Sermons on Ephesians 1:7-17:

Pursuing Happiness

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 23, 2020

Happiness is an inside out job. It is reflected in Holiness; Direction; and Thoughts in our lives.

1. Jesus challenges us to become like little children Matthew 18:3-4 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. • Innocence, humility and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-10, Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What's My Purpose - 1

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jan 31, 2020

An ongoing series, looking at our purpose.

What's My Purpose February 2, 2020 Various We’re going to start by getting pretty deep really quickly. "Why did God create you?" Or how about this, “Why in God’s name am I here?” Or very simply, “What’s my purpose in life?” For the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the fact ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:4, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 1:16

Denomination: Baptist

Does God Alone Choose Who Gets To Heaven? - Thoughts On Predestination In A Quantum Universe

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jan 31, 2020

Christians get into endless debates about free will, predestination, losing your salvation vs once-saved-always-saved, getting lost in the complexity of it all.

Quite often, discussions about theological issues boil down to one side pulling out their list of Scriptures proving their doctrine and the other side pulling out their list of Scriptures to prove their contrary doctrine, and most often, it is whoever has the most extensive list that wins. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-11, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 1:2, John 15:16, Romans 8:28, John 15:19, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Peter 1:23, John 3:3-7, John 10:29, Hebrews 11:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ephesian's Conversion Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jun 29, 2019

The Ephesians' conversion mirrors the “pattern of conversion” outlined in the Book of Acts. By their obedient faith: “God quickened them together with Christ; that, by grace, they might be saved through the faith.” This lesson dispels the notion of "salvation by grace only."

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Heard the Word of Truth 2. Believed in the Gospel of Salvation 3. Sealed with the Holy Spirit Introductory Remarks. 1. Our lesson today will discuss the theme: “Ephesian’s Conversion.” Their conversion experience also aligns with others who obeyed the gospel of Christ. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 19:1-20, Acts 20:17-32, Ephesians 2:8-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

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

Commanded To Function Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 6, 2019

The function that God has commanded all of us to have in Leviticus 11:45 God commands, “you must be holy because I am holy”.

We continue in our series dare to be different and this month our theme is different function. The word Function is a Noun and it means an activity that is natural to or the purpose of a person or thing. So for this all-age service what I want us to think about is the function that God has ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 11:45, Exodus 20:1-17, Ephesians 1:4-7, 1 Peter 1:15

Denomination: Pentecostal