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Recap of 10/17/10 (Ephesians 5:1-3):
1. Paul continues to teach what is involved in a Christian’s “worthy walk” (4:1). In 5:1-6 this is a life of love (seeking the highest good for another, and an other-centered life,) rather than a life of self-centeredness.
2. As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ we should imitate our heavenly father, even as a child mimics her/his earthly father. This means living in love even as Jesus is our example of love. He gave Himself up for us. He loved us unconditionally, sacrificially, freely and fully.
3. “[Paul] is saying in effect: ‘Copy God, for you are His children whom He loves. And you too must live in love, such love as Christ’s—to the point of sacrifice.” “…we are most like God when we live in love.” (Archibald M. Hunter)
4. Many of the Christians, rather than living in love, were taking advantage of one another morally. Sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage, pre-marital or extra-marital), impurity, and greed (an uncontrolled desire for something; could be money or sex) should not be even hinted at in the life of the Christian, it is improper for God’s people.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A New Wardrobe - Part 5
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Recap of 10/10/10 (Ephesians 4:30-32):
Issues in forgiveness (based in part on Lewis Smedes’, “Forgiveness – The Power to Change the Past:”
-Reckon that under God’s economy forgiveness is a better way than fairness (God doesn’t treat us as we deserve, He gives us grace instead). (Revenge never evens the score, mercy is better than revenge, forgiveness releases the forgiver from the unfairness).
-Take our grief to God, describing exactly how we feel, expressing our anger and grief.
-Forego the right to strike back or to continue the resentment.
-Ask God to give us the strength to forgive-to let go and trust again.
-Choose to forgive as an act of the will. This may have to be repeated as the pain takes time to heal. Choose to let go of the bitterness and desire for revenge.
-Replace feelings of resentment and anger with good will-a desire which seeks the other’s welfare not harm.
-Start over. Take steps to restore good relations, remembering that forgiving is not forgetting, excusing, or smoothing over. We only forgive when we acknowledge that we were wronged.
Recap of 10/10/10 (Ephesians 4:30-32):
Issues in forgiveness (based in part on Lewis Smedes’, “Forgiveness – The Power to Change the Past:”
-Reckon that under God’s economy forgiveness is a better way than fairness (God doesn’t treat us as we deserve, He gives us grace instead). (Revenge never evens the score, mercy is better than revenge, forgiveness releases the forgiver from the unfairness).
-Take our grief to God, describing exactly how we feel, expressing our anger and grief.
-Forego the right to strike back or to continue the resentment.
-Ask God to give us the strength to forgive-to let go and trust again.
-Choose to forgive as an act of the will. This may have to be repeated as the pain takes time to heal. Choose to let go of the bitterness and desire for revenge.
-Replace feelings of resentment and anger with good will-a desire which seeks the other’s welfare not harm.
-Start over. Take steps to restore good relations, remembering that forgiving is not forgetting, excusing, or smoothing over. We only forgive when we acknowledge that we were wronged.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
A New Wardrobe - Part 4
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Recap of 10/3/10 (Ephesians 4:26-29):
1. Paul mentions two other issues in dealing with anger:
-anger must be dealt with in a timely fashion, grudges must not be nursed but be dealt with as soon as possible. The longer we put off dealing with out anger and reconciling with another person the harder it becomes.
-when we will not reconcile with another Satan is given room to work in our lives. Unresolved anger becomes for Satan “an opportunity for leading a Christian into further sin.” We must instead leave room for God to work (Romans 12:19)
2. Paul’s next injunction has to do with our speech. Rather than tearing others down with out words, our speech should build others up and be beneficial to them. The idea Paul has in mind is not just “bad” language but language that tears others down, such as gossip and slander. The idea is primarily worthless language not necessarily foul language (though that is dealt with in other places).
Recap of 10/3/10 (Ephesians 4:26-29):
1. Paul mentions two other issues in dealing with anger:
-anger must be dealt with in a timely fashion, grudges must not be nursed but be dealt with as soon as possible. The longer we put off dealing with out anger and reconciling with another person the harder it becomes.
