Sermons on Ephesians 1:10-3:2:

God The Son Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

We may think we can make our own way to be good enough, but our only hope is in the redemption won by Jesus.

We are still at the beginning of working our way through one of the most amazing books of the Bible, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It presents the most beautiful picture of the church and the Christian life, a picture that really stretches your mind. The last two weeks we have been working ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

The Christian faith focuses on what God did long ago and will do in the future. But an experience of the Holy Spirit is a taste of what God means to us here and now, deep in our hearts.

Today we’ll finish up with the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Because of holidays and our communion schedule we haven’t done the chapter in order. Some weeks ago we started looking at the trinitarian opening of the letter, with Paul’s introduction of God the Father, God the Son, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed Be You

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Maybe you have heard many promises of blessings in Christ, but aren't experiencing them for yourself. Perhaps the next step is an act of faith to receive those blessings.

The last two Sundays we’ve taken a break from working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Those were Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. And those Sundays are always a treat. But today we go back to the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. And that’s a different kind of treat. If you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

You Are The Body Of Christ

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Many times, if God is going to touch someone, it will be through us.

Today we celebrate the baptisms of three children of our congregation. A lot of things are happening in a baptism. Their parents are asking for God's blessing on their children and making promises to provide Christian nurture for them. God is making a statement to the children, that he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23

Is Faith A Force, Tool, Power, Or?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jul 29, 2019

One of the biggest errors that have crept into the church over the years has been the teaching that ‘faith’ is a thing, power, or force to obtain or possess.

Many believe that if a person can conjure up enough ‘faith,’ they can be healed of any ailment, declare things into existence, and receive all the money they could ever want. Conversely, it is believed that if a person is not healed or has little money, they lack in personal faith. Most believe ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, Isaiah 65:16, Revelation 3:14, 2 Corinthians 1:20, James 2:17, Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 6:23, 1 Timothy 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Mark 11:22, Galatians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 12:3, John 21:17, Acts 17:28, Hebrews 12:2, Habakkuk 2:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The World Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 6, 2019

As we try to follow God, know that you are swimming against a strong current of the world's pressures.

Some years ago we went up to Minnesota to visit our daughter, Elizabeth, and she took us out to one of her favorite spots, Interstate Park on the St. Croix River. If that name seems strange, it’s not a place where you have a picnic in the median between northbound and southbound lanes. It’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, James 4:4, John 16:33

The Flesh Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 6, 2019

We can be tempted to blame our failings on other people, but our own lack of self control, our slavery to 'the flesh' can be our worst enemy

Kathy and I have a Siamese cat, named Ling. For the purposes of being a pet, she’s really good. She’s quite affectionate, for a cat. She’ll come and sit in our laps several times a day, and if you scratch her in just the right spots, she really purrs. She plays amazing games with her balls and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Galatians 5:13-24

The Devil Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 6, 2019

The devil knows a lot of cheap tricks to pull us down. If you are wise to those tricks you can stand strong against him.

In my freshman year of high school I went out for tennis. I wasn’t very good. The coach never took me to even one away meet because most everybody was better than I was. But I had a lot of fun. It was great being outside with my friends in the springtime. And tennis wasn’t near as much work ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 3:9-10, Ephesians 6:10-20

He Raised Us Up With Him

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 6, 2019

The resurrection of Jesus calls us to life on a new dimension.

Imagine with me a young boy spending the summer on his grandfather’s farm. He has chores to do, but as soon as they are done he loves to roam in the woods and hills nearby. He spots an eagle soaring in the sky, follows it to its nest on the edge of a cliff and sees its mate sitting on the nest. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-7, Matthew 10:39

Saved By Grace, Through Faith, For Good Works

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 8, 2019

In 3 short verses Paul gives an overview of the order of salvation, the path to mature discipleship.

It can feel overwhelming to think about building a relationship with God. For God, everything ought to be right, every part of your life. You ought to pray all the time. You ought to be very careful with every word you speak. You ought to be helping all sorts of people every day. Who can do it ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

The Scandal Of God's Grace

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 8, 2019

We all speak lightly of God's grace, but a proper understanding should revolutionize our lives.

Most of you will recognize the name, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. He was a priest in the Church of England in the 1700’s who preached up and down the British Isles and organized people into small groups everywhere he could with a format that brought thousands of people into ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Breaking Down The Walls

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 8, 2019

Just as the Apostle Paul had to deal with separations between Jewish and Gentile Christians in his day, we need to deal with separations between white and black churches (and many other ethnicities as well) today.

(This sermon was preached in 1997 and needs updated examples) There was once a subway car, almost empty, except for a Chinese man and a Jewish man, who sat in their seats, silently, holding their newspapers high as they read. Suddenly the Jewish man stood up, rolled up his newspaper, walked over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

The Sermon On The Mount (Part Two) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 12, 2019

We started looking into the beatitudes last week by seeing how being poor in spirit, mourning and being meek are things that bring blessing into our lives. Today we continue by looking at how we are blessed by hungering and thirsting for righteousness and being merciful.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (part two) Matthew 5:6-7 Beatitudes mean declarations of blessedness. The term blessedness means joy. Therefore, the state of blessedness would be a state of joy, which is more than just happy. Blessedness refers to the distinctive spiritual joy of those who are saved. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6-7, Isaiah 55:1-2, Psalm 107:9, Titus 3:3-8, Proverbs 19:11, Ephesians 2:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Boiling Within Or Spreading Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Aug 12, 2019

The love of constrains us to take the Gospel to all. I am enjoying with the message of Christ and salvation. Why I have to boil within myself, I have to take the Gospel to all.

Ephesians 1:5-11, Boiling or Sprawling Theme explanation: According to John Wesley, The theology of ‘Predestination’ reminds that our salvation is secured in Christ (John 10:28). When we are in Christ nothing is accident and unwarranted. But everything is under the knowledge of God including my ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5-11

Denomination: Methodist

Apostles' Creed: Recognizing The Maker Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Aug 14, 2019

Belief in God as Creator gives life meaning, gives wisdom, and sustains human flourishing.

APOSTLES’ CREED: Recognizing the Creator The Apostles’ Creed begins simply and boldly: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.” Our God is the Creator of the universe, and more importantly, he is the Creator of us. He says in Isaiah 45:12, “It is I who made the earth ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 19:1-11, Genesis 1:1-2, Ephesians 1:4-10, Romans 1:20-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed