Sermons on Ephesians 1:7-18:

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

Section (3) Practical Lesson From Pictures Of Pain Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

Sometimes God is teaching us through suffering.

VIII. PRACTICAL LESSON FROM PICTURES OF PAIN A. Not Comfortable -- Conformable B. The Battles of Life Are Not Easy. C. We Need Patience D. Times of Travail Can Be Times of Birth E. The Storms are Frightening F. Yield to the Pruning. IX. THE GOD WHO CARES Judges 6:13 -- Gideon -- ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:13, Ephesians 1:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Remission Through His Blood.

Contributed by Trevor Chuma on Feb 23, 2019

God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Corinthians 5:19

The Bible says the blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). When you receive Christ as your Lord and savior God does not forgive your sins, rather he remits them. To remit means to let go of one’s offence as though they never existed. In other words, God looks at ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:19, John 1:17, Ephesians 1:17

Denomination: Charismatic

You Are Blessed Series

Contributed by Hiram Withers on Mar 4, 2019

We often become complacent in our walk with Christ. Sometimes we need a reminder of the many blessing s that come to us when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Charles Spurgeon made this observation on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. “The epistle to the Ephesians is a complete body of divinity. In the first chapter, you have the doctrines of the gospel, and the next, you have the experience of the Christian, and before the epistle finishes you have the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Ephesians: Your Identity In Christ (1)

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 7, 2019

Discover your identity in Christ! In Ephesians 1, we discover that we are predestined, purchased, promised and praise-givers.

Ephesians | Your Identity in Christ (1) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 9/28/2014 A few of weeks ago, Modesto Christian Church held their end-of-summer celebration for the kids who attended their summer children’s program. Ashley and I arrived early with our three kids and I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-14

Denomination: Christian Church

A Prayer For Prosperity

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Mar 10, 2019

Knowing the church in Ephesus was surrounded by materialism, Paul sought to encourage them in the spiritual prosperity they had in Christ. What they received in Christ was far greater than anything the world offered.

A Prayer for Prosperity Ephesians 1: 15-19 Our text today comes from the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. This letter is one of the “prison epistles,” written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. The church at Ephesus was dear to the heart of Paul, having spent about three years there in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Sacred Secret - Empowered For Service

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 11, 2019

On the day of Pentecost, something incredible happened that had never happened before – the Holy Spirit came to reveal the sacred secret of God held hidden for all of eternity past.

“Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly” (Eph 3:2,3 NIV). There are two Greek words used in Scripture for the word “secret.” They are “Kruptos” and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:2-3, Matthew 13:10-11, Romans 16:25-26, Colossians 1:26, Ephesians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Ephesians 3:10-12, 1 John 3:1, 2 Peter 1:4, Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 7:16-18, James 2:17-18, James 4:4, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational