Practice Resurrection (Page 2)

While Paul calls us to remember he doesn’t leave us wallowing in self-pity. No, the gospel is better than that. We are embraced by the Father who loves us. I love how Eugene Peterson says this in the Message: It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company withRead More →

Paul writes this about the “saints” in Ephesus, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV) As he sought to shape the church in Ephesus, Paul took a moment to remind them who they were beforeRead More →

Why do Christians need to learn how to practice resurrection? Simple: We have been resurrected and it changes everything. Ephesians 2 opens this way, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV) We were dead in our sin. We were following the enemy. We were following the “course of this world.” We were spiritually dead. We were separated from God. Being dead meant that we could do nothing. WeRead More →

“Christians!” When you read that did the voice in your head sound like? My hunch is that it sounded a bit disgusted or sarcastic. Because when most Americans think about “Christians” it is not a very good image. “You’re a saint!” When you read that, I bet a different image comes to mind. For me, it’s my Mimi. She was amazing, kind, tough, and loving. When we think of saints, the image is typically positive. To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 1:1 ESV) In Ephesians, Paul addresses the letter to “the saints”. This address was inclusive toRead More →

In the opening of Ephesians, Paul describes for us his prayer for the church. He describes five gifts that he asks his heavenly Father for. Those gifts though are supported by four important details… …according to the working of his great might… (Ephesians 1:19 ESV) He doesn’t ask for God to do something out of the blue. He asks from an intimate knowledge of the “great might” that the Father has. This great might has been on display not in theories or ideas, but in practical, right here and right now moments. In Ephesians 1:20 Paul says this is the great might, “that he worked in ChristRead More →

Prayer is the air we breathe as Christians. For Paul, it was an ongoing conversation with his heavenly Father. He never ceased. What did he pray for? In the opening of Ephesians, he gives us a glimpse into his prayer for the young church. He prayed for God the Father to give them gifts… I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you… (Eph 1:16-17a, ESV) What gifts did he ask for God to give? First, he asked for the church to receive “the SpiritRead More →

After Paul’s explosion of verbs in the opening verses of Ephesians he writes, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (Ephesians 1:16 ESV) What follows is Paul’s description of his prayer for the “saints who are in Ephesus.” But don’t miss what he says about his prayer for the Ephesians, “I do not cease…“ Prayer for Paul is like water to the fish. He simply lives in it. He has an ongoing conversation with the Father. It is an intimacy that is real and penetrates every aspect of his life. Paul was a busy guy. He wrote 2/3Read More →

The letter to the church at Ephesus was written to a community of Christ followers by Paul. Paul was writing to shape their identities in the gospel. He was so excited about writing to them about Jesus that he started his letter with a single, huge, sentence that contains seven verbs: blessed,chose, destined, bestowed, lavished, made known, and gather up. …as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:10) “Gather up” is the seventh and final verb of the “rocket verbs” in the opening chapter of Ephesians. This verb wrapsRead More →

The letter to the church at Ephesus was written to a community of Christ followers by Paul. Paul was writing to shape their identities in the gospel. He was so excited about writing to them about Jesus that he started his letter with a single, huge, sentence that contains seven verbs: blessed,chose, destined, bestowed, lavished, made known, and gather up. …making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (Ephesians 1:9 ESV) Have you felt like you were ever in the dark? As though you were on the outside looking in? Maybe it was whenRead More →

The letter to the church at Ephesus was written to a community of Christ followers by Paul. Paul was writing to shape their identities in the gospel. He was so excited about writing to them about Jesus that he started his letter with a single, huge, sentence that contains seven verbs: blessed,chose, destined, bestowed, lavished, made known, and gather up. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight… (Ephesians 1:7-8 ESV) The grace that frees us in Christ also redeems us. God doesn’tRead More →