Podcasts about ephesian

In his first sermon as senior pastor, Micah Stephens preaches from Acts 20, honoring Pastor Rob McCoy's legacy while challenging the church to keep God's whole counsel. Reflecting on the Fourth of July and the gala celebrating Pastor Rob's 25 years, Pastor Micah draws parallels with Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders, emphasizing humility, unwavering truth, and obedience to God's Word. He connects America's founding principles to biblical virtues, urging believers to restrain evil through God's law to maintain liberty. Addressing local issues like the Ventura Care Act and global concerns like the 27 missing Christian girls, he calls for bold proclamation of repentance and faith, regardless of cost, to transform culture and secure an eternal inheritance for the next generation.Verse References: Acts 20 verses 17–27, Joshua 1 verse 9, Psalm 84 verse 10, 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1, 1 Timothy 4 verse 12, Proverbs 9 verses 8–9, James 4 verse 17, Galatians 2 verse 20, Mark 8 verses 36–37, Hebrews 13 verse 17, Psalm 119 verse 45, Acts 18 verses 24–26, Acts 16 verse 6Make sure you subscribe to this channel and follow us on all our platforms to always stay up to date with our latest content!And you can always head over to our website for any general information!https://godspeak.comPrayer/NeedsIf you have any needs, or have a willingness to be used to meet various need in the body, please email info@godspeak.com. Also, let us know if you need prayer for anything.Giving is part of our worship time, and in this season, the easiest way to do that is online. If you go to our website, godspeak.com, you will see the "Give" tab in the top right corner. Or you can simply click this link https://pushpay.com/g/godspeakAny questions?Please feel free to email us, comment here, or DM us on Instagram any questions that you may have.Please Subscribe to this channel and turn on your notifications to be notified when our Livestreams start so you don't miss out! We hope you are blessed by the service!-The Godspeak Team

Kyle Kauffman | Jun 29 2025 The Poet C.T. Studd once famously said, “Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.” No one sets out to waste their lives. And yet there are all sorts of ways we can end up wasting our them. We all want to spend our lives well. But sometimes we never even slow down to ask, What does a life well spent look like? In Acts 20, we get Paul's farewell speech to leaders of the Ephesian church. As we listen in to these passionate last words of Paul to this small group of men, we get a glimpse of what a life spent well looks like. We see what the greatest passion of Paul's life was and how that got worked out into the ways he lived. And we find direction for what it means to spend our lives well rather than wasting them.

“But I do not count my life of any value, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” The Apostle Paul said those words to the Ephesian elders in the book of Acts, chapter twenty. It was a farewell address, as many of those present would never see him again. Today, Ron takes us to some of Paul's final words as he continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Acts 20:17-24 - Paul's Example of Unwavering Dedication The passage focuses on Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders. Paul reflects on his ministry in Ephesus, emphasizing his dedication and humility. He anticipates future hardships in Jerusalem, yet remains resolute in his mission. Paul's Resolve: "None of These Things Move Me" Paul states, "but none of these things move me," referring to impending hardships. He acknowledges his suffering and tears, but emphasizes that these do not deter him from his purpose. Paul's example is presented as a challenge to the audience to emulate his unwavering commitment. "I am in no way even close to where the Apostle Paul is. I haven't been through. I haven't suffered." "Everywhere I went, they were trying to get me. Everywhere I went, there was a price on my head. And he said, get none of that, move me." Identifying What Truly Moves Us The message explores the idea that some are easily swayed by minor inconveniences. Pastor Tommy contrasts this with Paul's steadfastness in the face of significant adversity. Pastor Tommy admits to not being at Paul's level of spiritual maturity. "I wish that stuff didn't matter to me. I do. I wish that stuff didn't matter to me. I wish the many tears and the many temptations and the things that I do go through, I wish that didn't move me as they do." Two Key Motivators for Paul Two factors that motivated Paul: Finishing his course with joy: Paul's course was set by God. He sought joy in fulfilling God's plan, despite potential afflictions. Obedience to God brings joy, even amidst worldly challenges. "What moves me is the knowledge that there is joy in the course that is set for me. That even though I go down in the spirit of the Jerusalem... that don't bother me. What I'm looking for is the joy in my course as I finish it for God. That moves me he said." Fulfilling his ministry: Paul's ministry was received from the Lord Jesus. His ministry was "to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Sharing the gospel and God's grace should motivate believers to persevere. "The same one that set my course is the same one that gave me my ministry... which I have received of the Lord Jesus." The Importance of Recognizing and Embracing One's Course The message emphasizes the importance of recognizing that God has a plan for each person. This plan may not be easy, but it is good and provides strength for the journey. Pastor Tommy references the image of two footprints, symbolizing God's presence and guidance. "He made a good course, amen. And he made a strength in you that you can go the distance. He said, I'll go with you." The Call to Self-Examination and Repentance The message concludes with a call to self-examination. Pastor Tommy encourages listeners to identify what truly moves them and to align their priorities with God's will. There is a need to repent from being moved by the wrong things and to seek God's help in being moved by what matters eternally. "Quit worrying about so much of the stuff that's here. Set our affections on things that are coming. That's what Paul was looking at. I want to finish my course with joy. That moves me. My ministry that God has given me. He said that moves me."

