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God’s Love Letter To The Church
Contributed by Jim Drake on Jan 15, 2007 (message contributor)
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1. The Church In Christ
Contributed on Jan 15, 2007
Believers today should praise God for the blessings He has given the church in Jesus Christ.
1. God has a plan for His church in Christ. 2. God makes provision for His church in Christ 3. God fulfils a purpose for His church in Christ 4. God keeps a promise for His church in Christ Some people have called Ephesians “God’s love letter to the church.” So, since God is still God, and ...read more
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2. Wanted: Dead Then Alive
Contributed on Jan 20, 2007
By recognizing the symptoms, we can smell the stench of death and allow Christ to bring us to new life in Him.
1. Symptoms of death a.The first symptom is a dead nature (2:1) b.The second symptom is a dead walk (2:2) c.The third symptom is dead conduct (2:3) 2. Qualities of life a.The first quality is living hope (2:4-7) b.The second quality is living grace (2:8-9) c.The third ...read more
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3. Unity, Bloody Unity
Contributed on Jan 22, 2007
Today, we have unity with one another and with God by the blood of Jesus Christ.
1. Introduction (2:11-13) a. You were once without Christ (11-12) i. You were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel ii. You were strangers from the covenants of promise iii. You had no hope and were without God in the world b. ...read more
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4. Family Matters
Contributed on Feb 2, 2007
Members of the household (family) of God display the characteristics of being built on a foundation of Scripture and Jesus Christ, being built with the design of fitting together and growing into a holy temple in the Lord, and built for the purpose of bei
1. The family of God is built on a foundation 2. The family of God is built with a design 3. The family of God is built for a purpose EPHESIANS 2:19-22 One time a pastor had a group of children up in front of the church to give them a children’s sermon. He was trying to make the point ...read more
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5. A Mystery Worth Dying For
Contributed on Feb 9, 2007
We can each recognize the revelation of the church’s mysterious nature and passionately minister its gospel.
1. The first clue that reveals the mystery of the church is the steward of the mystery (3:1-5) 2. The second clue that reveals the mystery of the church is the content of the mystery (3:6) 3. The third clue that reveals the mystery of the church is the minister of the mystery ...read more
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6. Working Man's Prayer
Contributed on Feb 17, 2007
The ability to follow Christ’s commands (to love God and love one another) is only supernaturally bestowed. However, that ability is available to us simply by asking.
1. The first requirement of a working man’s prayer is the right posture. (3:14-15) 2. The second requirement of a working man’s prayer is the right petition. (3:16-19) 3. The third requirement of a working man’s prayer is the right power. (3:20-21) Our study in the Book of Ephesians has ...read more
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7. This Body Was Made For Walking
Contributed on Mar 26, 2007
Because of who Christ is and who he has called us to be in His church, we must walk worthy of His calling.
1. The first step to walking Jesus’ call is a worthy walk. 2. The second step to walking Jesus’ call is a well-disciplined walk (4:2-3) 3. The third step to walking Jesus’ call is a worshipping walk (4:4-6) EPHESIANS 4:1-6 One of the most memorable moments in a parent’s life is when ...read more
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8. Full Coverage Protection
Contributed on Mar 26, 2007
We are assured of Jesus’ provision of protection as we go along in our Christian walk.
1. Jesus provides His church with gifts for protection (4:7-12) a. Protecting gifts for all believers (4:7-10) b. Protecting gifts of called believers (4:11-12) 2. Jesus provides His church with growth for protection (4:13-16) a. Protecting growth in the fullness of Christ (4:13) ...read more
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9. Brand New Man
Contributed on Mar 26, 2007
As Christians, our daily walk should be categorically different than that of non-Christians. Our walk should reflect the fact that we are newly created in Christ.
1. A brand-new man thinks right (17-18) 2. A brand-new man feels right (19) 3. A brand-new man acts right (20-22) 4. A brand-new man is right (23-24) EPHESIANS 4:17-24 I remember back several years ago when we lived in Mississippi, I had an old, beat up Toyota pickup. I bought it while we ...read more
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10. Transformation
Contributed on Mar 26, 2007
When Christ saves us, He transforms even the very details of our lives.
