IMAGE: ALIVE IN CHRIST
IMAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
WELCOME
Sunday, April 16, 2023
SERIES: ALIVE IN CHRIST
A STUDY IN EPHESIANS
LIVE MESSAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
Scripture Reading Ephesians 2:1–10 ESV
Ephesians 1, 2 ESV and Audio
By Grace Through Faith
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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Sunday, April 16, 2023
SERIES: ALIVE IN CHRIST
LIVE MESSAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
^Videos by Inspirational>1…
MESSAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
Sunday, April 16, 2023
SERIES: ALIVE IN CHRIST
MESSAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV
Ephesians 1, 2 ESV and Audio
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures: Acts 19, 20, 1 Timothy 1, 4, 6, Revelation 2, Ephesians 6, 3, 4, ESV
SERMON NOTES
Sunday, April 16, 2023
SERIES: ALIVE IN CHRIST
A STUDY IN EPHESIANS
LIVE MESSAGE: THE WORD OF HIS GRACE
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
The letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is all about what it means to be “Alive in Christ.” Have you ever wondered what it would take to come truly alive? To be alive in Christ is to be abundantly alive forevermore. In this series through Ephesians, we’ll be exploring this topic in detail.
The Book of Ephesians begins with a salutation that’s typical of 1st century correspondence. The author, Paul, is identified as writing to the church of Ephesus, the recipients. Paul starts the letter with a greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
And that’s how the letter simply begins. But before we get any further into the letter, we need to first understand a bit of the setting and context of this letter. These are real people, corresponding in the real world, in light of real challenges.
Splendid Beginning
The Ephesian church began with Gospel power and transformed lives.
They had transitioned from death to life, from darkness to light, from magic arts to following Jesus. Their conversion was dramatic, radical, and decisive. The truth of the Gospel had won their minds, and the love of Jesus had won their hearts.
Sobering Warning
The Ephesian church was in danger of losing the truth of the Gospel and the Love of their lives.
Paul warns that the church is going to come under attack from fierce wolves from without and from twisted teachers from within who will lead people astray. He implores them to be alert and to pay attention to the direction of the flock.
How are they to do this? By holding fast to “the word of his grace.” And so, Paul writes a letter that will turn out to be their sustaining grace.
Sustaining Grace
The Ephesian church must hold fast to the truth of the Gospel with all their hearts as if their lives depend on it.
What’s their secret weapon? The Word of His grace in action: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Friends, this is our secret weapon, our only weapon; this is our only and all sufficient guide for faith and godliness.
Takeaway:
God’s Word is grace.
The Scriptures are the nutrients you need to grow healthy, strong, and tall in Christ. The Bible is your secret weapon against false teaching, growing cultural pressures, and with suffering coming for you.
Read it. Meditate upon it. Study it. Wrestle with it. Memorize it. Surrender to it. Abide in it. Live in it.
Those nutrients will ensure you’re flourishing. So, take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It’s your only weapon after all.
Benediction
Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
Isaiah 55 ESV and Audio
The Compassion of the Lord
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
PASTOR
TO
PEOPLE
Spring has sprung in earnest this week. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The flowers are blooming. The leaves are popping. And everything feels just a little bit brighter. I love that Easter is at the hinge of the seasons, as everything comes back to life. It’s an annual reminder of the cosmic truth that in Jesus all things are being made new. Spring is a glimpse of the eschaton. There’s a crack in the walls of the world—and hope is streaming in.
I’m so grateful for my friend and partner in ministry, Pastor Tim Stafford. Most of us have no idea just how much he works behind the scenes to select, arrange, orchestrate, rehearse, and prepare us for worship. Grand celebrations
of Christ’s saving work, like the ones we had on Friday and Sunday last week, are months in preparation. Pastor Tim has a great team around him in Jordyn Fraats, Paul Satre, and Elsa Wiese, in addition to an amazing team of vocalists, musicians, and the choir. Pastor Tim is the servant leader who brings it all together. I’m so grateful for his ministry in our midst. Would you join me in thanking him? You can email him at: tim.stafford@moodychurch.org.
Let’s remind him that he’s loved, more than he knows!
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