2024 Posts

Summer Sermon Series begins Sunday, July 14

2024 Summer Sermon Series, on the Book of Ephesians

In this letter, Paul takes us to the mountain tops of Christian truth and invites us to look at the breathtaking view! When we do so, we see that it is Jesus Christ who dominates that view. We see him breaking down the wall between God and humanity. We see him subduing the hostile cosmic powers. We see him creating the church, a new social order of love and unity that transcends the racial, ethnic and social distinctions between people. In conveying this vision, Paul reaches into eternity past and eternity future to demonstrate how God, out of his love and glory, calls people to be reconciled to himself and one another through the cross of Christ.

The cross provides forgiveness of sins, a new life and a new people. Between Paul’s greeting (1:1-2) and salutation (6:21-24), the letter easily divides into two parts. Part one (Ch. 1-3) focuses on doctrine, specifically, the new life and society God has created through Jesus. Part two (Ch. 4-6) focuses on ethics, specifically, the new standards and new relationships expected of believers. (Introduction from Master Builders Bible for Men)

July 14, Ephesians 1:3-14 Salutation, Thanks for Blessings in Christ

July 21, Ephesians 2:11-22 Gentiles and Jews are united in Christ

July 28, Ephesians 3:14-21 Prayers of intercession for Christ’s love, power and glory in church

Aug. 4, Ephesians 4:1-16 Use a diversity of gifts to promote unity in Christ

Aug. 11, Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Exhortation to put off the old self and put on new self in Christ

Aug. 18 Ephesians 5:15-20 Exhortation to walk in the love and light of Christ

Aug. 25 Ephesians 6:10-20 Put on the full armor of God

The Book at a Glance (from The Literary Study Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2019, Crossway)

Six chapters, 155 verses. The letter to the Ephesians is a practical handbook of Christian doctrine–a theological manifesto like Romans, only written on a smaller scale (there are also important parallels to Colossians, especially in the second half of the letter).  Ephesians is cosmic in its scope. Lacking the personal references and local concerns that are found in most of Paul’s other writings, the letter deals broadly with the unity and community of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, in the context of God’s eternal plans for his church and the supernatural struggle between good and evil. Ephesians is one of the most Christ-centered of all the books in a Christ-centered New Testament, revealing the glory of God in Christ. It is also one of the most church-centered books in the New Testament, revealing the glory of God in the church. From beginning to end, there is an exuberant celebration of the blessings God has for his new community in Christ, from their election in eternity past to their final triumph. Whereas the first half of the epistle establishes the identity of believers in Christ, the second half exhorts believes to be who they are in Christ in every situation and every relationship.

Verses for Sunday, July 14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Just Where IS Ephesus?

From Wikipedia:

Ephesus (/ˈɛfɪsəs/; Greek: Ἔφεσος, translit. Éphesos; Turkish: Efes; may ultimately derive from Hittite: 𒀀𒉺𒊭, romanized: Apaša) was a city in Ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of Apasa, the former Arzawan capital, by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era, it was one of twelve cities that were members of the Ionian League. The city came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC.

The pencil points to Ephesus on this map of Paul’s Second and Third Missionary Journeys. Map photographed from The American Patriot’s Bible, copyright 2009 by Thomas Nelson Inc.

Another Introduction to Ephesians

This one comes from the Master Builders Bible for Men, 2nd Edition, copyright 2007, Augsburg Fortress Publishers:

Author of Ephesians: The apostle Paul

Date: Probably in the early A.D. 60s.

Theme: God’s New Society.

Historical Background: Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon were all written from prison at about the same time. Because over half of the verses in this letter are found in Colossians, it seems that Paul first developed these themes in that letter while dealing with a local problem, and then expanded them into a more universal setting for this one. It is unclear which imprisonment produced these letters (see 2Co 11:23), but most likely Paul was at Rome (Ac 28).

Characteristics: In this letter, Paul takes us to the mountaintops of Christian truth and invites us to look at the breathtaking view! When we do so, we see that it is Jesus Christ who dominates that view. We see him breaking down the wall between God and humanity. We see him subduing the hostile cosmic powers. We see him creating the church, a new social order of love and unity that transcends the racial, ethnic, and social distinctions between people. In conveying this vision, Paul reaches out into eternity past and eternity future to demonstrate how God, out of his love and glory, calls people to be reconciled to himself and to one another through the cross of Christ. The cross provides forgiveness of sins, a new life, and a new people. Between Paul’s greeting (1:1-2) and salutation (6:21-24), the letter divides easily into two parts. Part one (ch. 1-3) focuses on doctrine, specifically, the new life and new society God has created through Jesus. Part two (ch. 4-6) focuses on ethics, specifically, the new standards and new relationships expected of believers.

This Wikimedia Commons photograph by Benh LIEU SONG shows the facade of the library at Ephesus.

Verses for Sunday, July 21

Ephesians 2:11-22

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Verses for Sunday, July 28

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Verses for Sunday, August 4

Ephesians 4:1-16

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Verses for Sunday, August 11

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Verses for Sunday, August 18

Ephesians 5:3-20

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 

So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.