Send us a textThe last chapter of this letter to the Ephesian believers, deals with more relationships and how believers are to behave also understanding our protection through spiritual warfare.  Paul then signs off this letter to a church very dear to him that would be a beacon of hope for many years.  

During the preaching, Watersprings Church focused on Paul's heartfelt farewell to the Ephesian elders, found in Acts 20:22-38. In this profoundly personal and decisive moment, Paul reflects on his ministry, warns of future challenges, and charges the leaders to remain faithful to their calling.Paul, bound by the Spirit and aware of the trials awaiting him in Jerusalem, shows unwavering resolve to complete his mission with joy. His message emphasizes living with an eternal perspective, valuing the gospel over personal comfort, and finishing well the race God has set before us.He reminds the elders of his faithful teaching, declaring the “whole counsel of God,” and urges them to protect the church from both external attacks and internal corruption. Paul warns of "savage wolves" who distort the truth and divide the flock, underscoring the need for bold, truth-grounded leadership.At the heart of his charge is a call to shepherd the church with humility, integrity, and sacrifice, just as Christ purchased it with His blood. Paul also emphasizes the importance of generosity, selfless service, and grounding ministry in the Word of God, rather than pursuing material gain.The passage closes with an emotional prayer and tearful farewell, a reflection of Paul's deep love for the church. His final encouragement is a reminder for all believers: to keep the gospel central, protect the unity of the church, and advance God's kingdom with unwavering faith and grace.Key Themes:Finish your race with joy and purpose.Preach the full truth of God's Word.Guard the church against deception and division.Lead with humility, not for personal gain.Love God, love the church, love others—now.This is a timeless call for all Christians, especially leaders, to stay faithful, courageous, and focused on what truly matters: glorifying God and advancing His kingdom.

Shepherding God's Flock Preacher: Andy Williams Date: 22⧸06⧸2025 Series: To The Ends of the Earth Reading: Acts 20:13-38 What makes parting words so powerful? When Paul knew he'd never see the Ephesian elders again, he shared what truly mattered - not polished speeches, but tears, toil, and the message of grace. This sermon explores how we're all called to shepherd someone in God's precious flock, bought with Christ's own blood.

Deep, deep down, where most men don't talk about, almost every dad wants to be the best dad he can be.  Of course, there are always exceptions in a broken world, but for the most part, guys just want to be the best they can in this area.  So, where should they look for an example?  Some have dads themselves who are worthy to model.  Others have friends, co-workers, relatives, and church leaders.  But we all have Jesus.  That was Paul's point to his Ephesian friends.  Look to Jesus, guys, he knows better than anyone how to be the head. Follow us for more weekly messages from Eastside pastors! 

