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Ephesians series message 35
Text: Ephesians 5:15-17
Paul continues to hammer home and develop his central thesis for the second half of his letter: walk in a manner worthy of your calling. He goes beyond naming specific vices to avoid and virtues to aspire to; we must apply wisdom because life does not come to us neatly wrapped in a bow. We must be intentional in our walk with the Lord, knowing we live in evil times, and strive to know the Lord's will in all that we do.
Ephesians series message 34
Text: Ephesians 5:7-14
The consistent call of God in each generation is for His people to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. Paul says this, in so many ways, just in Ephesians alone: walk in a manner worthy of your calling, no longer walk as the Gentiles do, put off the old & put on the new, and walk as children of light. It's the latter that we'll consider in this message, with special attention given to the corollary given in Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover meal provide a blueprint for every generation to follow.
Ephesians series message 33
Text: Ephesians 5:3-7
How do we walk in a manner worthy of our calling? Paul began by speaking to community issues - how my actions affect other people. Now he speaks to sins which are self-indulgent and fueled by lust and greed, which must be replaced with thanksgiving. He adds a dire warning; one he clearly talked about with them in person. (Acts 20): An unchanged life with continual unbroken sin is a fraud and does not bear the evidence of the indwelling work of the Spirit.
Ephesians series message 32
Text: Ephesians 5:1-2
Paul sums up what he's been telling us in chapter four with this simple command: live a life of love. What's compelling is what we find around that statement. This is how we imitate God. The standard of love is Christ's love expressed to us. His service and sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to God. In this context, love is not a fluffy or fleeting feeling. Love is determined, intentional, and willing to do heavy lifting. It is worth focusing on this one passage to fully understand this statement, we need it so desperately in society today.
Ephesians series message 31
Text: Ephesians 4:31-32
Paul moves from general injunctions to more specific instructions. We
all need to hear this! By the power of the Spirit and in the hope of
the gospel, we are to replace vices such as bitterness and wrath and
become kind and tenderhearted towards one another. That's real
transformation! It develops as we have the spirit of our mind renewed
in the truth and hope of God's Word.
Ephesians series message 30
Text: Ephesians 4:30
We'll spend our time unpacking this one magnificent verse. Once again we are reminded that God's Spirit lives inside of us, an earnest of our inheritance. What a gracious injunction - now that God is in you, the One you lean on for salvation, do not grieve Him. A powerful reminder that the Spirit is not an "it", He's a "He." We'll look at various ways we can grieve Him and how to avoid that. This verse is a powerful why behind our Christian ethic, and unlocks the key to Christian sanctification.
Ephesians series message 29
Text: Ephesians 4:25-29
We've looked at the general admonitions to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. We understand that there is a difference between light and darkness. We know we can no longer walk in our old ways but must constantly have the spirit of our minds renewed. With that disposition, Paul starts filling in the details. He addresses lying, stealing, anger, and speech and tethers them to specific reasons why certain behaviors are completely incompatible with the new life.
Ephesians series message 28
Text: Ephesians 5:8
We’re skipping forward a bit in this message because it's worth developing a theme which plays predominately in Ephesians and complements recent injunctions: walk in a manner worthy of your calling, and put on the new self. Another way of viewing this is to understand that we were once darkness but now must walk as children of light. It's both fascinating and compelling to see how this contrast is developed and utilized throughout Scripture.
Ephesians series message 27
Text: Ephesians 4:20 - 24
"Put on the new self" (or, put on the Lord Jesus Christ - from Romans) is our daily priority during our brief pilgrimage to glory. Yes, we are casting away our old way of living but we are also replacing that with our new self each and every day. God has been so good to us. We have a future. A beautiful and never ending future - with Christ, away from everything that is hurtful in this life. That's what motivates us to life in this way. We do so because God has shown us His grace and mercy!
