This week our young people are going to camp at Lake Texoma. Obviously, we will be praying for them and the adults leading and serving them. But Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 gives us some great things to ask God for.
Speaking the Truth in Love
Speaking the Truth in Love
Sermons on Ephesians
Ephesians 3 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…
We generally think of “ministry” in terms of paid church servants or church programs. But isn’t everyone expected to have a ministry (Eph. 4:12)?
American men seem to think that Christian faith is for women and sissies. Where does this misconception come from? It doesn’t come from the Bible. A true Christian man is a warrior (Eph. 6:10-17).
The Bible teaches both slaves and masters to remember the Master in heaven (Eph. 6:5-9). The basic principles implied in this teaching also apply to workers and employers in a free society.
Roman society permitted men to treat their sons and daughters abominably. A father’s power over his children was legally absolute. But the apostle Paul urged Christian fathers to treat their children kindly and considerately (Eph. 6:4).
The Lord teaches children to obey and honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). Why? Isn’t it true that moms and dads sometimes make foolish mistakes?
“Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18) is a passive command. We can’t fill ourselves with the Spirit. We don’t control God. We can give him more room in our hearts, though. But how?
Americans who think themselves sophisticated tend to believe that gray is the best moral color. Question everything. Reject any moral principle that seems old-fashioned or inconvenient. But the Bible addresses moral issues in sharply contrasting terms (Eph. 5:3-14).
Paul urges the church to put off the old nature and “put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). But what do real “righteousness and holiness” look like?