Text: Prov 25:25-26 ESV25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.-Prov 25:25-26 ESV THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS During the ancient times, people had to wait long hours, days, or even years to hear answers to their questions. Messages are sent by messengers by foot or horses. That was how fast messages travel. The relief of hearing good news, after an extended period of waiting and wondering, is compared to how cool water refreshes when one is thirsty in the desert. Today, it is quite different. Communication travels in a blink of an eye.In the New Testament, missionaries like Paul had been overjoyed when messengers returned with good news from churches at far places. One example is Paul sending Tychicus to Ephesus so they could know how Paul and his companions were "and that he may encourage the hearts [of the Ephesian's believers]" (Eph 6:21–22). He also planned to send Timothy to Philippi to collect good news about the believers. Timothy would return to Paul and the news would encourage Paul (Phil 2:19–23). In the meantime, he sent Epaphroditus to the Philippians, because Epaphroditus had been longing for them and was distressed because the Philippians had heard he was ill (Phil 2:25–26, 28).Indeed, a drink of pure water from a spring or fountain is refreshing. But, if the waters are clogged with dirt, is it drinkable? It definitely would disappoint someone who came there looking to satisfy his thirst.The moment the spring is full of mud or pollution the water source is not potable anymore. Solomon compares this to a righteous person who shrinks in the face of evil. In that moment, the righteous person fails to meet expectations. It's disappointing and unfortunate. A sinning believer muddies his testimony and disappoints anyone who looks to him for an example of righteousness. It is quite sad when a believer falls into sin before the eyes of the wicked, is it not? In modern times, the fall of a few well-known pastors and evangelists into the sin of adultery has sullied their testimony in the eyes of countless unbelievers. And, as a consequence, it damaged the church's credibility or witness.-------------------------Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

When the fire fell in Ephesus, everything changed. In this powerful message, Pastor Corey Erman dives into the Ephesian Revival—a move of God that shook culture, crushed idols, and turned a whole city toward Jesus. Get ready for the same Holy Ghost power to shake your world today! “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” – Acts 19:20To support this ministry and help us reach the nations with revival visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RiverWPB.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or text GIVE and any amount to (855) 968-3708.

Jesus commends the spiritual leader here for exposing liars.  We're in Revelation chapter 2--Join us!

The core concept of divine integration starts with recognizing that the human mind is the main connection between spiritual reality and human experience. Paul's message to the Ephesian church was not simply advice for better thinking; it was a profound insight into how spiritual life functions within our human context. The apostle pointed out a significant difference between the thought processes of non-believers marked by futility, a lack of understanding, and a separation from God's life and the transformed thinking that defines genuine Christian experience. This disconnection from divine life, as Paul clarifies, is not due to God's reluctance to engage with humanity, but rather to a fundamental mismatch between unregenerate thought patterns and divine truth. The human mind, when operating in its unregulated state, resembles an outdated operating system trying to run advanced modern software. This inevitably leads to system failure, which is evident in spiritual disconnection and dysfunction.When our thought patterns remain unrenewed and unchanged, as Paul describes the mindset of the Gentiles as in Ephesus as “futility”." This creates a barrier that hinders the smooth flow of divine life. This illustration is similar to having access to pure, clear water, but directing it through dirty pipes—no matter how pure the source may be, the water will always be contaminated and unfit for consumption

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

In this sermon from Ephesians 3, Pastor Chris explores Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church, focusing on two main aspects: God's power through the Holy Spirit and His unfailing love. Dr. Osborne explains how Paul prays for believers to be strengthened by God's miracle-working power to overcome life's obstacles, and for Christ to fully dwell in every aspect of their lives, not just partially. Key Verses Ephesians 3:14-17 2 Corinthians 4:9 Acts 16:31