1. The first transformation is from lying lips to a truthful tongue. 2. The second transformation is from wrath to righteous anger. 3. The third transformation is from stealing to sharing. 4. The fourth transformation is from destructive to constructive words. 5. The fifth transformation is ...read more
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11. Walking In Daddy's Shoes
Contributed on Mar 26, 2007
Just like a young son wants to imitate his father, Christians are to imitate our Heavenly Father.
1. An imitator of God walks in love (5:2-7) a. Have loving relationships—purity of the body (3) b. Use loving speech—purity of the tongue (4) c. Maintain loving fellowship—purity of the church (5-7) 2. An imitator of God walks in light (5:8-14) a. Expose the will of God—examine the Scriptures ...read more
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12. Foolish Or Filled?
Contributed on Apr 22, 2007
In order to be in the will of God, believers today must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Anything else is utterly ridiculous.
1. Two contrasts and two comparisons (17-18) 2. To be filled with the Spirit is to overflow with praise (19) 3. To be filled with the Spirit is to overflow with thankfulness (20) 4. To be filled with the Spirit is to overflow with humility (21) EPHESIANS 5:17-21 I love my kids with all ...read more
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13. The "S" Word: Husbands And Wives
Contributed on Apr 30, 2007
God gave us marriage as a picture of Christ’s love for His church. We faithfully show the world His love for us in the way we accurately display that picture in our marital submission.
1. Marital submission is about a mutual position 2. Marital submission is about a marvelous preparation 3. Marital submission is about a mysterious picture EPHESIANS 5:22-33 On June 14, 2000, Southern Baptists created a firestorm of controversy. Leaders of our convention were all over ...read more
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14. The "S" Word: Parents And Children
Contributed on May 9, 2007
Paul continues his expansion on the concept of submission he introduced in verse 21 by describing what it should look like in the parent / child relationship.
1. A Spirit-filled home requires submissive children (6:1-3) a. Submissive children obey their parents (6:1) b. Submissive children honor their parents (6:2) c. Submissive children bless their parents (6:3) 2. A Spirit-filled home requires submissive parents (6:4) a. Parents who are ...read more
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15. Labor Relations
Contributed on May 25, 2007
Whether we are a boss or a worker, a student, a homemaker, self-employed or retired, in whatever job we have, we should each insist on our rights in the workplace.
1. The first right every Christian should have in the workplace is the right heart (6:5-6) 2. The second right every Christian should have in the workplace is the right attitude (6:7) 3. The third right every Christian should have in the workplace is the right reward (6:8) 4. The fourth right ...read more
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16. Standing Orders
Contributed on May 25, 2007
Believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are walking worthy of their calling will experience opposition and are in need of protection.
1. The first essential truth is that you can only stand by being strong. 2. The second essential truth is that you can only stand by being submerged 3. The third essential truth is that you can only stand by seizing EPHESIANS 6:10-13 With this being Memorial Day weekend, it seems very ...read more
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17. Standing Ready
Contributed on Aug 27, 2007
As Christians, we are to be continually ready for battle with the enemy. Truth, righteousness and confidence in our reconciled standing before God will give us the strength to stand ready for the battle.
1. The first key to readiness is standing resolute before the enemy (6:14a) 2. The second key to readiness is standing righteous before the enemy (6:14b) 3. The third key to readiness is standing reconciled before the enemy (6:15) EPHESIANS 6:14-15 I read in the news that Russia tested some ...read more
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18. Standing Victorious
Contributed on Aug 27, 2007
As Christians, we will engage in battle with the enemy. Actively taking up faith, assurance, and the Word of God are the keys to being victorious in the battle.
1. The first key to victory is standing armored through the battle (6:16) 2. The second key to victory is standing assured through the battle (6:17a) 3. The third key to victory is standing armed through the battle (6:17b) EPHESIANS 6:16-17 A story is told about a man who was really down on ...read more
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19. Standing Kneeling
Contributed on Aug 27, 2007
Intercessory prayer is the key to standing as the kind of church God wants us to be.
1. The first key to standing by kneeling is to pray continually. (6:18) 2. The second key to standing by kneeling is to pray personally. (6:19-20) 3. The third key to standing by kneeling is to pray specifically. (6:21-22) 4. Conclusion (6:23-24) This morning we’re reaching a milestone. ...read more