The Ministry of Ordinary Faithfulness Text: Ephesians 6:21-22
Introduction: The Connective Tissue of the Kingdom
We have just come through one of the most doctrinally dense and practically demanding letters in the entire New Testament. Paul has taken us to the highest peaks of theology, showing us our election in Christ before the foundation of the world, and he has walked us through the most foundational duties of our daily lives, how to walk in a manner worthy of that calling. He has detailed the cosmic spiritual warfare in which we are engaged and has armed us from head to foot with the armor of God. And after all that, after the soaring doctrines and the urgent commands, the letter concludes not with a thunderclap, but with a handshake. It ends with the mundane, glorious business of Christian friendship and fellowship.
It is tempting for us, in our age of celebrity and spectacle, to skim over these closing remarks as mere postscripts, the first-century equivalent of "sincerely yours." But to do so would be to miss the point entirely. The grand theology of Ephesians is not meant to exist in a vacuum. It is meant to be lived out, embodied, and transmitted through the ordinary, faithful relationships of believers. The spiritual war is not fought by isolated commandos, but by a tight-knit infantry. And the supply lines of that infantry are carried by men like Tychicus. These verses are not an appendix to the letter; they are the connective tissue that holds the body together. They show us how the glorious truths of the gospel are delivered, not just in written words, but in the lives of faithful messengers.
Paul is in chains in Rome, an ambassador in bonds. He cannot go to Ephesus himself. The Ephesians, who love him dearly, are no doubt anxious. How is he faring? Is his spirit broken? Is the gospel hindered by his imprisonment? Rumors can fly, and discouragement is a potent weapon of the enemy. So Paul does not just send a letter; he sends a man. He sends a living, breathing update, a walking encouragement. In these two short verses, we see the profound importance of what we might call the ministry of ordinary faithfulness. It is the crucial work of being a reliable brother, a faithful servant, and an encourager of the saints. This is not the glamorous work, but it is the essential work. It is the work that builds the Church.
The Text
But that you also may know about all my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know our circumstances, and that he may encourage your hearts.
(Ephesians 6:21-22 LSB)
The Man and His Mission (v. 21)
We begin with Paul's introduction of the messenger:
"But that you also may know about all my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you." (Ephesians 6:21)
Paul's primary concern here is pastoral. He knows that the church at Ephesus is deeply invested in his well being, not out of mere curiosity, but because his state is tied to the progress of the gospel. He wants them to have a full, accurate report. Notice the personal nature of it: "my affairs, how I am doing." This is not the cold, detached communication of a modern CEO. This is the letter of a spiritual father to his children. The body of Christ is a family, and families care about the details of one another's lives.
To carry this crucial information, he sends Tychicus. And the description Paul gives him is a compact masterclass in what constitutes a valuable man in the kingdom of God. He is given two titles. First, he is a "beloved brother." This speaks of relationship. Tychicus is not a mere employee or a courier. He is family. The word "beloved" indicates a deep, tested affection. This is a man who has proven himself in the trenches of ministry alongside Paul. He is loved because he is lovely, and he is lovely because he is "in the Lord." All true Christian fellowship is grounded in our shared union with Christ. We are brothers not because we have common interests or personalities, but because we have a common Father.
Second, he is a "faithful servant in the Lord." This speaks of his character and his work. The word for servant here is diakonos, from which we get our word "deacon." It means one who serves. But the key qualifier is "faithful." Tychicus is reliable. He is dependable. He gets the job done. In a world of flash and hype, faithfulness is the currency of the kingdom. God does not call all of us to be apostles like Paul, but He calls every one of us to be faithful like Tychicus. Faithfulness in the small things, in the unseen tasks, in the carrying of messages and the encouraging of saints, this is what earns the commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And notice again, his service is "in the Lord." His faithfulness is not a product of his natural temperament; it is the fruit of his submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Tychicus's mission is simple: "will make everything known to you." He is the living color commentary to Paul's written black-and-white. He can answer their questions, fill in the gaps, and convey the tone and spirit of Paul in a way that parchment alone cannot. This is a powerful reminder that God's truth is not abstract; it is incarnational. It comes to us in the person of Christ, and it is ministered to us through the persons of His saints.
The Purpose of the Visit (v. 22)
Paul then reiterates and expands on the purpose for which he sent Tychicus.
"I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know our circumstances, and that he may encourage your hearts." (Ephesians 6:22 LSB)
The first purpose is informational: "so that you may know our circumstances." Paul is not hiding his struggles. He is an ambassador in chains (6:20). But he knows that a true report will not lead to despair, but to informed prayer and a greater confidence in God's sovereignty. Paul's letters are filled with this principle. He tells the Philippians that his imprisonment has actually served to advance the gospel (Phil. 1:12-14). Tychicus would have been able to share these kinds of stories, turning a cause for concern into a reason for praise.
The second purpose is formational: "and that he may encourage your hearts." This is the heart of the matter. The word for encourage is parakaleo, which means to come alongside and strengthen. It is the same root word used for the Holy Spirit, the Parakletos, the Comforter. Tychicus is being sent as a human agent of the Holy Spirit's ministry. His job is to strengthen the hearts of the Ephesian believers. How would he do this? By reporting on Paul's steadfast joy in suffering. By reminding them of the power of the gospel that cannot be chained. By praying with them. By embodying the very truths that Paul has just written about.
Encouragement is not sentimental fluff. It is not cheap optimism. Biblical encouragement is the ministry of applying gospel truth to the human heart. It is reminding one another that God is on His throne, that Christ has conquered, that our sins are forgiven, and that our light and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory. This is a vital ministry. The Christian life is a battle, and soldiers get weary. They get discouraged. They need men like Tychicus to come alongside them with a fresh supply of gospel truth and say, "Take heart. The commander is victorious. The war is already won."
This is a duty for every believer. We live in a world that is profoundly discouraging. The news is discouraging. Our own sin is discouraging. The attacks of the enemy are discouraging. And so, we are commanded to "encourage one another day after day" (Heb. 3:13). Are you a Tychicus to anyone? Are you known as a beloved brother, a faithful servant? Do people feel strengthened and more confident in the Lord after they have been with you? This is not a special calling for a select few. This is the ordinary business of Christian living. It is the practical outworking of all the grand theology we have studied in this magnificent letter. The doctrine is the ammunition; the encouragement is pulling the trigger to fortify the heart of a brother.