When our relationship with God shifts from love to obligation, we risk becoming like the Ephesian church - doing all the right things but abandoning our first love. Jesus addressed this in Revelation, warning both the Ephesians who maintained sound doctrine but lost their passion, and the Laodiceans who became self-sufficient and lukewarm. The danger is real - even churches founded by apostles could lose their fervor within a generation. To rekindle our first love, we must remember where we've fallen from, repent of lukewarm attitudes, and return Christ to the center of our lives rather than treating Him as merely a component of our existence.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 20 Paul continues his journey, traveling through Macedonia and Greece and encouraging the believers. He stops in Troas, where the Christians “break bread," and he preaches until midnight. During his sermon, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep, tumbles out of the window, and dies. Paul revives him, demonstrating incredible power from God. Later, Paul meets with the elders from Ephesus in Miletus for an emotional farewell. He reflects on his ministry, emphasizing his faithfulness in proclaiming the gospel despite facing trials. He warns them to guard their flock against false teachers and to care for the church, which was purchased with Christ's blood. Paul's heartfelt goodbye includes prayers and tears as he commends them to the word of God's grace and encourages them to actively help the weak among them. This chapter's use of "we” pronouns suggests that the author, Luke, accompanies Paul on this journey, adding credibility to the book of Acts. Luke documents a Sunday gathering, the purpose of which was to gather together to "break bread.” This example implies a Sunday observance of the Lord's Supper, which we still honor today. Preaching until midnight is less common now, as it can lead to dangerous sleep incidents! Eutychus's revival after falling serves as a testament to God's mercy and power. Paul's meeting with the Ephesian elders establishes another model for churches today: elders within local congregations attending to the spiritual needs of their flock. Elders are to be students of the word and supporters of the weak among them.  Benevolent Father, we praise You for the abundant gifts of grace provided through Your Son. We thank You for the perfect and indestructible word that reveals so many beautiful truths to us. We pray for wisdom in studying the word and seeking guidance on how to honor You. May we draw from Acts 20 the importance of gathering on Sundays to partake of the Lord's Supper together. Instill in our hearts a yearning for fellowship. Father, please bless our local churches with devoted elders. Work on all our hearts, shaping us to love the flock and serve in Jesus' honor.  Thought Questions: -       Disciples planned to meet to break bread and study. How important is that example in how you build your weekly schedule around Jesus? -       Paul shared his personal resolve before instructing elders. How important is your own walk of faith as you hope to then teach others? -       The elders were told to stay alert, study well, and help the weak among them. How can you help the local eldership accomplish these goals?

Did a little more than the first half of the program on Acts 20 and Paul's words to the Ephesian elders asking if it is really so shocking that elders today need to be concerned about what is coming into the fellowship through social media sources. Then, we started reading some of Calvin's finest work in the opening of the Institutes and his vital discussion of the knowledge of God and the knowledge of man.

