Jesus Has Broken Down the Barriers - Ephesians 2:11-16
Who are you? How do you identify yourself? These questions are critical to answer, especially in a world where identity politics is being played by every side to gain power. In Ephesians 2:11-16, the Apostle Paul wrote to a church struggling to come together because of their very different backgrounds. Thankfully, as believers in Christ, we have an identity that is greater than our race, gender, job or anything else that we do or look like. It is an identity rooted in who we are in Jesus and who Jesus is in us. Listen as Ross applies this 1st century passage in a 21st century world.
Flesh-Aware
One of the many problems for Christians over the centuries has been the answer to this question: If I am made righteous, why do I struggle with sin? The solution for centuries has been to work harder at not struggling, yet that has proven itself to be a problem too. If we dig deeper into the Biblical understanding of sin and its origins, we'll find the problem is in us but not of us.
Created for Good - Ephesians 2:10
We are God’s ‘workmanship’ and are created for good. Both for good works and for the good that our Father has planned for us. Join Ross as he shares from Ephesians 2:10 the invitation that Jesus offers us every day.
Law vs. Grace - Ephesians 2:8-9
Now that we are saved by grace, don’t we need to keep the Law in order for God to be pleased with us and earn His blessing? That kind of misguided thinking is a result of not understanding the nature of God’s grace and the effect of the Law on sin. Listen as Ross Gilbert explains what it means to live under a Law system mentality and why it is doomed to fail as he teaches from Ephesians 2:8-9.
When God Hurts You
In today's sermon, we spend time studying the work of a poet struggling to cope in the midst of sweeping catastrophe. The artist runs unflinchingly through some of the most painful and difficult emotions humanity can experience: utter loss. Thorough devastation. Abject loneliness. Within this painful, beautiful piece of art, God reveals His faithfulness and goodness to us - and invites us to take one more step of trust.
Saved by Grace - Ephesians 2:8-9
We don’t intend to fail. We want to make good choices and do things well. But we don’t always. We fail, make mistakes, make bad choices. And our enemy shames us into thinking that God is disappointed in us and that we better try harder or else. But that is not what one of the most famous passages on the entire New Testament teaches. Ephesians 2:8-9 is our answer to all the enemy throws at us - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Listen and embrace the freedom that Father’s grace will bring to you.
Loved to be loved - Ephesians 2:7
Judgement day. Those two words probably leave you feeling like you have an exam in biochemistry that you haven’t studied for. Fear. Dread. Guilt. Shame. The prospect of facing a judgement day has often been used to scare people into altering their behaviour. But, as believers in Jesus, judgement day is not a day that we should fear. Instead, it’s a day where we will celebrate all that God has done through each of us. For that is the heart of God. Not to punish, but loving us, in order to love us more. Listen as Ross explains the kinds of judgements coming and the goal of God in saving us as he teaches from Ephesians 2:7.
Emotions and Living Above the Line - Ephesians 2:5-6
It can be very hard to live emotionally open because we are often afraid if you knew what was going on inside of me. If I shared my feelings and told you about myself, what will you think? What will you do? Will you accept me? Will you reject me?
The truth from Ephesians 2:5-6 and our identity in Christ means that I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. It means that I am fully known and fearlessly loved. It means I am completely secure and accepted in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I am free to experience my emotions and live above the line.
You're invited
Evangelism can be a dirty word. We often fear it because of the context by which it was introduced to us. We were either told we had to do for Christian merit or we were told that it was set apart only for great 'evangelists.' This talk is a bedrock conversation about the whys and hows of evangelism and how it speaks to our new covenant hearts.
But God - Ephesians 2:3-6
But God. Maybe the two greatest words in the English language. We were born experiencing death, making a mess of ourselves and the world around us. But God. God’s rich mercy and great love caused Him to rescue us and save us from our mess, but also from ourselves. Listen as Ross teaches from Ephesians 2:3-6, showing us the condition of man before God, and the remarkable change that God has made in our lives.