journey means trusting that God is working even in the DMV lines of life, the frustrating delays, or the painful setbacks. Faith development isn’t found in perfect conditions; it grows strongest in the soil of adversity.

The Mystery Revealed: God’s Bigger Family

Paul goes on to explain the “mystery” revealed through Christ—a word that in the New Testament doesn’t mean something hidden forever, but something once veiled and now revealed. The mystery is this: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

This was radical in Paul’s day. For centuries, God’s covenant people were Israel. Suddenly, the dividing wall came down, and everyone—regardless of background, heritage, or past—was welcomed into the promises of God. This truth speaks directly to our own faith development today. Building a relationship with God is not about what we bring to the table but about what Christ has already accomplished. Spiritual growth in Christianity begins with belonging: you are chosen, included, and adopted into God’s family.

Humility and Grace: Our True Posture

Paul, who carried incredible authority as an apostle, writes: “I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 3:8). This isn’t false modesty—it’s a reminder that Christian discipleship is rooted in humility. We don’t climb into God’s dream for our lives by proving ourselves but by acknowledging our dependence on grace.

In our world, value is often measured by achievement, status, or wealth. But Paul redefines worth in light of Christ. Recognizing our weakness isn’t a liability—it’s the starting point for God’s power to shine. When we embrace our need, God fills it with His strength. Deepening your faith means letting go of the illusion of self-sufficiency and resting in the sufficiency of Jesus.

The Church as God’s Display of Wisdom

One of the most striking statements in Ephesians 3 is found in verse 10: “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” In other words, the church—the gathered people of God—is God’s chosen way to display His wisdom, even to the spiritual forces at work in the unseen world.

This means our faith isn’t just personal. Strengthening your faith journey involves leaning into the community of believers, because it’s together that we show the world and the spiritual realm what God is doing. Christian resilience grows when we link arms with others, worship together, and live as the family of God. The church is not just a service we attend—it’s a living testimony of God’s wisdom and power.

Experiencing Love Beyond Knowledge

Toward the end of Ephesians 3, Paul shifts into a prayer that captures the heart of deepening faith: “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–19).

Notice the paradox: knowing a love that surpasses knowledge. This is the essence of building a relationship with God. It isn’t just about facts or information—it’s about encountering His presence in a way that transforms the heart. Faith development involves moving from head knowledge to heart experience, from information about God to intimacy with Him.

When we are “rooted and established in love,” we become unshakable. Navigating hard times as a Christian no longer feels like drifting in a storm but standing on a foundation that cannot be moved. Experiencing God’s love brings a stability that circumstances can’t steal.

Returning to the Cross

Paul closes this section with a doxology, reminding us that God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). That’s God’s bigger dream for your life—not just a slightly improved version of your plans, but a life that radiates His glory.

One of the most tangible ways we realign with that dream is through communion. The bread and the cup draw us back to the cross, the place where God’s love was demonstrated most clearly. In a world full of distractions and performance-driven expectations, communion anchors us in grace. It’s a reminder that the dream God has for us was secured not by our striving, but by Christ’s sacrifice.

Living God’s Bigger Dream

God’s dream for your life isn’t about ease or comfort—it’s about transformation. Christian resilience is forged in the fires of adversity. Spiritual growth in Christianity comes not from avoiding hardship but from trusting God in the midst of it. Building a relationship with God is about experiencing His love, leaning into His people, and living out His wisdom in the world.

Ephesians 3 leaves us with an invitation: to dream bigger, because God is already dreaming bigger for us. His love is wider, deeper, and higher than we can comprehend, and His power is at work in us to do immeasurably more than we could imagine.

---

If you’re ready to take the next step in strengthening your faith journey, Bayside Church offers countless opportunities to grow—through Adult Ministries, Student Ministries, small groups, Bible studies, events, and more. Whether you’re navigating hard times or looking to deepen your faith, there’s a place for you to experience God’s bigger dream for your life.

Watch Pastor Mark Clark preach the sermon on God’s Bigger Dream for Your Life.