Last fall, I preached a series of sermons on the armor of God as part of a series in the epistle to the Ephesians. Today, I am not preaching any of those sermons. I am preaching this sermon on a familiar passage out of a sense of urgency for all of us (me included). It might be because we are honoring six of our own from Meadowbrooke Church who have graduated from High School. It may also be because of multiple examples we are given in the Bible of individuals who started well, but whose lives ended poorly; people like Solomon, Uzziah, Judas, and the two men Paul lists in 1 Timothy (Hymenaeus and Alexander) who did not do the things Paul urged Timothy to do, which was to, ...fight the good fight, keep the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith (1 Tim. 1:1819). Then there are the repeated admonitions throughout the New Testament; permit me to share some of those with you this morning: Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (Matt. 24:42) Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13) For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. (Heb. 2:1) So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15-16) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. (1 Pet. 5:8-9) Aside from the multiple examples of the moral failure of key individuals in the Bible who started off strong spiritually and then ended badly, and the many appeals throughout the New Testament to be careful, to pay attention, to be alert, and to be sober minded. Over the past 18 years and nearly 180 hours I have spent in the book of Revelation, the thing I have seen and keep seeing is the repeated appeal throughout the book to persevere until the end: Be faithful until death... (Rev. 2:10) The one who overcomes, and keeps My deeds until the end... (2:26) Hold firmly to what you have... (3:11) The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Rev. 21:7) The question is how do you finish well, stay alert, and endure until the end? I believe Ephesians 6:10-18 provides us with that answer. The Enemy is Demonic and Real (v. 12) We are specifically told that the struggle we face is both demonic and real. We are told in Ephesians 6:10, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. The reason we are told to be strong in the Lord is because our struggle is with powerful forces that are demonic in nature: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). The rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness are those angels who sided with Satan in his war against God. Although Satan is only one demon who cannot be in more than one place at a time, he has authority over millions of demons who obey his every command. The rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces of wickedness are different demons with various ranks and responsibilities; some influence governments and kings, others have a more global influence, and many focus their attacks on individual Christians. Now to be clear, we are told that when Jesus saved you and redeemed you through the life He lived, the sin-atoning death He died, and His victory over the grave... that He, disarmed the rulers, powers, world forces, and spiritual forces of wickedness and, made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him [Jesus] (Col. 2:13-15). In his [1]book, The Warrior Savior, Owen Strachan wrote, The crucifixion represented a real death, but not a real defeat. Listen, the demonic powers have no claim or authority over you Christian except what you give to them. Paul does not mince words here and leaves no room for confusion: For our struggle... our fight is not just a fight, but it is a wrestling match in the way that it is not off in the distance but in your face, around you, on you, and is only interested in choking you out! And our struggle is not only with our flesh, but also with, ...the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our enemys attacks come from afar and they come to us up close! The enemy brings his fight against us in all different way and techniques! It comes in the form of slander, false teaching, and the temptation to sin. Our fight can come in the form of doubt, depression, and deception. The battle can come in the form of persecution from friends, family, or state authorities. Believe me when I say this: the enemy knows you better than you know you, and he is strategic, deceptive, and is set on silencing or sidling you in any way possible. It is possible that you have already given the enemy ground, and you are trapped and not sure out to break free. There is One who is mightily greater than they! The Strength of the Lord is Necessary (vv. 10, 13-17) There is no persevering, no conquering, and no victory apart from Jesus! There is only one remedy against Satan, against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places... and that remedy is the One who disarmed them, ...having triumphed over them (Col. 2:15). There was only One capable of doing such a thing: And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:1314). Listen, when it comes to the Christian life, when it comes to standing firm, when it comes to persevering, when it comes to being a Christian, you CANNOT do it apart from Jesus! He alone is the first and the last, and the living One; He was dead, and behold, He is alive forevermore, and it is He who holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev. 1:17-18). The One who died is the Lamb of God, and because He is the Lion of Judah, He conquered death when He got up on Sunday morning and because He is both the Lamb and the Lion, He alone is worthy, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:1-14). When it comes to living the Christian life, you cannot do it with Jesus at a distance, you cannot do it with Him being second, and you cannot do it out of your own strength! You can only do it if He is your strength. The biblical definition for the word salvation is not confined to a