Summit Ridge Church

During his life on earth, Jesus used shepherd imagery over and over and it is one of the most common images of the Bible. But who were the shepherds of Bethlehem? What did they experience and what can we learn from them that might change our hearts and lives even today. And why did God choose them to be the first to hear the good news of his birth? This message looks at the biblical theology of shepherds throughout the Scriptures to reveal some of God's amazing plan for His people as revealed throughout history.

The final words in Paul's letter to the Ephesian church can too easily be dismissed as "extra" or irrelevant for today's modern reader. However, God's word always has something for us and, in this case, the commendation of a faith brother in Christ which models for us good Christian character. We also see Paul's benediction for the church that points us to true peace, love, faith and grace found in Jesus.

As we near the conclusion of our sermon series in Ephesians, we see how the Apostle Paul placed a high priority on prayer, especially as a personal means of communing with the Lord in the midst of certain spiritual warfare. Toward the end of this sixth chapter, he calls the church to be alert to the realities of spiritual warfare and to engage it in prayer for ourselves and for one another. Prayer is not just a nicety, but a necessity for life in the Spirit.

This passage of Scripture instructs the church on how we should live out our faith together, especially in the face of challenges and evil in the world. Here, the Apostle Paul uses the analogy of Roman armor to remind us of our salvation, justification and righteousness in Christ to motivate us to live according to God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

It's easy for followers of Christ to become lazy and apathetic toward spiritual matters, especially as sin is allowed to infiltrate our mind and body. Ephesians 6:10-13 teaches us that we are not to become complacent to the spiritual battles happening in and around us. Rather, we are to be alert and join together in resisting evil as the Lord strengthens us day by day.

The Scriptures have a lot to say concerning how Jesus' followers are to live out their faith, whether it be in one's marriage, family or workplace. In this message, we're looking specifically at the employee/employer relationship which is akin to the master/slave relationship in the early church. Using the case study of a man named Jason, we see the challenges of following Christ in the workplace and how one might respond by faith, and how we might give sound counsel to those (ourselves?) who face similar circumstances.

As we open this final chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul continues his thoughts from chapter 5 on how to live out the gospel, now turning his attention toward instructing children and parents in the church. What does it look like for children and parents to walk wisely in accordance with the will of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit? Here, we see real practical examples of how that is to be lived out in the real world.

In our continuing series through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we are looking at the biblical view of marriage and, in this message, at the husband's role in particular. Many of us are familiar with the saying that husbands are to "love their wives as Christ loved the church." But what does that really mean and what does that look like? How can husbands take on a role that seems so weighty and grand? This passage from Ephesians 5 helps us in our understanding and application of this great truth.

The Psalms are a welcoming place to go with our strong feelings. Psalm 77 can help us to build confidence in God and provide peace when everything around us seems to be falling apart. It begins by praying loudly and lifting hands, and then seeing that God is faithful, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and has not abandoned His promises to redeem and love.

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah tells the story of a remarkable hero of the faith who lived in an amazing era, when the Israelites were returning from exile and rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah's story is especially encouraging when we stop to realize how faithful he was in the face of so many potentially discouraging situations. It is even more amazing when we see the image of Christ in him and how his life pointed people to Messiah, the one who gives hope eternal to those who trust in Jesus.

In Biblical terms, what does the concept of "submission" entail for a wife in marriage? What should submission NOT look like in marriage? Here, in Ephesians 5, Paul gives us wisdom in knowing what God-honoring relationships should look like in the context of marriage and how husbands and wives should relate to one another in the love of Christ.

In this retelling of Hagar's story from the book of Genesis, pastor Jeremy digs into the practical ramifications that included many aspects we might not immediately consider upon a first reading. The sins of Abraham and Sarai/Sarah along with the suffering of Hagar are worth considering more closely, especially when we realize that the Lord was using their circumstances to write his story of redemptive salvation. "Resurrection only comes after death" and it is from the descendant of Abraham, Jesus, that the Lord would provide ultimate redemption for those who believe.

Because of who God is and what he has done, what does it look like to live out our Christian lives in real time? This passage in Ephesians 5 reminds us that our relationship with God matters. As we are filled more and more by the power and presence of the Spirit of Jesus, and as we walk with the Lord daily, our spiritual life with God does not remain on the fringe of life, but in the center of our life. Walking closely with God brings about wise living filled with goodness, righteousness, truth, care for others and a worshipful heart.

