Sermons on Ephesians 1:2-14:

The Rapture Of The Bride (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Stephen Smith on Jun 1, 2020

A message that examines the close parallel between the ancient Hebrew wedding ritual and the marriage of Christ and the Church.

Pt 7: The Rapture of the Bride (part 2) The Hebrew Wedding and the Rapture As I pointed out in my last message ('The Rapture of the Bride pt 1'), there appears to be significant misunderstanding concerning the nature and purpose of the Lord's 'parousia' ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:17, Matthew 1:19-20, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 3:20, James 4:4, 1 Peter 1:18, Titus 2:11-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Colossians 3:1, Revelation 22:20-21, Ephesians 5:31-32, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 1:4-5, John 17:19, John 14:2-3, Matthew 26:27-28, Matthew 24:36, Ephesians 5:25-26, Song of Songs 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

No Puedo Respirar

Contributed by Nestor Menjivar on Jun 7, 2020

Cada año miles mueren por falta de respiro. En Minneapolis un hombre murió diciendo las palabras “no puedo respirar”. En este sermon examinaremos lo que dice la Biblia de respirio, el respeto mutuo, y la vida.

Cada año miles mueren por falta de respiro. En Minneapolis un hombre murió diciendo las palabras “no puedo respirar”. Los imagines y el video de el acto cruel que tomo su vida nos debe hacer pensar de como nos miramos los unos a los otros para apreciar cada persona y cada respiro. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7, Job 32:8, Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:17, Ephesians 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 7, 2020

The first chapter of Ephesians is dedicated to telling the Christians there how pretty they are to God. Why would Paul spend all that ink and paper on this topic? And what can that mean to us?

I read once about a nursing home worker who would go from room to room taking care of the needs of the residents. On day she was in the room of one of the residents when the woman looked up at her and said “My but you’re pretty!” The attendant blushed. She was “plump” and “overweight and wasn’t ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14, John 3:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Blame God Game - A 2 Part Message

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jul 18, 2019

God is love. He disciplines His children. Many believe that means He ‘punishes,’ or ‘scolds’ or ‘spanks’ with severe means in the best eternal interests of the Born-Again Christian.

How do you reconcile the merciful goodness and love of God with pain, sorrow, sickness, and suffering? The Blame God Game first started in the Garden of Eden when God commanded Adam to “work it and take care of it.” He then told Adam that he was “free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17, Psalm 121:3, Philippians 4:19, James 1:17, Ephesians 1:3, Revelation 21:9, Romans 8:21-26, Romans 8:28, Acts 5:1-10, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 1 Corinthians 11:28, Psalm 139:23-24, John 14:26, Luke 12:12, Hebrews 12:7-11, 2 Samuel 12:13-14, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:6, Genesis 2:20-25, Psalm 84:11, Matthew 5:45  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Identity Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Jul 18, 2019

Understanding and accepting who we are in Christ is foundational to the life of abundance Jesus claimed to grant us.

At the Movies: Identity Understanding and accepting who we are in Christ is foundational to the life of abundance Jesus claimed to grant us. Identity attributes of the Christ-follower: 1. We are favored v.3 2. We are chosen v.4 3. We are adopted vv.5-6 4. We are redeemed v.7-8 5. We are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Paul And Ephesus

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

We hear Paul's letter to the Ephesians like we might overhear someone talking on the phone. We get only half of the conversation. If we are going to understand Paul's teaching we need to learn as much as possible about the circumstances of his readers.

Years ago there was a farmer from a very small village in Germany who was just itching to get out and see something of the world. His big chance came when his nephew got a job on a barge that would sail up the Rhine River to Rotterdam. Even if it only stayed there for one day to drop off one ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

God Chose You

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Some of us might have trouble believing that the big, eternal God would ever even notice little old me. But Paul, right from the start of his letter to the Ephesians, emphasized that God had chosen them to be his.

This is our third Sunday now focusing on the book of Ephesians. At last we're getting around to starting at the beginning. We have already peaked at parts of chapter 2 and chapter 3 because of special themes for Epiphany and Human Relations Sunday. But now we get back to a more orderly ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

You've Got A Lot Going For You, Part 1: God The Father

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Too many Christians feel inadequate to be any use to God or their church. Paul reminds the Ephesian Christians of the resources they have going for them.

In any church you’ll find some members who sit on the sidelines, feeling like they don’t really belong on the team. They have heard a number of times that God loves them, but in their hearts, they wonder. They feel a little lonely at church, a little on the sidelines. And they’d like to get to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

You've Got A Lot Going For You, Part 2: The Trinity

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

It can be confusing to talk about serving one God who is 3 persons. We may think we can just ignore abstract ideas like that. But this part of the nature of our God is one of the richest blessings of being a Christian

Last week we started looking at the main body of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He starts out with a very high falutin statement of the glory of God, listing first, blessings we have received through God the Father, then through God the Son, then through God the Holy Spirit. Starting out like ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

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

He Is The First In Everything!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Jul 29, 2019

In this message, Yours Truly aims to glorify His Heavenly Sire, Saviour and Sustainer by focusing on His unique attribute of being the originator of love, faith and hope in us.

HE IS THE FIRST IN EVERYTHING!!! “….He is first in everything”- Col 1:18 (TLB) Speaking about the pre-eminence of worship in a Christian’s life, a Biblical scholar put it wisely “If prayer and praise are a preoccupation about our needs and blessings respectively, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, Ephesians 1:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:20

Denomination: *other

True Treasure Derives From God's Good Pleasure Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 3, 2019

Earthly pleasure is temporary and important to God in terms of legality and morality, but true pleasure comes from God our Father who has gifted His children with the True Treasure that is SO important in terms of eternity.

“My pleasure” is an idiom I sometimes use in response to a “thank you” . . . sort of like a special way of saying “you’re welcome” but reserved for gratifying, delightful experiences which rise above the customary courtesy level . . . of just being polite. Actually to discover true pleasure ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24, Luke 12:32, Ephesians 1:9, Philippians 2:13

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