Sermon Central
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Ephesians: Living The Good Life
Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 6, 2014 (message contributor)
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1. Hitting The Reset Button
Contributed on Jan 6, 2014
God designed for humans to think, feel, speak, and act in certain ways. As a race we have walked away from that and messed up the universe. God, through Jesus, has hit the reset button on our lives, giving us hope for a better life.
I was recently working with something on a website and every time I made a change it messed everything up. I was only digging myself deeper. Then I saw this little button that said “Reset to Default Settings.” I thought I’d give it a try and voila, it worked. In a way, ...read more
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2. The Power Of God
Contributed on Mar 17, 2014
What kind of power does God have? How is that power given to those that belong to Jesus? The answers may surprise you but in the end they will encourage you to give your life even more to the most powerful person who ever lived.
Paul has been telling the Ephesians about his prayers for them. Though he uses many words to say it, his real prayer is that they would be able to perceive in their minds three things: The hope of their calling The riches of their inheritance The “immeasurable greatness of ...read more
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3. What Is Reality?
Contributed on Jan 20, 2014
We often rely on our senses and even our emotions to tell us what’s real. Paul, as he begins the letter to the Ephesians, tells of a reality more real than you have ever known, with advantages far greater than anything this age has to offer, all in Jesus.
If I asked you the question: “how do you know something is real?” you might say something like: “It’s real if I can experience it with my senses.” Our idea of the “realness” of something is tied to what our brains tell us based on the information gathered ...read more
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4. Blueprints Of The Universe
Contributed on Jan 28, 2014
How is that God knew whom He was going to choose before the universe began? And how does that speak to God's fairness?
o understand Ephesians 1:4 we need this week to head back to the gospels: John’s gospel, to be specific, and chapter 6. John 6:37-44, 63-65. introduces us to the subject of God making choices. Jesus has just fed thousands of people and also walked on water. The people follow Him to the ...read more
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5. Does God Like Me?
Contributed on Feb 2, 2014
Even after you come to know Jesus we often feel that though God may love us because of Jesus, He doesn’t like us very well. Learn the truth about how God feels about you and the destiny He has for you.
As God chose us (vs 4), picked us out from among others, before the universe began, so now He sets the course of the universe to a particular outcome for us—that in essence is predestination. Predestined us The Greek word pro-orizo means “to set a boundary, to mark out a thing in ...read more
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6. All About The Holy Spirit
Contributed on Mar 3, 2014
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer in Jesus? You may have some preconceptions that steer you in the wrong direction as to the Spirit’s real purpose.
If you belong to Jesus by putting your trust and reliance on Him for your salvation—then the ownership of your life has been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Part of that ownership change involves a seal put on you, but it’s more than just a mark of ...read more
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7. Are You Imprinted?
Contributed on Mar 10, 2014
Many of us don’t realize that when we are born, and as we are raised, we are imprinted with a value set that comes from this age. It makes it impossible to think clearly about how the universe really operates. But in Jesus, there finally is clarity.
It’s really encouraging when you get good news about something, isn’t it? The Apostle Paul has gotten some really good news about the people living in Ephesus. The gospel first reached Ephesus in Acts 19. The people he met had been baptized into John’s baptism. They had incomplete ...read more
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8. Bummed Or Blessed
Contributed on Mar 24, 2014
The truth about God is either a total bummer or a tremendous blessing. Which will it be for you depends on how you respond to Paul's message in Ephesians 2.
In my days as a television reporter I had the dubious distinction to be the last reporter to visit Oregon’s death row before it was closed off to all public access. I can see why. Death row was in the innermost parts of the Oregon State Penitentiary. Through many locked and bared doors there ...read more