Ephesians series message 26
Text: Ephesians 4:17-24
In typical Pauline fashion, after Paul tells us what not to do, he tells us what to do. Every day we must put off the old self and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Ephesians series message 25
Text: Ephesians 4:17-24
"No longer walk...put on the new self..." Few passages sum up the Christian life like this one - out with the old, in with the new. We must no longer live like we used to or like those who don't know the Lord. We are united with Christ and sealed with His Spirit, so we have everything we need for life and godliness. In this message we'll paint with a broad brush and then drill down deeper next week to more fully extract the abiding principles of this transformational passage.
Ephesians series message 24
Text: Ephesians 4:7-16
Christ is our champion; the author and perfecter of our faith. HE has come, HE is victorious, and HE has given us His Spirit. We'll focus on the desired end of the gifts and leaders God's given to the church: spiritual maturity and doctrinal purity. Paul has just urged us to maintain the unity of the Spirit which involves demonstrating meekness and patience with one another. Authentic Christian unity is built upon sound doctrine and spiritual growth. In a word, discipleship.
Ephesians series message 23
Text: Ephesians 4:7-16
We'll spend two weeks on this passage. This Sunday we'll lay the groundwork for the different gifts/offices within the church, and what it means that Christ descended to the lower regions. God uses people and their unique gifts and offices to build up the church and prepare her for ministry. If we are going to walk in the manner worthy of our calling, we need order in God's House to facilitate this. Next week we'll continue with the desired end: that Christians mature and are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Text: Acts 2:29-36
The early church was no stranger to pandemics, natural catastrophes, and persecution - they were well acquainted. The resurrection formed their entire worldview; it's where they drew their strength and courage. Jesus stood in the place of sinners, but God would not abandon Him to the grave. God freed Him from the agony of death. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him! Our Lord and Savior now stands in glory, having sent the promised Holy Spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance!
Text: Psalm 13
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, we will step away from Ephesians to address biblical laments. Just as the rain falls on the just and the unjust, so too God’s people experience plagues, pestilences, and various tribulations. God always invites us to cast our burdens upon Him, because He cares for us. We will examine the prayers of the saints of old in the context of our Christian hope; our heavenly inheritance - the basis of which we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday.
Ephesians series message 22
Text: Ephesians 4:2-6
A key aspect of walking in a manner worthy of our calling is to promote unity within the body of Christ through honoring and supporting others in all that we say and do. That's our focus this Sunday! It's not always easy and sometimes it's downright difficult but, particularly during these uncertain times, it's absolutely crucial.
Ephesians series message 21
Text: Ephesians 4:1
One word this Sunday: walk. We used to walk according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air. Now everything's different. We've been redeemed and God's Spirit lives in us. Now, we are to walk the opposite direction, in a manner worthy of our calling to eternal glory in Christ Jesus. Moment by moment, we need to learn to walk by the Spirit in each and every situation! In our current Covid-19 reality, how would we think and act differently, knowing that we are called to glory! Remember, Paul just literally reminded us that God is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in us!
Ephesians series message 20
Text: Ephesians 3:20-21
Blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen in eternity, redeemed by the Son, indwelt by the Spirit, and gifted a heavenly inheritance. The unsearchable riches of Christ and God's love beyond comprehension: what is the logical conclusion to it all for the Ephesians? God is awesome, and able to do far more than we ask or imagine! Stop putting God in a box. Walk by the Spirit and don't be afraid to ask and expect great things of God!
Ephesians series message 19
Text: Ephesians 3:17-19
Paul is preparing us well to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. He's shown us the towering grandeur of our heavenly inheritance and the unsearchable riches of Christ. He's prayed for us, that Christ would dwell in our hearts by faith. Now, he prays that we would be baptized (my word choice) into the love of God. How else can we be the hands and feet of Christ to others, but to immerse ourselves into the love God has for us and live securely in it? Knowing and believing that we are immeasurably loved by God is what prepares and enables us to love others well.
Ephesians series message 18
Text: Ephesians 3: 14-19
Before laying down some Christian ethics, there is one more stop along the way; more prayer for the Ephesians. He prays specifically that we will be strengthened in the inner-man by the glorious hope of the gospel AND that we will be baptized (my word) in love. Not just any love - GOD'S love. Where Christian ethic is lacking, often there is a corresponding lack of Christian hope, or Christian love.