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Pastor Gary's current sermon series is on the book of Ephesians. His summary of the sermon series can be found below.
We hope that you can join us at 10AM each week for our Sunday worship service!
Sunday, June 27 – To God be the Glory!
Based on Ephesians 1:1-14
Note
the “blessings in Christ” (vs. 39)…How do they relate to Praising
God? This will be the focus of this first message in the
Ephesians series. I will also attempt point out what Paul says
here that should excite us about God’s relationship with us.
Knowing that God chose to redeem us, to adopt us should make a
difference in how we view ourselves and each other. The challenge
will then be placed before us as to what changes do I need to make in
my lifestyle to help me live more effectively for the praise of God’s
glory this week.
Sunday, July 4 – Fullness of Christ
Based on Ephesians 1:15-23
Note
what Paul prays for in verses 17-19. Paul prayed that people
would get to know God better; why do you suppose? This will be
the focus on this Sunday – our inheritance and spiritual power that we
have in Christ (vs. 18-19). Since so much power has been made
available to Christians; why do so many of us operate on just “one or
two cylinders”?
Sunday, July 11 – Raised up with Christ
Based on Ephesians 2:1-10
We
will look at what it means to be “dead in your sins” and what caused
this reality. Then we will move to how God took the initiative to
redeem us. This will naturally cause us to talk about the
relation between “wrath and love” (vs. 3-4) and between “grace and
works” (vs. 8-10). The challenge will be to have the congregation
assess whether they feel more dead or alive right now; and then to look
at what God has prepared for them to be and to do.
Sunday, July 18 – End of Hostility
Based on Ephesians 2:11-22
In
this section we will look at the division between the Jews and the
Gentiles that Christ with His sacrifice erased. The natural
extension to us is to look at who we do not have the right or privilege
to keep separate from us because they happen to be different or
sinful. Jesus destroyed the religious class system and so must
we. This reconciling work of Christ creates a new citizenship
requirement. The challenge is to reflect on what relationship a
person has in their life that needs to be addressed due to
discrimination, etc. Just because God’s grace is personal; that
doesn’t mean that I don’t need to look at social barriers that exist in
me that affect community in our church, and in my community. What
is my role in this process.
Sunday, July 25 – Mystery of Grace
Based on Ephesians 3:1-13
Paul’s
train of thought (vs. 1) is his status in Christ – he is a prisoner for
Christ’s sake. He is, while in prison, contemplating the “mystery
of Christ” and he is writing letters to challenge the church to
contemplate that as well. Note in verses 3-4, 6, and 9 Paul
reveals the mystery – what Jesus has done by reconciling the
Jews/Gentiles. In revealing this mystery what part does the
church have, does grace have and do we have in bringing about
reconciliation with the people around us? The challenge is the
same as Paul felt – an intense desire to make Christ known. What
is your intensity in making Christ known? What types of people
would feel awkward in our church? What do we need to do to break
down those barriers? Why is it important to us?
Sunday, August 1 – Power to Know Love
Based on Ephesians 3:14-21
This
message is about getting to know God better which in turn will help us
know and experience the Love of Christ more fully. We will look
at Paul’s underlying views of God. We will also assess the nature
of the spiritual power, love, and fullness for which he prays. I
will challenge all of us to express this prayer in our own words.
The question I will attempt to place in our minds through this passage
is: How do you expect to change as you become more confident of
Christ’s love?
Sunday, August 8
Joe Modica will be preaching
Sunday, August 15 – Working Out our Unity
Based on Ephesians 4:1-16
As we unwrap this passage we learn
of some of the problems facing the Ephesian church. They are facing a
crisis of unity; of maturation in Christ and in supporting the
leadership as they help the participants in the church be prepared for
works of service. It is this last aspect that seems to be the one that
is preventing most of all the unity and maturation of the believers.
This is the reason that their love for God has waned. The challenge in
this message is to have all of us evaluate the quality which we need to
develop in our lives. I will also challenge us to define what it means
to “speak the truth in love”. Some questions to be answered are: What
is the problem with living the Christian life apart from the church?
In what way do we need others? What strength can you give to others?
Sunday, August 22 – Children of Light
Based on Ephesians 4:17-5:21
In short, this is a contrast
between living as a follower of Christ or living as follower of the
world. The challenge is to recognize that our decision as to How We
Should Then Live affects all those around us; both Christ-followers and
those who are skeptics.
Sunday, August 29 – Relationships in Christ
Based on Ephesians 5:22-6:9
This message will show the husband
and wife who are Christ-followers can be an evangelistic tool for the
families around them. People watch how Christians treat each other as
well as the skeptics around them. The challenge will be to take our
Christ-honoring relationships into the community at large.
Sunday, September 5 – Armor of God
Based on Ephesians 6:10-24
Who are we ultimately “fighting”?
We are not fighting people! In this message we will break down the
armor of God and how it will help us in our ministry in our new
facility.
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