Ephesians

Walking in Victory - Part 3

September 22, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 6:18–24

We are finishing 3 things this Sunday: our conversation about spiritual warfare, chapter 6, and our study through Ephesians. We need to revisit the role of prayer in the on-going struggle against evil. We have been clothed with Christ’s armor. We have been given His weapons to use. Prayer, if you recall, is our plan of attack. It is our strategy against the schemes of the devil. There are battles we must win on our knees so to speak. That makes this humble act is a priority. Join us this today for the third installment of Walking in Victory from Ephesians 6:18 - 24, and 2 parting truths about the role of prayer in spiritual warfare.

Walking in Victory - Part 2

September 15, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 6:13–20

Christ has promised to build His church. But it will not be built without conflict. We have an enemy. His plans are sophisticated. His weapons assault our trust in God and His Word, and his aim is our complete destruction. We are at war with this enemy. It is a spiritual hand to hand combat as God reclaims hearts and homes, and society is reformed by the gospel. If we are going to stand our ground in this war, holding every critical position the church wins, we need to be prepared. We must humbly avail ourselves of our Lord’s promised strength and the protection. Join us this today for the second installment of Walking in Victory from Ephesians 6:13 - 20.

Walking in Victory

September 1, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 6:10–12

Christ has promised to build His church. The gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). But we shouldn't expect that to be easy. We need to get comfortable with the reality that church will not be built without conflict. Consider what we have learned over the last few weeks. Homes will not be reclaimed and society will not be reformed without conflict. There are many victories in our walk with Christ that will be won through our struggle against evil. Our text in Ephesians 6:1 - 12 will help us walk in victory as we avail ourselves of the Lord’s strength and the protection He provides.

Walking in Submission - Employees & Employers

August 25, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 6:5–9

We continue to work out the practical effects submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ in Ephesians 6:5 - 9. The final instructions given to bondservants and masters finish grounding the household in humility. Once again, the party without rights or power is addressed first as a matter of priority. Bondservants and masters are placed on equal ground in Christ. And under His lordship this relationship, just like the others mentioned before it, is transformed through the power of the gospel.

Walking in Submission - The Submission of Children & Parents

August 18, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Psalm 127:4, Ephesians 6:1–4

The application of submission in the home shifts focus in Ephesians 6:1-4 to children and parents. This relationship has also affected by the spirit of the age, damaged by sin, and in many cases is a shadow of what God intended it to be. But it, like the relationship between husbands and wives, can be completely transformed. Once again, mutual submission sets the pattern (see 5:21). Children are equally commanded to be filled with the Spirit (5:18) and to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (5:21), just as their parents (5:22–33, 6:4). Join us today to find out more.

Walking in Submission - Submission for Husbands

August 11, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 5:25–33

It has been 4 weeks since we have studied together in Ephesians. We are still talking about the ways in which we put away our former manner of life and put on our new one in Christ. One of those ways is through mutual submission, humbly putting others first. Generally speaking, it applies to all of our relationships. We are called first to submit "...to one another out of reverence for Christ (v.21).” Elsewhere in Scripture, submission is applied to government and to church leadership. Here we are specifically talking about the way each member of the household submits to one another out of reverence for Christ. We will look at the responsibility of husbands in Ephesians 5:25 - 33 today. His duty toward his wife is first his duty to Christ. Because he is submitted to Christ, he loves her and in that way is submissive to her. In that way, he has placed her wellbeing above his own.

Walk in Submission - Part 1

July 7, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 5:21–24

When we come to verse 21, we are introduced to the concept of submission. Last week we called this humility, not to be clever, but because we are surrendering our “me first” attitude. We are surrendering the "I gotta get mine” outlook of life. We put those attitudes away as part of our former manner of life. In their place we put on submission, which put plainly, is when we put our needs, expectations and wants under the needs of others. According to Ephesians 5:21 - 6:9, this relates to every relationship in the home: wives & husbands, parents & children. Join us today as we talk about the importance of walking in submission in each of these areas, beginning with part 1 concerning wives. Because they are in Christ, and according to God’s design, wives are called to willingly place themselves under their husbands.