date when you believed and said some prayer. No! The biblical definition for salvation includes the day you were saved but is only complete when you receive a resurrection and all things in creation are made new. It is of this salvation that the great multitude in heaven that includes every nation, all the tribes, peoples, and languages who cry out at the top of their lungs: Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Rev. 7:10). The completion of your salvation in the biblical sense, cannot be done on your own, but ONLY in the strength and might of King Jesus (Eph. 6:10)! Okay, so how can you be strong in the strength and might of Jesus? We are told that we do that by putting on the full armor of God (v. 11). What is the armor of God? Let me first tell you what it includes: The belt of truth, which is Gods truth. The breastplate of righteousness, which is Christs righteousness. The shoes of the gospel of peace, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ that that we stand firmly in. The shield of faith is our hope in God that is saturated by the truth of Gods word. The helmet of salvation, which is the security that we have in the assurance of our salvation. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God as our offensive weapon in all the armor we are to put on. For those of you who were here for the armor of God part of the Ephesian series, what I am about to say probably will not surprise you. Each piece of the armor of God belongs to Jesus. Jesus is our belt of truth, Jesus is our breastplate of righteousness, Jesus is our peace, Jesus is our shield of faith, Jesus is our helmet of salvation, and Jesus is the Word of God. I am convinced that the way one puts on the armor of God is by abiding in Jesus. This is why the phrase in Christ or in Him or any other phrase related to in Christ is repeated about 36 times in the short six chapters that make up Ephesians. The only way to put on the armor is by abiding in Jesus. What does it mean to abide in Jesus? There are scores of passages we can turn to answer that question, but I will show you two: The first is in 1 John 3:24, and this is what the apostle John wrote: The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:24). Listen, the only way you can know how to keep His commandments is if you know what His word says; His commandments are His words. The second passage that unpacks what we just read in 1 John is found in the Gospel of John through the words of Jesus: Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.... If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.... If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and remain in His love. (John 15:4, 7, 10) The word remain can also be translated stand. In John the Greek word that is used is abide, menō, which is a different word than the one used in Ephesians 6:10-11, (histēmi). The point is the same though, there is no standing firmly against the devils schemes unless you are abiding in Jesus by keeping His Word and making it apart of you. There is no taking up the armor of God if you are not remaining, abiding, or standing in fellowship with Jesus. The Power of Persistent Prayer is Needed (vv. 18ff.) There are six pieces of the armor of God that are typically emphasized in sermons and in books, and I listed all six that are mentioned in the Bible, but there is one more that does not get the kind of attention that it deserves. In the Bible, certain numbers are important. The number 3 signifies divine wholeness and perfection, the number 4 symbolizes completeness in relation to creation, the number 1,000 symbolizes an extended period of time or an indefinite but great amount of time, and the number 7 symbolizes completion, wholeness, and perfection. The number 7 appears throughout the Bible over 700 times. In six days, God created everything and on the seventh day, He rested, which marked the completion of creation. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are only six pieces and do not complete the set! Yet we are specifically told in Ephesians 6:11, Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. There is a seventh piece that completes the set and that seventh piece that belongs to the whole armor of God is how you know you have put on the armor of God and how you know that you are abiding in Jesus! The seventh piece of the armor of God that completes the set is found in our dependance upon Jesus through prayer; look carefully at verse 18: With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints... How does one stay alert? How can the Christian persevere? By putting on the full armor of God? How do I put on the full armor of God? By standing in the One to whom six pieces of the armor belongs and by dependently going to Him, With every prayer and request... How often ought we to pray? We are to pray, at all times in the Spirit... So important is prayer as a part of the full armor of God, that the apostle Paul asked that these Ephesian Christians also pray on his behalf that God would do the following four things in his life: That God give Paul the words to say. That God open Pauls mouth. That God embolden Paul in the opening of his mouth. That God use Paul to clearly make known the mystery of the gospel. What is the point? The point is this: There is no persevering, no conquering, and no victory apart from Jesus! The only way to stay awake and watchful, the only way to keep yourself from falling into the foolishness of sin, the only way to be aware of the schemes of the devil is if you are, strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (v. 10). The only way you are going to do that is if you are abiding in the Lord by keeping His word, and the evidence you are abiding in Him is if you recognize that your only recourse against His schemes is to run to God in prayer. [1] Own Strachan, The Warrior Savior (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing; 2024), p. 21.