-when we will not reconcile with another Satan is given room to work in our lives. Unresolved anger becomes for Satan “an opportunity for leading a Christian into further sin.” We must instead leave room for God to work (Romans 12:19)
2. Paul’s next injunction has to do with our speech. Rather than tearing others down with out words, our speech should build others up and be beneficial to them. The idea Paul has in mind is not just “bad” language but language that tears others down, such as gossip and slander. The idea is primarily worthless language not necessarily foul language (though that is dealt with in other places).
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A New Wardrobe - Part 3
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Recap of 9/26/10 (Ephesians 4:25-26):
1. The essence of the transformation which Paul says must come in the life of the Christian is expressed well by Oswald Chambers in the following: “The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but Godlikeness. If the Spirit of God had transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in you life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as a human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.”
2. In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul concretely applies the principles of verses 17-24 highlighting five sins which must be dealt with in the Christian life. They are: lying, giving way to unrighteous anger, stealing, improper speech, and bitterness.
3. Since Christians are one with others in the body of Christ, trust is essential. Trust can only be maintained in an atmosphere of honesty. The first sin of the Church age was the sin of lying (Acts. 5).
4. Christians are warned about anger which is not righteous and can become a settled sinful mood in a Christian’s life. Righteous anger is exemplified by Jesus in Mark 3:5 and John 2:13-17, and in the Old Testament in the repeated phrase: “The anger of the LORD burned against them.”
Recap of 9/26/10 (Ephesians 4:25-26):
1. The essence of the transformation which Paul says must come in the life of the Christian is expressed well by Oswald Chambers in the following: “The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but Godlikeness. If the Spirit of God had transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in you life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as a human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.”
2. In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul concretely applies the principles of verses 17-24 highlighting five sins which must be dealt with in the Christian life. They are: lying, giving way to unrighteous anger, stealing, improper speech, and bitterness.
3. Since Christians are one with others in the body of Christ, trust is essential. Trust can only be maintained in an atmosphere of honesty. The first sin of the Church age was the sin of lying (Acts. 5).
4. Christians are warned about anger which is not righteous and can become a settled sinful mood in a Christian’s life. Righteous anger is exemplified by Jesus in Mark 3:5 and John 2:13-17, and in the Old Testament in the repeated phrase: “The anger of the LORD burned against them.”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A New Wardrobe - Part 2
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Recap of 9/19/10 (Ephesians 4:20-24):
The Word of God is vital to our lives in the following ways. It is vital:
-to producing spiritual growth, 1 Peter 1:23-2:2
-to going on in to Christian maturity, Hebrews 5:11-14
-to skillful living, Proverbs 2:1-6
-for equipping us for good works, 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Ephesians 2:8-10
-to intimately knowing Christ, John 5:39; Luke 24:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3
-to victory in spiritual warfare, Matthew 4:1-11
-to true worship, John 4:19-24; Acts 17:23 (doctrinal sections of the Word are often followed by doxologies, Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:20-21
-to answering false doctrine and false teachers, 1 Timothy 4:1-6, 11-16; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; 4:1-4
-to personal and corporate purity, Jude 3,4; Proverbs 29:18; Psalm 119:9-11
-to proper relationships both in and out of the Body (see the “one-another” passages)
Recap of 9/19/10 (Ephesians 4:20-24):
The Word of God is vital to our lives in the following ways. It is vital:
-to producing spiritual growth, 1 Peter 1:23-2:2
-to going on in to Christian maturity, Hebrews 5:11-14
-to skillful living, Proverbs 2:1-6
-for equipping us for good works, 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Ephesians 2:8-10
-to intimately knowing Christ, John 5:39; Luke 24:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3
-to victory in spiritual warfare, Matthew 4:1-11
-to true worship, John 4:19-24; Acts 17:23 (doctrinal sections of the Word are often followed by doxologies, Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:20-21
-to answering false doctrine and false teachers, 1 Timothy 4:1-6, 11-16; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; 4:1-4
-to personal and corporate purity, Jude 3,4; Proverbs 29:18; Psalm 119:9-11
-to proper relationships both in and out of the Body (see the “one-another” passages)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A New Wardrobe
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Recap of 9/12/10 (Ephesians 4:17-19):
1. Paul’s argument in Eph. 4:17-10 is that once a person comes to know Jesus Christ as Savior they should no longer live the way they used to. We should be changed, starting with out thinking. As Warren Wiersbe put it: “The whole outlook of a person changes when they trust Christ, including their values, goals, interpretation of life.”
2. There is a heavy emphasis in this passage on “thinking, the mind, learning.” In his book, Ordering Your Private World,” author Gordon MacDonald mentions five dangers of mentally out-of-shape Christians:
-“Mentally out of shape Christians are prey to falling victim to destructive ideas and systems.”
-“We must come to recognize that the race of life will have to be run on endurance and discipline and not talent.”
-“The pursuit of amusement (activity without thought) has supplanted the hard work of thinking in our society.”
-“The mind must be trained to think, to analyze, to innovate.”
-“We in the evangelical Christian world must appreciate the distinction between gatherers of details and rules and skilled handlers of truth.”
3. The corrupted mind of the unbeliever leads him to darkened understanding (willful ignorance of God), to separation from the life of God, to a “petrified” heart which is insensitive to conscience, shame, and consideration of other people.
Recap of 9/12/10 (Ephesians 4:17-19):
1. Paul’s argument in Eph. 4:17-10 is that once a person comes to know Jesus Christ as Savior they should no longer live the way they used to. We should be changed, starting with out thinking. As Warren Wiersbe put it: “The whole outlook of a person changes when they trust Christ, including their values, goals, interpretation of life.”
2. There is a heavy emphasis in this passage on “thinking, the mind, learning.” In his book, Ordering Your Private World,” author Gordon MacDonald mentions five dangers of mentally out-of-shape Christians:
-“Mentally out of shape Christians are prey to falling victim to destructive ideas and systems.”
-“We must come to recognize that the race of life will have to be run on endurance and discipline and not talent.”
-“The pursuit of amusement (activity without thought) has supplanted the hard work of thinking in our society.”
-“The mind must be trained to think, to analyze, to innovate.”
-“We in the evangelical Christian world must appreciate the distinction between gatherers of details and rules and skilled handlers of truth.”
3. The corrupted mind of the unbeliever leads him to darkened understanding (willful ignorance of God), to separation from the life of God, to a “petrified” heart which is insensitive to conscience, shame, and consideration of other people.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Arrested Development, Park 4 - Marks of Maturity
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Recap of 9/5/10 (Ephesians 4:13-16):
1. When Teaching Pastors and other spiritually gifted leaders are not studying, teaching, and living out the Word of God, many bad things happen to the church, two of which are: Christians are made spectators to the ministry rather than participants in the ministry; and believers are not protected from errant doctrine and lifestyle growing out of the wrong doctrine.
2. Paul emphasizes the corporate nature of maturity in the church in this passage. As cogently expressed by Klyne Snodgrass: “We are one with other people in Christ, like it or not. We cannot be mature Christians by ourselves, for we cannot give ourselfes everything we need for a life of faith. Christ could supply our needs directly, but instead He has chosen to grace other people so that they contribute to us and we to them. Grace comes from God, but it is also conveyed along horizontal channels. Or as F.F. Bruce put it, ‘The higher reaches of the Christian life cannot be attained in isolation from one’s fellow believers.’”
3. In Ephesians 4:13-16 Paul teaches that the Body (the church) must grow up to maturity. The marks of maturity are Christlikeness (vs. 13); stability (vs. 14); and commitment to the truth expressed in love (vv. 15-16).
Recap of 9/5/10 (Ephesians 4:13-16):
1. When Teaching Pastors and other spiritually gifted leaders are not studying, teaching, and living out the Word of God, many bad things happen to the church, two of which are: Christians are made spectators to the ministry rather than participants in the ministry; and believers are not protected from errant doctrine and lifestyle growing out of the wrong doctrine.
