Ephesians
The Death of Our Divisions
Ephesians 6
February 26, 2017 • Ephesians 6
In Chapter 6 of Ephesians, St. Paul gives us God's plan for parenting, work, and spiritual warfare. Parents are told to commit to raising their children in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord." Employees are told to commit to doing their jobs "not by way of eye-service as people pleasers" but from sincere hearts, as if working for the Lord. Finally, all Christians are told to commit to the Lord and stand against the Evil One. Though there are many themes in the chapter, the central truth that undergirds everything is that true love assumes commitment. Without commitment, there is no Christianity. Jesus Christ loved us so much, that He committed his life for ours.
Ephesians 5
February 19, 2017 • Ephesians 5
Some people argue that if marriage is so natural, then why would it require work? And how come some couples, who are willing to put the work in, can't seem to make it work? Since our culture doesn't have much of an answer to these question, many just say we weren't designed for marriage. Scarlett Johansson, who was recently divorced for the second time, said in an interview: "I think the idea of marriage is very romantic; it's a beautiful idea, and the practice of it can be a very beautiful thing. I don't think it's natural to be a monogamous person. The fact that it is such work for so many people -- for everyone -- proves that it is not a natural thing." So is monogamy natural? If so, why does it take work? If not, how can we make marriage work? Listen in to find out more.
Ephesians 4
February 12, 2017 • Ephesians 4
In Ephesians 4, Paul lays out God's design for the unity of the Church, and the unity of individual churches. He writes, "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 3
February 5, 2017 • Ephesians 3
What do you pray about most frequently? What do you pray about most intensely? Your finances? Your health? Your relationships? Your career? You? One of the best ways to reveal what you truly care about most in life, is to analyze the content of your prayers, the frequency of those prayers, and the intensity with which you pray about those things. We pray about what concerns us most, because prayer expresses desire. As we continue our study of Ephesians, we come to one of the most beautiful and profound prayers in all of Holy Scripture. Paul prays for the souls of the believers in Ephesus.
Ephesians 2
January 29, 2017 • Ephesians 2
In order to help us understand the lavishness of God's mercy, grace, and love, Paul explains the bleakness of our plight apart from Christ. He plunges us deep into the abyss of our sinfulness, where it's cold, dark, and the pressure is excruciating. We weren't just spiritually sick or ill, we were "dead in our sins and trespasses." We weren't just naughty, we were "children of wrath." Then, when it seems almost unbearable, Paul shoots us up to the highest high of God's grace: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved!"
Ephesians 1
January 22, 2017 • Ephesians 1
The first in our series of book of Ephesians, a letter written for a cultural moment not unlike our own. Actually, Ephesus was a city more divided than our own. St. Paul writes to them, to tell them of Christ's plan to "unite all things to himself, in heaven and things on earth." Through the Gospel, Jesus breaks down the "dividing walls of hostility." Christ reconciles us both to God and to each other. Christ brings lasting reconciliation by healing all alienation and removing all isolation. "In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Through Christ, we can be united to God, and united by God.