Last fall, I preached a series of sermons on the armor of God as part of a series in the epistle to the Ephesians. Today, I am not preaching any of those sermons. I am preaching this sermon on a familiar passage out of a sense of urgency for all of us (me included). It might be because we are honoring six of our own from Meadowbrooke Church who have graduated from High School. It may also be because of multiple examples we are given in the Bible of individuals who started well, but whose lives ended poorly; people like Solomon, Uzziah, Judas, and the two men Paul lists in 1 Timothy (Hymenaeus and Alexander) who did not do the things Paul urged Timothy to do, which was to, ...fight the good fight, keep the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith (1 Tim. 1:1819). Then there are the repeated admonitions throughout the New Testament; permit me to share some of those with you this morning: Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (Matt. 24:42) Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13) For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. (Heb. 2:1) So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15-16) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. (1 Pet. 5:8-9) Aside from the multiple examples of the moral failure of key individuals in the Bible who started off strong spiritually and then ended badly, and the many appeals throughout the New Testament to be careful, to pay attention, to be alert, and to be sober minded. Over the past 18 years and nearly 180 hours I have spent in the book of Revelation, the thing I have seen and keep seeing is the repeated appeal throughout the book to persevere until the end: Be faithful until death... (Rev. 2:10) The one who overcomes, and keeps My deeds until the end... (2:26) Hold firmly to what you have... (3:11) The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Rev. 21:7) The question is how do you finish well, stay alert, and endure until the end? I believe Ephesians 6:10-18 provides us with that answer. The Enemy is Demonic and Real (v. 12) We are specifically told that the struggle we face is both demonic and real. We are told in Ephesians 6:10, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. The reason we are told to be strong in the Lord is because our struggle is with powerful forces that are demonic in nature: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). The rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness are those angels who sided with Satan in his war against God. Although Satan is only one demon who cannot be in more than one place at a time, he has authority over millions of demons who obey his every command. The rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces of wickedness are different demons with various ranks and responsibilities; some influence governments and kings, others have a more global influence, and many focus their attacks on individual Christians. Now to be clear, we are told that when Jesus saved you and redeemed you through the life He lived, the sin-atoning death He died, and His victory over the grave... that He, disarmed the rulers, powers, world forces, and spiritual forces of wickedness and, made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him [Jesus] (Col. 2:13-15). In his [1]book, The Warrior Savior, Owen Strachan wrote, The crucifixion represented a real death, but not a real defeat. Listen, the demonic powers have no claim or authority over you Christian except what you give to them. Paul does not mince words here and leaves no room for confusion: For our struggle... our fight is not just a fight, but it is a wrestling match in the way that it is not off in the distance but in your face, around you, on you, and is only interested in choking you out! And our struggle is not only with our flesh, but also with, ...the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our enemys attacks come from afar and they come to us up close! The enemy brings his fight against us in all different way and techniques! It comes in the form of slander, false teaching, and the temptation to sin. Our fight can come in the form of doubt, depression, and deception. The battle can come in the form of persecution from friends, family, or state authorities. Believe me when I say this: the enemy knows you better than you know you, and he is strategic, deceptive, and is set on silencing or sidling you in any way possible. It is possible that you have already given the enemy ground, and you are trapped and not sure out to break free. There is One who is mightily greater than they! The Strength of the Lord is Necessary (vv. 10, 13-17) There is no persevering, no conquering, and no victory apart from Jesus! There is only one remedy against Satan, against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places... and that remedy is the One who disarmed them, ...having triumphed over them (Col. 2:15). There was only One capable of doing such a thing: And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:1314). Listen, when it comes to the Christian life, when it comes to standing firm, when it comes to persevering, when it comes to being a Christian, you CANNOT do it apart from Jesus! He alone is the first and the last, and the living One; He was dead, and behold, He is alive forevermore, and it is He who holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev. 1:17-18). The One who died is the Lamb of God, and because He is the Lion of Judah, He conquered death when He got up on Sunday morning and because He is both the Lamb and the Lion, He alone is worthy, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:1-14). When it comes to living the Christian life, you cannot do it with Jesus at a distance, you cannot do it with Him being second, and you cannot do it out of your own strength! You can only do it if He is your strength. The biblical definition for the word salvation is not confined to a date when you believed and said some prayer. No! The