Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:1-4 You can’t sequester your beliefs when you enter the public sphere to make decisions as a Christian. But we need to start “local” by looking into what the Gospel says about our most fundamental relationships, that between parents and children. Paul has wisdom to spare in these (oddly) short verses. Sermon Points: The Simplicity of the Commands The Wisdom in the Commands The Motivation in the Commands

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 5:22-33 Christians have lived through their fair share of mania regarding cultural discussions around the topic of gender roles. But have we always lived up to Paul’s ideal he sets forth in Ephesians 5? Probably not. When we see God’s complementary design for men and women, our marriages can flourish again. Sermon Points: The Role of the Church: Wives The Role of the Head of the Church: Husbands The Big Finale: Profound Union

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 5:22-33 Marriage can be so hard. Paul turns to the topic of marriage as the culmination of a letter dedicated to the idea that God was repairing the world by uniting all things in Christ. Our marriages are intended to be pictures of that union. When we use marriage for what it was intended, we experience flourishing. Sermon Points: Marriage is a picture of God’s Grand Plan Marriage is an antidote for human selfishness Marriage is a sign of how Jesus heals us

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 5:1-20 Paul continues to focus on the new life the Lord brings by the Spirit dwelling in His people. The new life is marked by love, which practically changes our relationship with money, sex, and alcohol. The Scriptures press in on these issues, not to shame us, but to bring them to light for healing and transformation. Sermon Points: Walking Opposed to Love in Darkness (vv. 3-8) Walking in Love as Light (vv. 8-20)

Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:1-8 Sermon Points: The Details of the Conflict The Heart of the Conflict The Application of the Conflict

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:17-32 How does change happen in the Christian Life? Paul in Ephesians 4 says it involves a putting off and a putting on. But what’s so encouraging is that the life you are putting on actually is the life that fits the person who is united to Christ. It’s a life of truth, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. Sermon Points: The Old Self (vv.17-22) The New Self (vv. 23-32)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:1-16 You don’t have to be a philosophy major to understand how complicated the problem of the “one and the many” is for even daily life. But Paul launches straight into the topic of Christian unity in Ephesians 4, making it a top priority for God’s people to work towards if we hope to be a maturing church. Sermon Points: Understand Unity Embrace Diversity Grow Into Maturity

Scripture Reference: Psalm 46:1-11 When life gets turned upside down, we have a God who is a mighty refuge. In the midst of crisis we can rely on a strong God because He became weak and a present God because He was forsaken. Sermon Points: A Perilous World A Powerful God A Present God

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3:14-21 What do you think the Apostle Paul would pray if you could hear him offer a prayer for you? The end of Ephesians 3 is just that. What he gives us, therefore, is the idealized version of how every Christian should live their lives, especially as it pertains to how love transforms our “inner world.” Sermon Points: Have Strength Know Love Be FullBowing The Knee

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3:1-13 Add the wonder of Paul’s description of the church in God’s eternal plan together with the immensity of the blessings afforded to those “in Christ,” and Paul realizes that he has something that people need to know. The first half of Ephesians 3 is highly instructive of an evangelism that isn’t packaged but full of joy. Sermon Points: Mission Motivation Humble Confidence Corporate Thinking Captivated Imagination

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 2:11-22 Sermon Points: Hostility Remembered (vv. 11-12, 14) Hostility Killed (vv. 13-16) Hostility Transformed (vv. 17-22)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 2:1-10 Having set out that heaven and earth will be reunited through God’s work through the church, Paul turns to how the world will be healed in YOU, a Christian. Turns out, he has to animate the “bad news” of the Gospel before we can really understand the “good news” of his grace, to be in union with Christ! Sermon Points: Man is Dead God is Gracious