2. Paul emphasizes the corporate nature of maturity in the church in this passage. As cogently expressed by Klyne Snodgrass: “We are one with other people in Christ, like it or not. We cannot be mature Christians by ourselves, for we cannot give ourselfes everything we need for a life of faith. Christ could supply our needs directly, but instead He has chosen to grace other people so that they contribute to us and we to them. Grace comes from God, but it is also conveyed along horizontal channels. Or as F.F. Bruce put it, ‘The higher reaches of the Christian life cannot be attained in isolation from one’s fellow believers.’”
3. In Ephesians 4:13-16 Paul teaches that the Body (the church) must grow up to maturity. The marks of maturity are Christlikeness (vs. 13); stability (vs. 14); and commitment to the truth expressed in love (vv. 15-16).
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Arrested Development - Part 3
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Recap of 8/29/10 (Ephesians 4:11,12):
1. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul once again takes up the topic of spiritual gifts which he raised in verse 7. Instead of listing spiritual gifts, as in other places (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12), here he mentions gifted individuals given to the church to build it up. The gifts mentioned are apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor/teacher. Two things tie these gifts together: each is a speaking gift and each is used in leadership.
2. “Apostle” and “Prophet” are called foundational gifts in Ephesians 2:20. An apostle was “one sent by God with a commission” and a prophet was a spokesman for God usually by direct revelation (to communicate God’s will to the church, necessary before the New Testament was completed). Together they laid the foundation for the church.
3. An “evangelist” was one who pioneered the work of the gospel in areas not yet reached. They were traveling ministers akin to missionaries today.
4. The last of the four gifted people Paul mentions is the “Pastor/Teacher.” These are not two individuals but rather one individual with two functions. The root meaning of “pastor” is “to protect.” A pastor/teacher protects the flock by teaching the Word of God. “The Word of God is the local church’s protection and provision, and no amount of entertainment, good fellowship, or other religious substitutes can take it’s place.” (Warren Wiersbe)
5. According to verse 12, the reason God gives these gifted people to the church is not to do the work of the ministry, but to equip God’s people for works of service. The word translated “prepare” or “equip” means to restore something to usefulness, to its original purpose. We are made useful for service to God and protected from errant theology through the teaching of the Word of God.
Recap of 8/29/10 (Ephesians 4:11,12):
1. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul once again takes up the topic of spiritual gifts which he raised in verse 7. Instead of listing spiritual gifts, as in other places (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12), here he mentions gifted individuals given to the church to build it up. The gifts mentioned are apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor/teacher. Two things tie these gifts together: each is a speaking gift and each is used in leadership.
2. “Apostle” and “Prophet” are called foundational gifts in Ephesians 2:20. An apostle was “one sent by God with a commission” and a prophet was a spokesman for God usually by direct revelation (to communicate God’s will to the church, necessary before the New Testament was completed). Together they laid the foundation for the church.
3. An “evangelist” was one who pioneered the work of the gospel in areas not yet reached. They were traveling ministers akin to missionaries today.
4. The last of the four gifted people Paul mentions is the “Pastor/Teacher.” These are not two individuals but rather one individual with two functions. The root meaning of “pastor” is “to protect.” A pastor/teacher protects the flock by teaching the Word of God. “The Word of God is the local church’s protection and provision, and no amount of entertainment, good fellowship, or other religious substitutes can take it’s place.” (Warren Wiersbe)
5. According to verse 12, the reason God gives these gifted people to the church is not to do the work of the ministry, but to equip God’s people for works of service. The word translated “prepare” or “equip” means to restore something to usefulness, to its original purpose. We are made useful for service to God and protected from errant theology through the teaching of the Word of God.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Arrested Development - Part 2
No Audio File This Week.
Recap of 8/22/10:
1. As with the Corinthian problem (1 Corinthians 12-14), spiritual gifts are open to misuse if a believer is immature, or doesn’t recognize the essential purpose of spiritual gifts as given for the common good of the church, not individual edification. The “Assessment Inventory for Ministry” (A.I.M.) identifies three potential misuses of spiritual gifts.
-Gift exaltation: Raising one gift over another beyond biblical teaching and using them as status symbols.
-Comparing with one another: feeling inferior and/or evaluating or judging based on another as the “norm.”
