All of us want to change. We struggle with the gap between who we actually are, and who we want to be. In this passage we see that if this change is going to happen we need to see three things - first, the reality of our old lives - second, the vision for our new lives - and third, how we can change from our old lives to our new lives, by putting off the lies that shaped our old life, and putting on the truth that should shape our new life.
Building Building - Ephesians 4:1-16
We build up the body of Christ when we commit ourselves to walking worthily, guarding unity, expressing diversity and pursuing maturity.
Powerful Christian Living - Ephesians 3:14 - 21
Paul prays that the Ephesians might have their core, their heart, transformed by Jesus. He wants them them to truly grasp Christ. As well as looking at the content of the prayer, we will explore a few practicalities of prayer. We finish by thinking about how we can cultivate Jesus love in our lives.
United for a purpose - Ephesians 3:1-13
Paul's letter to the Ephesians turns to the cosmic significance and implications of Jews and Gentile being joined together as one family. Paul reminds the Ephesians of his conversion, and commission by God, and the Ephesians of their mission, and the supernatural purpose and impact that their mission has to the heavenly realms and the wider church.
Humanity at Peace - Ephesians 2:11-22
In the face of war, abuse, discrimination, genocide, we all long for peace - but that longing can only be fulfilled in knowing Christ and being a part of Christ’s people because in his death on the cross Christ has paid the cost of that peace. So the church - and ultimately humanity as a whole - can be at peace. As the church we can live at peace with one another by centrering our lives on Christ, the chief cornerstone of our community, and the One who paid the cost of peace.
Alive in Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10
In verse 1-3 of this passage Paul speaks about the life we are all saved from - a life of self-centredness - a life of boasting in ourselves and what we do. Then, in verses 8-10 he speaks about the life we are saved for - a life of Christ-centredness - of boasting in Christ and what he’s done. And finally, in verses 4-7 he explains he exactly we can move from the life described in verses 1-3 to the life described in verses 8-10.
Experiencing God - Ephesians 1:15-23
All of us were created to know God. Not just to know about God, but to actually know God. That’s what Paul prays for the Ephesians in these verses - that they might know and experience the God who has blessed them with every spiritual blessing in Christ. In particular, that they would know his incomparably great power, seen in the resurrection and exaltation of Christ.
Overflowing Thanks and Praise - Ephesians 1:1-14
All of us praise the people or things that we love. In this passage Paul is overflowing with thanks and praise because in Christ God has given us every spiritual blessing - including things such as significance, freedom, purpose, security and hope. We can grow in our thankfulness for what God has done for us by allowing our hearts to be increasingly captured by Christ’s love displayed at the cross, rather than captured by the people or things of this world.