So, we turn the corner from doctrinal to practical, and from foundational to functional. Building on the prayer at the end of chapter 3, Ephesians 4:1 ties together the first three and last three chapters of this letter.
Are their predictable behaviors that exist in healthy relationships? What are the habits seen in healthy families? If God is love, and Jesus is the truth, is it safe to say that people and families and churches and communities that share the heart and behaviors of God should be healthy and peaceful?
If you want to know what the family of God is meant to be, and how all of the Father's children relate to one another, then you will not want to miss any of the upcoming messages from Ephesians. Now, let usl focus on the way we deal with differences!
How are Americans doing with that?
God's family is not made up of clones. The diversity can be both either glorious or dangerous. It can be useful for all of us to mature together within God's community. But if we miss the heart of God, and misunderstand our differences, then they can be a source of pride, division, tension, and hatred.
Watch how Paul uses the truth about the human body to illustrate his point. Where do you fit into this family? How should we treat each other? What does maturity look like? If you want to know, then.......
VIEW AND SEE....!!
Steve
Ephesians 4:1-10
January 27, 2021 • Pastor Steve Feden
Ephesians 1:1-6
November 18, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Ephesians has only six chapters and is not written to address a specific issue or problem among the Ephesians believers. Rather, Paul knows that in order for them to have future ability to live as children of God in the middle of Ephesian culture, they will have to gain a deeper and deeper experience of God's love! This is what he is addressing. We will dive right in and watch as the great, methodical, theological mind of the Apostle Paul is overcome with impassioned gratitude over the deep ways God has touched his -- and our -- lives! WARNING: Anyone who actually reads and believes the things we will talk about is likely to experience greater depth of transformed relationship with God and the people in your life! View and see! Steve
Ephesians 1:7-14
December 2, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
What does "relationship with God" really look like? I mean, we talk about the fact that Christianity is a "relationship" and not "religion", but what is the real difference? Doesn't Christianity often feel like religion? Obey the commands, do this, don't do that, and so on. I am fully convinced that Ephesians is a "relationship guide". The first chapter is filled with the foundational blocks of relationship with God as HE designed it to be. If we can comprehend Ephesians 1, it will forever impact our understanding of what relationships are supposed to be, and what the basic building blocks of healthy relationships are! Last week we saw the Father's plan. This week we will how the Son (Jesus) participates and how the Spirit participates! View and see! Steve
Ephesians 1:15-23
December 9, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
A few years ago, Helga and I enjoyed a long bike ride with friends. We started in Munich Germany and ended in Venice, Italy. It was an epic journey for which we spent time studying maps to prepare. I don't think I need to tell you that the experience of the ride itself was the hope and the joy and the thrill. The map was useful, but could never be a substitute for the ride itself. To this point, in Ephesians 1, Paul has given us a map of healthy relationship with God. Being chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and secure have been points on that map. Great stuff, right? Yes, but it is still a map! What do I mean? Starting in verse 15, we read Paul's prayer for the believers in Ephesus. The prayer is filled with Paul's desire for these precious Jesus' followers. The gist of his prayer? I would love to tell you, but you will need to tune in. I promise it will be worth it. Just like the map is no substitute for the experience of the ride, so the study of doctrine and intellectual knowledge of God are not the end in themselves. This remarkable passage of scripture is sure to stretch your imagination (hint hint). View and see! Steve