Sacred Community
The church can often be a place plagued by scandals and division. For outsiders the church can seem like a place full of hypocrisy and greed. But what is God's vision for His church? The Book of Ephesians shows us how the church is a sacred people, His beautiful yet flawed bride, that is diverse yet united, Spirit Filled and overflowing with love.
Text: Ephesians 5:1-21 | What makes the church different than the surrounding culture? Often there's nothing that substantially marks Christians as different than non-Christians. We're often just like the surrounding culture in our thought life, desires and ambitions. But the Apostle Paul shows us that Christians should lead profoundly different lives in our purity, sexual ethics, ambitions and humility. Ultimately what drives this lifestyle is the idea that we are profoundly loved by God not by words but by a Savior who lays down His life for us.
Sermon Title: A New Identity | Ephesians 4:17-32
We're living in a time now when a lot of people are focused on finding their identity or reclaiming their identity. Many people find their identity in their race, class, political party or sexuality. But in Ephesians, the Apostle Paul wants to show us that when you become a believer your identity profoundly shifts. Our identity is found as a people profoundly loved, the Bride of Christ, that the Spirit is now getting ready for the Day of Redemption.
Sermon Title: The Body of Christ | Ephesians 4:1-16
The church on earth can often lose it's identity and drift into a corporate spirit or become as divided as the surrounding world. God's call for the church is to remember it's calling and live as a united community of grace, truth and love.
Sermon Title: The Power of Prayer | Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer can feel likeness when it's used as a wishlist or as a religious duty. Ephesians shows us that prayer can take truths and make them powerful. Prayer helps us experience the life changing presence of God and helps us to understand the depth of the love of God. A church that is spiritually alive and united centers itself on prayer.
Sermon Title : The Church’s Foundation | Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
The foundation of the church isn't a great leader or a great philosophy in life but the Good News that God can take us from the depths of despair to the heights of heaven freely by His grace. The Gospel radically changes how we treat each other, levels our pride and creates a community of grace. The Gospel gives us meaning for the present as we walk in good works and gives us great hope for the future.