-Competing with one another: conditioned by home, school, and life we fight to be “number one” usually at the expense of others. Gifts are to be used in concert with, not in competition with other gifts, and should produce unity amidst the diversity of use.
2. Bible teachers such as Dr. Charles Ryrie and others have identified a process by which to identify our spiritual gift(s).
-be informed about what the Bible says about spiritual gifts
-be willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He opens up
-be active in serving the Lord
-ask ourselves: “What are our interests and desires as growing, maturing Christians?” and “What do others say that we are effective at?”
Recap of 8/22/10:
1. As with the Corinthian problem (1 Corinthians 12-14), spiritual gifts are open to misuse if a believer is immature, or doesn’t recognize the essential purpose of spiritual gifts as given for the common good of the church, not individual edification. The “Assessment Inventory for Ministry” (A.I.M.) identifies three potential misuses of spiritual gifts.
-Gift exaltation: Raising one gift over another beyond biblical teaching and using them as status symbols.
-Comparing with one another: feeling inferior and/or evaluating or judging based on another as the “norm.”
-Competing with one another: conditioned by home, school, and life we fight to be “number one” usually at the expense of others. Gifts are to be used in concert with, not in competition with other gifts, and should produce unity amidst the diversity of use.
2. Bible teachers such as Dr. Charles Ryrie and others have identified a process by which to identify our spiritual gift(s).
-be informed about what the Bible says about spiritual gifts
-be willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He opens up
-be active in serving the Lord
-ask ourselves: “What are our interests and desires as growing, maturing Christians?” and “What do others say that we are effective at?”
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Case for Creation - Guest Speaker, Charles Morse
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We had Guest Speaker, Charles Morse in town from the Institute for Creation Research. He brought a message on why having a firm belief in Creation is so important to us as Christians.
We had Guest Speaker, Charles Morse in town from the Institute for Creation Research. He brought a message on why having a firm belief in Creation is so important to us as Christians.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Arrested Development, Part 1
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Recap of Ephesians 4:7:
1. The unity of the Body of Christ is preserved when each believer does his/her part by exercising their spiritual gift(s). The key to doctrinal and practical unity, stability, and spiritual growth is gifted saints using their gifts to build up the church. The result is that believers live out the character of Jesus Christ.
2. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift at conversion (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Spiritual gifts are given, not for private edification, but for the common good so that the body may be edified (built up). (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10,11)
3. A spiritual gift is a “God-given ability for service” (Dr. Charles Ryrie). Warren Wiersbe defines a spiritual gift as “a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified.”
4. Since every believer is gifted each is responsible to use their gift(s) to serve the body, enabling it to reach out in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
5. Other passages dealing with spiritual gifts are: 1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:4-6; and 1 Peter 4:10,11. Some gifts are temporary (given only in the first generation of the church, others are permanent given through-out the church age.
Recap of Ephesians 4:7:
1. The unity of the Body of Christ is preserved when each believer does his/her part by exercising their spiritual gift(s). The key to doctrinal and practical unity, stability, and spiritual growth is gifted saints using their gifts to build up the church. The result is that believers live out the character of Jesus Christ.
2. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift at conversion (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Spiritual gifts are given, not for private edification, but for the common good so that the body may be edified (built up). (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10,11)
3. A spiritual gift is a “God-given ability for service” (Dr. Charles Ryrie). Warren Wiersbe defines a spiritual gift as “a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified.”
4. Since every believer is gifted each is responsible to use their gift(s) to serve the body, enabling it to reach out in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
5. Other passages dealing with spiritual gifts are: 1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:4-6; and 1 Peter 4:10,11. Some gifts are temporary (given only in the first generation of the church, others are permanent given through-out the church age.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Learning How to Walk
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Recap of 8/1/10:
1. The practical section of the book of Ephesians begins in 4:1. As was often the case, in Paul’s letters he would deal with doctrine in the first part of the book and then with the practical outworking of that doctrine in the second half of the book.
