When the Apostle sets out on developing a Christian ethic, one might expect him to put out a philosophy or set of rules, but instead he puts forward the person of Christ. He invites us to “learn Christ” because “truth is in Jesus”. He also develops what it means to live our baptismal identity by dying to old ways and rising to…
Paul calls the church to walk worthy of God’s calling by dwelling together in the unity of the Spirit. During his earthly ministry, Christ promised to build his church. The risen and ascended Christ has put us together and equipped us with gifts for the common good of our life together. By sharing life and gifts together, the church grows into christlikeness.…
Paul begs the church to walk worthy of God’s calling by dwelling together in the unity of the Spirit. In order to fulfill this “high calling” it is necessary to cultivate humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance. Join us for our “After the Through the Bible Zoom Chat” at 7:30 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87901487440 Password is the same for regulars. If you need it, contact…
Paul prayers that the believers in Ephesus would come to greater knowledge and experience of God – Father, Son, and Spirit. The Spirit deep within manifests the presence and love of Christ, filling us “with all the fullness of God.” The believer is caught up in the divine embrace of the Triune God. This prayer is a model for us. Join us…
From prison, Paul writes of his commission to speak boldly and courageously of the mystery that has been revealed to him that God is drawing all things together in Christ so that the church might participate in God’s eternal plan and be a peace-making instrument of unity and reconciliation. There is no “After the Through the Bible Zoom Chat” tonight because the…
The apostle presents his most elevated teaching concerning the church by speaking of it as a “new humanity” and a “living temple” created by God to manifest God’s will in the world. Tearing down walls and manifesting God’s peace is at the heart of achieving God’s plan to unite all things in Christ. Join us for our “After the Through the Bible”…
Christians talk a lot about “being saved” but what are we actually talking about. What is salvation? Why do we need it? And – most importantly – what is it’s purpose? What is it for? In today’s reading, Paul speaks of our desperate need for salvation, of God’s initiative by grace to bring it about, and of what it means to truly…
Following Paul’s explosion of worship, he prays for the churches, beginning with his “unceasing prayer” that God would grant a spirit of wisdom and revelation that the “eyes of their heart” may be enlightened by the Gospel and the great power of God behind it. Paul does not begin with prayers for healing, comfort, or blessings (as important as these are), but…
The Apostle begins this letter with a long, complex sentence (202 words long in the Greek). He begins with worship in order to give the context for all he is to say from the foundation of the “bigger picture” of God’s great plan from the foundation of the earth to bless by grace and unite all things in heaven and earth in…
Sometimes we can miss the forest for the trees. That is, we can got so focused on details that we lose sight of the bigger picture. The Apostle’s Letter to the Ephesians invites the church to remember and recommit to God’s grand universal plan of uniting all things in Christ. Only by maintaining this grand vision can our individual lives and local…