How can we remind ourselves of God's love when faced with temptations and challenges? Ephesians 5 teaches us that having a good moral life is not the path to holiness. Rather, we are to flee from sexual immorality, greed and sins of the tongue because Christ gave himself to us out of love. Our response to his sacrifice should be a changed and holy life, rooted in love, knowing that God's love is so much greater than we can comprehend.

How can the concept of 'putting off' and 'putting on' discussed in Ephesians be practically applied in your daily life as a believer? Reflecting on anger, how can you cultivate righteous anger in response to injustices while avoiding sinful expressions of anger? Considering the the impact of words on the heart, how can you engage in regular self-reflection and confession to ensure your words align with God's standards? Here, in this passage of Ephesians 4, Paul addresses these issues in order that we, as believers, might not grieve the Holy Spirit.

There are several adjoining themes of the Lord's personal and powerful lovingkindness and wisdom found in Psalm 34. Blessing, protection, salvation and redemption can be found in Him for those who fear Him. We worship "YAHWEH" for He is our good God who comes near and He gives life to the wise. Wisdom comes through repentance, turning from evil and seeking the Lord; redemption to those who take refuge in Him.

What is the trajectory of your spiritual life? Are you following the ways of the world or the path that Jesus would define for you? Are you truly a believer in Christ? If so, does your life demonstrate the work of the Holy Spirit? Our text in Ephesians today argues that followers of Christ will live differently as a result of walking with Jesus.

Sometimes, we need to go back to basics, especially when we consider how the church is gifted to function in unity. The middle of Ephesians, chapter 4, calls the church to consider things like, "What is church?" or "What is the purpose of church?" or "What is God's intent for the church?" and "When they gather, what should be their drive and focus?" Unity, spiritual growth and the equipping of the saints are indicators of a healthy church.

As we continue our study of Ephesians, we now transition into the second half of Paul's letter. Whereas chapters 1-3 laid out the foundation of our faith, chapters 4-6 encourage us how to live that out in a culture that is hostile toward Christ and his followers. This first part of chapter 3 calls its hearers to humility, gentleness, patience, love and unity among all believers.

How big is your God? What about when it comes to prayer specifically? In this section of Ephesians, we learn of Paul's prayers for the church. Here, he prays for them to be strengthened by God's power and to understand the immensity of Christ's love. And also that they would be filled with God's fullness. What if we prayed like this?

The blessings and grace of God, and the benefits of following Christ, were not only for the Jews of Paul's day, but also for the Gentiles of Ephesus to whom Paul wrote this letter. Here, Paul emphasized that the cost of following Christ is worth any suffering our hardships we may experience because the Lord, through Christ, has revealed His plan of salvation (and the riches of His grace associated with it) to those who place their faith in Him for salvation.

As believers in Jesus Christ, how do we most identify with God? Do we look at ourselves as mainly a saint, or sufferer, or sinner? Is our view of ourselves and others around us mostly defined by one of these words or as a combination of them held in balance. Here, Pastor Jeremy explores the meaning of these terms and how our view of them affects our lives.

Continuing from his previous message, Pastor John Flint from Summit Henderson continues teaching on Christ, our Living Hope, from the book of 1st Peter. Here we dive into chapter 1, verses 6 and 7, where we see three clear lessons: 1) Rejoicing is rooted in Christ, 2) Faith is refined through trials, and 3) A refined faith is a praiseworthy faith.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is loaded with theology but learning from it was never meant to be just an academic exercise. It is intended to affect our lives. Whereas chapter 1, verses 1-10, deals with the reality of a holy God breaking down the wall of separation and alienation between unbelievers and Himself, verses 11-22 shift to how the Lord breaks down the barriers and walls of division that exist among believers, bringing peace to both relationships.

If you want to understand what a Christian is, this is a great passage to go to. These verses describe what salvation for Christians is. Boiled down to its essential message, Ephesians 1 states that Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. And the problem most of the time is... that we don't like to admit that we are ultimately that needy.

There is no shortage with God. He is rich in mercy toward everyone who is in Christ. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead physically, so has the Lord made spiritually dead people alive; saved by grace and raised with Christ in the heavenly realms. What is true of Him is true of us resulting in great honor and confidence for those who are in Him.

What is the gospel? Is my sin really that bad? Does it even matter? The second chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians begins by declaring the truth and reality of our sinful nature. Having a clear understanding of our "Total Depravity" before God best prepares us to accept that we are hopeless and helpless without His intervention in our lives.

Peter's letter to the church was applicable to the early church as well as to the church today. Whether we experience a high level of persecution like the early church or the struggle of today's life experiences, the message of Jesus being our Living Hope applies to every generation and grounds us in our faith.