Grace Messages

Last week, we covered the pinnacle of the WALK section of Ephesians – “Be filled BY the Spirit.” This command provides the means for obeying all the other commands found in this section. This morning, we will consider 5 manifestations or resultant characteristics when the Spirit of God is filling the believer with the life of Jesus Christ. REMEMBER, these are NOT commands for you TO DO to be fille...

We have been looking at the concept of “walking” or living the Christian life and this morning Paul is going to use a few more descriptions or illustrations to clarify and explain what that walk should look like. The approach he uses in this section stands out because of the rapid-fire format which is repeated three times – “not THIS, but THAT.” Paul is ramping us up to the pinnacle of the WALK se...

A sermon on love, as found in the scriptures.

We have just concluded four weeks of advent, focusing on the "Christmas Story". There can be a tendency to read it as just that - a "story", like Dicken's "Christmas Carol". But the prequel, the story leading up to the account of the birth of Christ, was written specifically to let us know that it is a factual, historical account. It was written to help us be certain of its' veracity. It was recor...

Christmas Eve Sermon from Pastor Carl Greene

We have been looking at the concept of “walking” or living the Christian life and this morning Paul is going to use another illustration to clarify and explain what that walk should look like. The illustration he uses is light vs. darkness. We are to walk in the light because we are children of the light.

We are in the WALK portion of Ephesians in chapter 4:1 where the word WALK is used 6X through mid-Chapter 5. In this section, the WALK of the believer is further CLARIFIED, EXPLAINED, and ILLUSTRATED in hopes that one or more of these emphases would click for us, and make it understandable. Last week, we saw that we are to walk in love and become imitators of God which is FITTING. This morning Pau...

We entered the WALK portion of the book of Ephesians in 4:1, and the word “walk” used 6 times from there until the middle part of Chapter 5. From 5:1 to the end of the book we have an additional 28 commands further clarifying, explaining, and illustrating the desired manner of life (i.e., walk) of the believer in Jesus Christ. Paul uses many different descriptions and illustrations hoping that one...

We have been looking at how NOT to live the Christian life and how TO live the Christian life and this morning we are going to continue to look at some practical, visible, and observable actions of a “Worthy Walk.” 11 Commands are used in the closing section of chapter 4 (verses 25-32) to describe what type of observable behavior should follow when the believer is walking worthy – when they are wa...

Of all of the many things in our lives that we can be thankful for, this morning we will see that the Spirit of God desires for us to be thankful for the Word of God. In fact, the text in Colossians 2:7 says that we should be “abounding in the faith with thanksgiving.” “Abounding” means to be in excess, to be overflowing. The Word of God gives the believer a divine perspective and the resources ne...

We have been looking at how NOT to live the Christian life and how TO live the Christian life and this morning we are going to look at some practical, visible, and observable actions of a “Worthy Walk.” 11 Commands are used in the closing section of chapter 4 (verses 25-32) to describe what type of observable behavior should follow when the believer is walking worthy – when they are walking in lin...

Last week we looked at “How NOT to Live the Christian Life,” and we considered a step-by-step explanation of how we sin. Verses 17-19 provided a technical break down of HOW we sin from start to finish. It all starts in the mind – it starts with WHAT we think about! So, in contrast to walking in the futility of our minds, we are to be proactively occupied with something else…or someone else!

If you’ve ever wondered WHY, as a believer, you struggle with sin OR if you’ve ever wondered WHY you struggle with the same kind of sin over and over again, this morning we are going to look at a step-by-step explanation. For you athletes out there, we are literally going to have a film session! This passage describes the downward spiral of sin, and gives a technical break down of HOW we sin from...

Last week, we continued looking at God’s Church Growth Program – specifically about the GOALS OF GOD in doing it the way He set it up to be done. This morning, we will see that In order for GOD’S GOALS to be realized, it is essential that each and every part does its share. This means that in God’s Church Growth Program, God has a part and individual believers have a part, but both must do their p...

Last week, we began looking at God’s Church Growth Program and this is something to be excited about – Paul definitely was! We considered NOT only spiritual gifts given to believers but GIFTED MEN given to the Church at large. Two of the GIFTED MEN had revelatory gifts (apostles and prophets) and the other two GIFTED MEN had equipping gifts. But WHY did Jesus do it this way? We are going to consid...

After explaining the UNITY believers possess IN Christ in verses 1-6, Paul begins to explain God’s method of working out this UNITY. His method, although seemingly counterintuitive, is through diversity of spiritual gifting. In diversity, God has put together a plan to “build His Church” and “fill the world with Jesus Christ.” It involves two MAIN components – (1) Individually gifted believers who...

Having spoken about the UNITY we possess as believers, Paul now explains God’s method of working out this UNITY – it is through diversity of spiritual gifting. This seems counterintuitive – diversity typically DIVIDES! So, although it seems counterintuitive and does not seem like it should work, it will, IF we walk ”worthy of our calling” – this is God’s plan and as we will see this morning, Jesus...

Verses 4-6 describe seven aspects of THE unity accomplished by the Spirit of God by uniting us IN Christ. The mention of “endeavoring” to keep the unity of the Spirit in verse 3 is what springboards Paul into listing these seven aspects of UNITY that every believer possesses. If God has taken these incredible steps to UNIFY us, shouldn’t this be of value to us as well? This section is the answer t...

To Vaccinate or not to Vaccinate? That is a question on many of our minds these days. This question engenders many strong emotions on both sides of the issue. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could turn in our Bible and read a verse about God’s view of the COVID vaccination debate? Unfortunately, that verse or passage DOES NOT EXIST! However, what does exist is God’s mind for us towards non-essential iss...

The SIT portion of Ephesians has come to a close at the end of chapter 3. There are 40 commands in the book of Ephesians, and only one of those was found in the first three chapters. We now enter the WALK portion of Ephesians, where the word “walk” is used 6 times through mid-Chapter 5. Additionally, the remaining 39 commands start in 4:25 and go through the end of the book. Many would say, “Good!...

Last week, we started Paul’s prayer and we looked at his first request and his first desired result. In today’s section we will consider his second request and his second desired result. It is somewhat ironic though, because Paul will pray for something that is unattainable by his own admission! The fact that it is unattainable, makes the value of what he is praying for incredibly precious - and e...

There are lots of common misconceptions about baptism. The mode (sprinkling, immersion, etc.), the reason for it (salvation, spiritual power, discipleship, etc.), and its overall need (must have it, do not need to do it at all). Join us as we consider the importance of baptism – what it DOES NOT do and what it DOES do.

In Paul’s excursus from verse 2, he has been explaining his role in communicating the MYSTERY and this week we are going to see one of God’s overarching GOALS for revealing the mystery – it puts His wisdom on display from many different angles. God’s wisdom is shown through HOW He executed the MYSTERY that He had planned before the foundation of the world, but had only revealed in Paul’s time.

In Paul’s excursus from verse 2, he has been explaining his role in communicating the MYSTERY and this week we are going to see one of God’s overarching GOALS for revealing the mystery – it puts His wisdom on display from many different angles. God’s wisdom is shown through HOW He executed the MYSTERY that He had planned before the foundation of the world, but had only revealed in Paul’s time.

Paul continues his excursus on the MYSTERY that he had been tasked to preach. He aptly summarizes the MYSTERY in three different UNION descriptions in verse 6. This MYSTERY in a nutshell is God’s grand plan to accomplish salvation (in all aspects) IN Christ, through a BRAND-NEW entity known as the church! Additionally, although Paul views himself as somewhat insignificant, he recognizes his valuab...