Ephesians 5:15-21

Calvary Chapel Fluvanna

Ephesians 5:15-21

March 3, 2021 • Pastor Steve Feden

Watch Your Step! - Ephesians 5:15-21

There are times when it is very important to watch your step. Mine fields might come immediately to the military mind. Farmers may think, "the cow pasture!" What are the occasions when you might be a little more careful where you place your feet?

I happen to love the circus. The acrobats are usually my favorite, but the tight rope walker serves my purposes here. Do you remember the guy who walked a high wire stretched across Niagara Falls? I would NOT walk across anything with the word "falls" in it - just saying.

Check out the picture above. Do you think he will hurry across that wire? How careful is he going to be with each step? Will he allow himself to be distracted? What if you offered him some alcohol or drugs right before his attempt? Would he accept them?

"Ok pastor, I'm on the hook!" What does this have to do with Ephesians 5? You know I am not going to tell you! But I will tell you this -- God is for you and has given you everything you need to live beautifully, Godly, and wisely in this present age. Like warnings of a loving parent -- Father, Son, and Spirit want us to experience the life of love, joy, and peace that are connected to truth and light.

What's the connection to the high wire.......?

View and see....

Steve

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