And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20
In our message, EVERY PART DOES ITS SHARE (Eph. 4:11-16), we continued Paul’s discussion on gifts from Christ to the church. The Bible says, “to each” Christian, the risen Jesus has given at least one gift (Eph. 4:7-10; 1 Cor. 12:7, 11, Rom. 12:3-8, etc.).
To lay “the foundation” of the church, Jesus first made “some to be apostles” (Eph. 2:20; 3:5; 4:11a, etc.). Apostles wrote much of the New Testament (NT), performed miracles, had to see Christ in resurrected form and told others about Him from their eyewitness accounts (Acts 1:21-22; 9:40; 19:11-12; 1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, ENDEAVORING TO KEEP GOD’S UNITY (Eph. 4:1-10), we moved from doctrine to our walk with Christ. Ultimately, what we believe determines how we will behave.
The Bible says here, “Therefore…”- that is in view of all that has been said in Ephesians chapters 1 through 3, God begs us “to walk worthy” of Him and His kingdom (Eph. 4:1; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). The word “worthy” in the Greek is axiōs, and means ‘equal weight.’… Continue reading
In our message, MAKING CHRIST AT HOME (Eph. 3:8-21), Paul continued to explain why the mystery of the church is important.
In the church, God’s limitless, “unsearchable” grace is revealed (Eph. 3:8), and it was Paul’s job (as well as ours today) to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan “which from the beginning of the ages [had] been hidden in God (Eph. 3:5, 9; Matt. 28:18-20; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8; 4:12, etc.) As unique objects of God’s grace, we are told even angels now look to “the church” in an attempt to discover “the manifold wisdom of God” (Eph.… Continue reading
In our message, GOD’S LIVING ETERNAL TEMPLE (Eph. 2:19-3:7), we looked in greater detail at the mystery of the church which was not revealed in Old Testament times. Believing non-Jewish people who were once far away from their Creator are now “fellow citizens” of His kingdom and part of His very “household” (Eph. 2:15, 19). Today, this new humanity/the church is being “built… into a temple of the Lord… a dwelling place” for Him (Eph. 2:21-22; John 14:7; 1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, PEACE WITH GOD (Eph. 2:11-18), we looked at how the Lord destroys barriers and hostility between people. Probably no greater rift existed between people in the first century than the divide between Israelite and Gentile people.
The majority of the church at Ephesus was “Gentile… Uncircumcision” (Eph. 2:11). Paul calls them to “remember” their condition before the Good News of Jesus came to them. As Gentiles, they lacked five privileges that Jewish people possessed (Eph.… Continue reading
In our sermon, SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH (Eph. 2:4-10), we looked at the most important message in the Bible.
Even though all people are born “dead in trespasses and sins… [and are] children of [God’s] wrath,” the Creator did not want to send anyone to hell because He is also “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:1-4a; Rom. 3:23; John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9, etc.). With underserved kindness, motivated by “His great love with which He loved us,” God acted.… Continue reading
In our message, MAKING THE DEAD ALIVE! (Eph. 1:22-2:3), we finished Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus and then started to look at the Holy Spirit’s presentation of the Gospel. God wants the eyes of our heart enlightened to understand He today is revealing His kingdom and glory through “the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15; 5:5, 15-16, 23; Col. 1:18, etc.).
He “made [Christians] alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph.… Continue reading
In our message, FLOODING THE HEART WITH LIGHT (Eph. 1:15-21), we looked at how the Holy Spirit prayed for Christians there. While we should always pray for people to come to faith in Jesus Christ so they can be saved, we also should pray continuously for one another to grow in our love and “knowledge” of God which is shown by loving others His way (Eph. 1:15-17; John 17:9, 17-20; Rom. 12:9; Gal. 5:10, etc.). This glorifies the Lord and shows the world that Jesus is true!… Continue reading
In our message, THE SEALING OF THE SPIRIT (Eph. 1:13-14), we finished the longest sentence in the Bible turning to God- the Holy Spirit. This Person of the Godhead never draws attention to Himself, but instead points to Jesus (John 16:26, etc.). Nor does the Holy Spirit force His way on us, but He guides (Gal. 5:16, 18, 25, etc.) He “convict[s] the world of sin” showing people their need for Christ (John 3:7; 16:9, etc.),… Continue reading