Walk in Wisdom

June 30, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 5:15–21

Our walk remains our focus, and we have more to put away and more to put on in Ephesians 5:15 - 21. Frankly, because the days are evil, our walk demands that put away the careless indifference that once defined our manner of life. That is foolishness. In earnest we put on the wisdom of Christ that guides our new way of life. That wisdom is not merely an intellectual pursuit. It begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Putting on such wisdom demands recognition of the facts, but it also levies responsibility and completely reorients our lives around Christ who is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). Join us today as we talk about the importance of walking in wisdom.

Walk in Light

June 23, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 5:7–14

Our manner of life continues to be our focus this week, and it continues to be addressed through the metaphor of our walk. We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (4:1). We are no longer to walk in unbelief (4:17). We are to walk in love (5:1). And here in 5:8 are called to walk as children of light. We continue to imitate Christ, to walk as He walked and do what he did, by walking in light. Join us today as we study Ephesians 5:7 - 14 and we learn what it is to walk in light.

Walking in Love

June 16, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 5:1–6

This week, we continue with the metaphor of our walk, which refers to our manner of life. We are new creations if we are in Christ. The distinction between the old self and the new self is put under a microscope when it comes to love. According to our text, we are to walk in the love that saved us, not in the love that we find in the world. Join us today as we study Ephesians 5:1-6 and we talk through how we are to Walk in Love.

Grave Clothes & Wedding Garments

June 2, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 4:24–32

The contrast between the old self and the new self continues as we study Ephesians 4:25 - 32. Our former manner of life was corrupt through deceitful desires. But as new creations of God in Christ, we have been renewed in the spirit of our minds, recreated after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:22–24). In repentance, we put off, renounce, cast aside formerly held beliefs and behaviors, the grave clothes belonging to our former manner of life. In a move toward Christ, we put on and adopt new ones, the wedding garments belonging to our new selves. Our text tells us what we are to put away from our old manner of life and what to put on according to our new one.

The New Self

May 19, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 4:17–24

To be in Christ means a means to be a new creation. Old things have passed away. All things are new - a new heart, a new mind, a new will (2 Cor. 5:17). We have a new self. Not a better self. Not an improved self. A totally transformed and altogether new self. The new self, unlike the old self, has been recreated according to what God is, righteous and truly holy. What a staggering statement about the reality of salvation! Our new self shares in Christ's divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). We literally become the righteousness of God in Christ by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21). And the point Paul is making in Ephesians 4:17 - 24 is that our manner of life, our walk, should be in step with the reality of our new self. Join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we begin to take a look at The New Self.

Gracious Giftedness

May 12, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 4:7–16

Another way we walk in a manner worthy of our calling is to use the gifts we have been given. Our text assures us, each one of us has been graciously gifted by Christ Himself. And the gifts He has given to us are mutually beneficial to the Body of Christ. Since it is Mother's Day, I don't want you to be disappointed. We approach this text with the church in view, but these principles apply to the home and to moms. Christ does not waste His gifts. They are essential. He is not stingy with His gifts. They are given in full measure. He will never forsake those to whom He gives gifts. He continues to work in them and through them for the good of the church and even the home. Join us this today as we look at the Gracious Gifts we have been given by Christ from Ephesians 4:7-16.

Glorious Oneness

May 5, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 4:4–7

We get to dig a little deeper into the subject of unity this week as we study Ephesians 4:4-7. Last week, we defined unity as a common rallying point. Many parts come together, but not to become the same part. We are different by God’s design, but we share the same goal and the same purpose. When we stand firm with one mind, serving side by side for the faith of the gospel, the scales balance between what we believe and how we live (Philippians 1:27). Join us today as we look at the Glorious Oneness we enjoy in Christ.

Balanced Scales

April 28, 2024 • Ben Gibson • Ephesians 4:1–3

The tone of Ephesians changes in chapter 4. We are not leaving doctrine behind. It is simply time get practical. How we practice our faith must match the doctrines we hold true. In technical terms, orthopraxy must balance with orthodoxy. In the inspired words of the Apostle Paul, we must walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called (4:1). Today we will study Ephesians 4:1-3, and discuss how to balance the scales between life and doctrine.

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