As servants and soldiers for Christ, we are engaged in a fierce war. It's a war with real battles and real defeats expand

As servants and soldiers for Christ, we are engaged in a fierce war. It's a war with real battles and real defeats and real casualties and real victories, and it's critical that you and I have a clear picture of who the enemy is that we face, and what the equipment is that we have been given. back

When a passage like this was read, something like 'wives submit to your husbands...' as I understood it, God expand

When a passage like this was read, something like 'wives submit to your husbands...' as I understood it, God's Holy Word was read about the most precious relationship you could conceivably have in this lifetime, and there were Christians in the congregation that said, 'we don't like that...' My challenge tonight is do not think you know better than the Lord. Do not be ashamed of the lord for fear of what your culture thinks of you. back

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Becoming a Christian is like learning to live again. We need to learn Christ. It involves a completely different mindset expand

Becoming a Christian is like learning to live again. We need to learn Christ. It involves a completely different mindset and completely different way of looking at the world. It is not just an extension of who we are, it is a new creation. That's why we come to church, and study the Bible, and spend time with God – to learn Christ so that we can be transformed and become different people. As you begin to learn Christ expect to be out of step with others. The problem for us is we are such conformers, we so want to blend in. We do it often without thinking about it, in our priorities, in our way of thinking. We are controlled by the world without even knowing it. The source of our difference is not trying to be better or trying to be different. It is because of one person, the person of Jesus Christ. So, how do we learn him? back

There are four things we need to take to heart. (1) Christians are the most free, the most unbound of any humans. We expand

There are four things we need to take to heart. (1) Christians are the most free, the most unbound of any humans. We're not free to go and live an indulgent life, but we're free to be full of the glory of God so that we can genuinely reflect Him. (2) The work of teaching belongs to all Christians. The growth of the church depends almost entirely on the congregation. The text 'to each' identifies each of us as being equally responsible. In v12: 'to equip the saints' refers to our job description to teach other Christians, 'for the work of ministry' refers to the 'what', i.e. so that they, in turn, can be workers in the ministry to serve and pass on the teachings of the Bible. That means you will only become mature in faith if you're connected to the church community. You will remain spiritually immature if you just listen to a 20-minute sermon once a week and not participate in a relationship with God. (3)... back

'Therefore you' binds the first half of Ephesians (our beliefs) with the second half (our behaviour). We must expand

'Therefore you' binds the first half of Ephesians (our beliefs) with the second half (our behaviour). We must never study theology without acting on it, and vice versa. Just theory alone will give us spiritual indigestion, and just ethics alone will result in legalism. You became a Christian when you heard the voice of God calling you by name. That's the Lazarus experience. For us Christians, there's only one calling. In the Bible there is only one call. We are called to serve the LORD, no matter what profession we are in. For those who follow Jesus Christ, there is something more important for us in life – 'therefore'. Our whole moral, social and ethical life are determined by who we belong to. What is Paul's first priority for us? One: Be eager (i.e. work hard) to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We all have faults, the only way we can share unity is to do what Jesus does. Two: 'with humility and gentleness' – don't let pride get in the way. In our culture, we mistake lowliness and meekness for weakness, but meekness doesn't mean having weak conviction. We are meant to bear with each other. That assumes we are in regular contact with others, bearing each others' burden. This is church belonging 101. back

Before introducing the second half of Ephesians 'how shall we then live', Paul wants us to remember Who is really expand

Before introducing the second half of Ephesians 'how shall we then live', Paul wants us to remember Who is really doing all the work. The conviction that God is able is the thing that lets us be bold in living out the Christian life. God who raises the dead is bigger than the problems we face and He is able to keep us from falling. Our response? We need to get to a deeper conversion that connects 'where I am now' to 'where He wants to take me'. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. back

In this passage, we see what is the centre of Paul's heart and what God wants as well: that people will grow in expand

In this passage, we see what is the centre of Paul's heart and what God wants as well: that people will grow in their relationship with God. One of the great dangers we face as Christians is the spiritual plateau: you take stock in your spiritual life, and find that you are comfortable and coasting. But we're not meant to be always comfortable, growing is not comfortable. We learn new levels of trust in God. God becames bigger in our lives and more important. We must learn to depend more and more on God. Paul prays that this change will come from God alone. The word 'dwell' means permanent residence. God's power comes to our lives in this way so that we can be transformed to the likeness of Christ (4:16). The change will involve love at the centre and love all around. And we need to see the dimension of God's love. We need to be rooted and grounded in love for each other in the church. As we invest in our relationship with God, and meditate on this in prayer daily, humbly asking God to give us the power to comprehend the love of Christ, He will begin to fill us with His fullness. back

The goodness of Christ was hidden even from angels. God chooses to reveal this wisdom through the church, we are adopted expand

The goodness of Christ was hidden even from angels. God chooses to reveal this wisdom through the church, we are adopted as members of his family. back

The mystery of Christ is not something Paul invented. It broke in (irrupted) into his life and changed him forever. expand

The mystery of Christ is not something Paul invented. It broke in (irrupted) into his life and changed him forever. The mystery of Christ was utterly closed to him before, but as the light blinded his physical eyes, it opened his spiritual eyes. Paul is very concerned about the church, he sees the church as the first fruits, i.e. the first installment of God's re-creation, a community that is exclusively united by redemption through Christ, the indwelling of his presence, and a community that grows in relationship with God. back

God is making us into a holy temple which God can dwell in, now! Salvation in the New Testament is much more about what expand

God is making us into a holy temple which God can dwell in, now! Salvation in the New Testament is much more about what we are saved for. This passage explains what the church is – the church is not a building, it is people. Secondly, it talks about where the church is, and it is whereever the teaching of the apostles are heard. We are built supernaturally upon the foundation of Christ. Organic spiritual unity is based only on apostolic unity and never unity for unity's sake. Thirdly, why the church? God fits us together, He joins us together so that the whole structure becomes a holy temple where God can 'tabernacle' with us. But we don't all come as fitted stones. Christ has to work with us to make us fit, and that is hard to do if our attendance is sporadic! back

Back in the 1980's, the Berlin wall was a sign of hostility, a sign to separate people. Designed to imprison people expand

Back in the 1980's, the Berlin wall was a sign of hostility, a sign to separate people. Designed to imprison people, it was a sobering experience to see it. That is a little picture of what Paul is talking about in this passage. A wall that is between Jews and Gentiles, a wall between God and mankind. Before Christ, we were all separated from Christ, didn't know the loving relationship of God, didn't know what God's saving plan was, without God in the world. Wonderfully in verse 18 there is a huge change. A change that is brought about through Jesus Christ. The work that God started in you and me will be brought to completion through Jesus Christ. Paul says that there are three things that Jesus did on the cross... back

God is the worker, not us. Without asking us, God created the world, without asking us, He provided Jesus to save us expand

God is the worker, not us. Without asking us, God created the world, without asking us, He provided Jesus to save us. Salvation is entirely from God. God says "I'm going to do a new thing" – that's the church. The church is God's best work, it is God's masterpiece. For what? For good works! Some good works are invisible to everyone but Christ. Some will be appreciated by others. Some will appear a little weird. But the good works are everything 'I do' through the power of Jesus Christ. back