2. The key word for the rest of the book is the word “live” or “walk.” It was Paul’s characteristic word to describe the proper conduct or manner of life of the Christian. The main topic for the rest of the book is the “worthy walk” (4:1). One who wants to walk worthy of his/her calling must walk in unity (4:1); walk in holiness (4:17); walk in love (5:2); walk in the light (5:8); walk in wisdom 5:15); and walk wary of the enemy (6:10-20).
3. A “worthy walk” is a balanced walk, balanced between what we believe and how we live. “[Paul] wanted them to ‘lead a life, literally ‘walk,’ that will do justice to the glorious calling of God in their lives. Questions of behavior are to be resolved by asking, ‘Will this act express and honor the great mission in life which God has given me?” (David George).
4. This walk and the unity of the church depends on living out four virtues: humility (freedom from putting our selves first); gentleness (strength under God’s control, not easily provoked or provoking others); patience (never giving up in the face of suffering, opposition, discouragement, or disappointment); and forbearance (accepting others in spite of their faults and idiosyncrasies).
Recap of 8/1/10:
1. The practical section of the book of Ephesians begins in 4:1. As was often the case, in Paul’s letters he would deal with doctrine in the first part of the book and then with the practical outworking of that doctrine in the second half of the book.
2. The key word for the rest of the book is the word “live” or “walk.” It was Paul’s characteristic word to describe the proper conduct or manner of life of the Christian. The main topic for the rest of the book is the “worthy walk” (4:1). One who wants to walk worthy of his/her calling must walk in unity (4:1); walk in holiness (4:17); walk in love (5:2); walk in the light (5:8); walk in wisdom 5:15); and walk wary of the enemy (6:10-20).
3. A “worthy walk” is a balanced walk, balanced between what we believe and how we live. “[Paul] wanted them to ‘lead a life, literally ‘walk,’ that will do justice to the glorious calling of God in their lives. Questions of behavior are to be resolved by asking, ‘Will this act express and honor the great mission in life which God has given me?” (David George).
4. This walk and the unity of the church depends on living out four virtues: humility (freedom from putting our selves first); gentleness (strength under God’s control, not easily provoked or provoking others); patience (never giving up in the face of suffering, opposition, discouragement, or disappointment); and forbearance (accepting others in spite of their faults and idiosyncrasies).
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Is Christ At Home In Me?
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Recap of 7/25/10:
1. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is one of the great prayers of the Bible, yet if we get lost in the rapturous language of the prayer we are in danger of missing the very practical nature of Paul’s request. Paul’s great desire is that what the Ephesians know in theory, they may live out in reality and so that is the crux of his prayer. It is not enough for a believer to hold a truth intellectually (such as the truth Paul taught in Ephesians 2:11-3:13 that in the church Jew and Gentile are one, what he calls a new man…one body) but must make that truth a part of our lives.
2. If we are going to make the Word of God a reality in our lives, we must:
-grow spiritually in the inner person, vs. 16
-yield more and more of our lives to Christ, vs. 17a
-grasp more and more both intellectually and experientially the love of Christ, vs. 17b-19a
-be more and more a reflection of God’s character, vs. 19b
3. This is Paul’s desire for Christians and thus his prayer.
Recap of 7/25/10:
1. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is one of the great prayers of the Bible, yet if we get lost in the rapturous language of the prayer we are in danger of missing the very practical nature of Paul’s request. Paul’s great desire is that what the Ephesians know in theory, they may live out in reality and so that is the crux of his prayer. It is not enough for a believer to hold a truth intellectually (such as the truth Paul taught in Ephesians 2:11-3:13 that in the church Jew and Gentile are one, what he calls a new man…one body) but must make that truth a part of our lives.
2. If we are going to make the Word of God a reality in our lives, we must:
-grow spiritually in the inner person, vs. 16
-yield more and more of our lives to Christ, vs. 17a
-grasp more and more both intellectually and experientially the love of Christ, vs. 17b-19a
-be more and more a reflection of God’s character, vs. 19b
3. This is Paul’s desire for Christians and thus his prayer.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Power To Press On
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Recap of 7/18/10:
1. Though Paul was a prisoner of the Roman government, he calls himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus” in Ephesians 3:1. We will see ourselves as victims of circumstances or of others or we will see ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ who is Lord of our circumstances. “One’s point of view makes all the difference in the world.” (Wm. Barclay).
