Sermon Central
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Ephesians
Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 22, 2022 (message contributor)
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1. Praise God, Because Of What He's Made You In Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14)
Contributed on Jan 22, 2022
God has richly blessed you, in Christ, as Gentiles. If you understand and appreciate what He's given, you will praise Him.
This sermon marks the new start of a series I'm planning on Ephesians. Whenever you start a study on a new book in the Bible, it's normal to give a few introductory remarks about the book to give you kind of a big picture to work with. So the big picture of Ephesians looks something like ...read more
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2. A Prayer That You Would Understand Who God Is For You, And What He's Done For You In Christ (Ephesians 1:15-23)
Contributed on Jan 22, 2022
What is faith, really? And what has God done for you, in Christ?
Last week, we studied Ephesians 1:1-14. There, we learned that God is making a single, holy family, and he is calling all people to join his family through Jesus. If we really understand what God has done for us in Christ, we can't help but praise God. God has been incredibly good to us. God ...read more
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3. God Accepts You As Gentiles, In Christ (So Don't Become Jewish Christians; Ephesians 2:1-10)
Contributed on Jan 23, 2022
What is faith? Also, "works" and "good works" are not the same thing. "Works" are works of the Mosaic covenant, specifically food laws, circumcision, holy days (inc. Sabbath).
Today's sermon is on Ephesians 2:1-10. But I want to start by reading all of chapter 2. We often make a mess of chapter 2, especially in verses 8-10, and the reason we make that mess is because we ignore Paul's larger argument. Paul is writing to Gentiles, explaining to them that they are ...read more
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4. God Has Accepted You As Gentiles, Through Christ, Into His Family (Ephesians 2:11-21)
Contributed on Jan 25, 2022
So don't let anyone make you feel inadequate, or like a second class citizen in God's kingdom.
Let's start today by rereading Ephesians, beginning at Ephesians 2:1: And (it was) you-- the ones being dead in your wrongdoing and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air-- the one now working in the ...read more
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5. The Privilege Of Proclaiming The Gospel (Ephesians 3:1-13)
Contributed on Jan 28, 2022
Paul catches himself, and talks about how God has blessed him, by giving him the job of telling people what Jesus has done for them, and for the world. Jesus is God's checkmate.
Over the past two weeks, in chapter 2, we've seen Paul very briefly explain what God has done for all people-- Jews and Gentiles-- through Jesus. God made one person, tearing down the wall separating Jew from Gentile, making it so everyone has peace with God and with each other through ...read more
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6. How/Why Paul Prays For The Church (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Contributed on Jan 29, 2022
What does Paul most want for the Ephesians? What would He like God to do for them?
In Ephesians 2, we learned that God has this incredible plan for his creation. God is creating one family, one nation, one people for himself. He is making peace with all people through Jesus. Jesus is our peace. God is doing something in the world that is far bigger than [place], or North ...read more
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7. Walk Worthily Of Your Calling (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Contributed on Jan 29, 2022
The surprising thing about this, is how Paul unpacks "worthily." It's more about living in peace, unity, and love, than anything else.
Let's start today, by simply reading our passage. Ephesians 4:1-6: Therefore , I exhort you, I, the prisoner of the Lord, worthily to walk of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, hurrying to keep the ...read more
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8. Jesus Gave People To The Church, As Gifts To Fix/Equip Them (Ephesians 4:7-16, Part 1)
Contributed on Jan 29, 2022
What is the relationship between leaders and laity? Their job, and our job.
Over the years, I've read my fair share of commentaries and academic journal articles on the Bible. I have never, ever, read more passionate-- and even angry-- scholars on any other subject, than I have on today's verses. At first, I was surprised by this-- amused, really, if I'm ...read more
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9. Do The Job Jesus Gives You (Ephesians 4:7-16, Part 2)
Contributed on Jan 31, 2022
Jesus has given you a job, to build up the church. Do it, and if you need leader's help to be effective, seek them out so they can fix you.
Last week, we started working through Ephesians 4:7-16. We didn't get far, only up through verse 12. It's a difficult passage, and I guess I talked a lot. This morning, I want to start by quickly retracing Paul's argument, and then hopping back in at verse 13. Verse 7 reads like ...read more
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10. Live A Clean And Holy Life (Ephesians 4:17-24)
Contributed on Feb 6, 2022
If you don't live clean, you won't be able to build up God's family. Also, an Ephesians-based gospel message-- is it truly Christ you've heard preached?
Over the last three weeks, we worked our way through Ephesians 4:1-16. If we don't understand, or remember, these verses, we're not going to be able to really hear today's passage right. So I want to start by reminding us of the overall flow of Paul's argument. Paul had one ...read more
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11. Keep Your New Shirt On (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)
Contributed on Feb 23, 2022
Become a people, who are useful to God, who can build up the body.
What we've seen over the past week weeks, is that God has a plan. God is making one family, who will live in peace with him and with each other. And to that end, Jesus gave each of us a ministry in the church, to build the church up, help it grow in love and unity. The problem is, some of ...read more
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12. Walk As Children Of The Light (Ephesians 5:3-14)
Contributed on Mar 7, 2022
Don't be lured by old, sinful ways of living. Be thankful, and walk in the light.
Let's start today, by simply reading verses 3-4: (3) Now, sexual immorality and all uncleanness or greediness must not be named among you, just as it is fitting for the holy ones, (4) and shameful behavior and foolish talk or coarse/crude joking, which aren't proper, but rather ...read more
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13. Be Filled With The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-33)
Contributed on Mar 19, 2022
The entire passage basically unpacks this one command. A Spirit-filled life loves worshipping God, submits to others, and has a solid marriage.
Today's verses build directly off last weeks, so I'm going to go ahead and start reading from 5:3. Hopefully, as I read them, you'll find yourself thinking, "Hey, I understand these verses." (Read vs. 3-end). There are two ways you can live. You can live as children of ...read more
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14. Work And Family Don't Keep You From Serving God (Ephesians 6:1-9)
Contributed on Mar 24, 2022
They are a large part of how you serve.
Let's start today by simply reading Ephesians 6:1: Children, obey your parents [in the Lord]. For this is right. Children, obey your parents. How should you obey them? Paul says, obey them "in the Lord." [I'LL PROBABLY TAKE THIS SECTION OUT WHEN ACTUALLY PREACHING. THIS ...read more
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15. Righteousness Is Your Armor; Your Sword Is The Gospel (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Contributed on Mar 25, 2022
How to effectively take the fight to Satan: walk worthily of the gospel, and share the gospel.
Let's start today by simply reading Ephesians 6:10: Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his power. Paul here begins by signaling the letter is nearing its end. "Finally." And I find myself being sad about that. I've enjoyed this ...read more