2. Lessons we can learn about ministry from Paul’s ministry:
-the empowerment for ministry must come from God. If we seek to minister in our own strength we will tire, become discouraged, and quit.
-the attitude of ministry must be one of humility. Pride leads to competition with others and separation from them, true biblical humility is attractive to others, especially non-believers.
-the scope of ministry is the privilege of reaching out to Jew and Gentile alike with the good news when one receives Christ they are accepted on an equal footing and receives the exhaustible spiritual riches of relationship with God through Christ.
-the purpose of ministry is to demonstrate to the watching world of men and of angels the wisdom of God in uniting in one body all who trust Christ as Savior.
-the sufferings of ministry, though Paul is in prison he is not the one discouraged, but instead encourages the Ephesians not to quit. Ministry brings conflict and suffering. When we feel the least productive and the most near failure we must persevere in faith knowing that God’s works in our weakness (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Recap of 7/18/10:
1. Though Paul was a prisoner of the Roman government, he calls himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus” in Ephesians 3:1. We will see ourselves as victims of circumstances or of others or we will see ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ who is Lord of our circumstances. “One’s point of view makes all the difference in the world.” (Wm. Barclay).
2. Lessons we can learn about ministry from Paul’s ministry:
-the empowerment for ministry must come from God. If we seek to minister in our own strength we will tire, become discouraged, and quit.
-the attitude of ministry must be one of humility. Pride leads to competition with others and separation from them, true biblical humility is attractive to others, especially non-believers.
-the scope of ministry is the privilege of reaching out to Jew and Gentile alike with the good news when one receives Christ they are accepted on an equal footing and receives the exhaustible spiritual riches of relationship with God through Christ.
-the purpose of ministry is to demonstrate to the watching world of men and of angels the wisdom of God in uniting in one body all who trust Christ as Savior.
-the sufferings of ministry, though Paul is in prison he is not the one discouraged, but instead encourages the Ephesians not to quit. Ministry brings conflict and suffering. When we feel the least productive and the most near failure we must persevere in faith knowing that God’s works in our weakness (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tearing Down Walls
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 7/11/10:
1. “God looks upon all [people] as either Jews, Gentiles, or the church (1 Corinthians 10:32). When one accepts the Lord Jesus Christ, whether he be Jew or Gentile, he is no longer such in the sight of God, but a member of the body of Christ.” (Alfred Martin)
2. Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:14-22 that:
-The cross provides reconciliation between people, vv. 14, 15 (in the context Paul speaks of Jews and Gentiles who are reconciled to each other by the cross)
-The cross provides reconciliation between people and God, vs. 16
-The cross provides access directly to the Father, vv. 17, 18
-The cross provides for a new kind of temple, a spiritual building in which believers are living stones, vv. 19-22
3. The word translated “temple” in this passage is the Greek word naos (meaning the Holy of Holies of the actual Temple). The New Testament uses the word naos of: individual believers (1 Corinthians 6:19,20); of the local church (1 Corinthians 3:16,17); and of the church universal (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Recap of 7/11/10:
1. “God looks upon all [people] as either Jews, Gentiles, or the church (1 Corinthians 10:32). When one accepts the Lord Jesus Christ, whether he be Jew or Gentile, he is no longer such in the sight of God, but a member of the body of Christ.” (Alfred Martin)
2. Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:14-22 that:
-The cross provides reconciliation between people, vv. 14, 15 (in the context Paul speaks of Jews and Gentiles who are reconciled to each other by the cross)
-The cross provides reconciliation between people and God, vs. 16
-The cross provides access directly to the Father, vv. 17, 18
-The cross provides for a new kind of temple, a spiritual building in which believers are living stones, vv. 19-22
3. The word translated “temple” in this passage is the Greek word naos (meaning the Holy of Holies of the actual Temple). The New Testament uses the word naos of: individual believers (1 Corinthians 6:19,20); of the local church (1 Corinthians 3:16,17); and of the church universal (Ephesians 2:19-22).
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