biblical definition for salvation includes the day you were saved but is only complete when you receive a resurrection and all things in creation are made new. It is of this salvation that the great multitude in heaven that includes every nation, all the tribes, peoples, and languages who cry out at the top of their lungs: Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Rev. 7:10). The completion of your salvation in the biblical sense, cannot be done on your own, but ONLY in the strength and might of King Jesus (Eph. 6:10)! Okay, so how can you be strong in the strength and might of Jesus? We are told that we do that by putting on the full armor of God (v. 11). What is the armor of God? Let me first tell you what it includes: The belt of truth, which is Gods truth. The breastplate of righteousness, which is Christs righteousness. The shoes of the gospel of peace, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ that that we stand firmly in. The shield of faith is our hope in God that is saturated by the truth of Gods word. The helmet of salvation, which is the security that we have in the assurance of our salvation. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God as our offensive weapon in all the armor we are to put on. For those of you who were here for the armor of God part of the Ephesian series, what I am about to say probably will not surprise you. Each piece of the armor of God belongs to Jesus. Jesus is our belt of truth, Jesus is our breastplate of righteousness, Jesus is our peace, Jesus is our shield of faith, Jesus is our helmet of salvation, and Jesus is the Word of God. I am convinced that the way one puts on the armor of God is by abiding in Jesus. This is why the phrase in Christ or in Him or any other phrase related to in Christ is repeated about 36 times in the short six chapters that make up Ephesians. The only way to put on the armor is by abiding in Jesus. What does it mean to abide in Jesus? There are scores of passages we can turn to answer that question, but I will show you two: The first is in 1 John 3:24, and this is what the apostle John wrote: The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:24). Listen, the only way you can know how to keep His commandments is if you know what His word says; His commandments are His words. The second passage that unpacks what we just read in 1 John is found in the Gospel of John through the words of Jesus: Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.... If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.... If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and remain in His love. (John 15:4, 7, 10) The word remain can also be translated stand. In John the Greek word that is used is abide, menō, which is a different word than the one used in Ephesians 6:10-11, (histēmi). The point is the same though, there is no standing firmly against the devils schemes unless you are abiding in Jesus by keeping His Word and making it apart of you. There is no taking up the armor of God if you are not remaining, abiding, or standing in fellowship with Jesus. The Power of Persistent Prayer is Needed (vv. 18ff.) There are six pieces of the armor of God that are typically emphasized in sermons and in books, and I listed all six that are mentioned in the Bible, but there is one more that does not get the kind of attention that it deserves. In the Bible, certain numbers are important. The number 3 signifies divine wholeness and perfection, the number 4 symbolizes completeness in relation to creation, the number 1,000 symbolizes an extended period of time or an indefinite but great amount of time, and the number 7 symbolizes completion, wholeness, and perfection. The number 7 appears throughout the Bible over 700 times. In six days, God created everything and on the seventh day, He rested, which marked the completion of creation. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are only six pieces and do not complete the set! Yet we are specifically told in Ephesians 6:11, Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. There is a seventh piece that completes the set and that seventh piece that belongs to the whole armor of God is how you know you have put on the armor of God and how you know that you are abiding in Jesus! The seventh piece of the armor of God that completes the set is found in our dependance upon Jesus through prayer; look carefully at verse 18: With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints... How does one stay alert? How can the Christian persevere? By putting on the full armor of God? How do I put on the full armor of God? By standing in the One to whom six pieces of the armor belongs and by dependently going to Him, With every prayer and request... How often ought we to pray? We are to pray, at all times in the Spirit... So important is prayer as a part of the full armor of God, that the apostle Paul asked that these Ephesian Christians also pray on his behalf that God would do the following four things in his life: That God give Paul the words to say. That God open Pauls mouth. That God embolden Paul in the opening of his mouth. That God use Paul to clearly make known the mystery of the gospel. What is the point? The point is this: There is no persevering, no conquering, and no victory apart from Jesus! The only way to stay awake and watchful, the only way to keep yourself from falling into the foolishness of sin, the only way to be aware of the schemes of the devil is if you are, strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (v. 10). The only way you are going to do that is if you are abiding in the Lord by keeping His word, and the evidence you are abiding in Him is if you recognize that your only recourse against His schemes is to run to God in prayer. [1] Own Strachan, The Warrior Savior (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing; 2024), p. 21.

Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church reveals his desire for believers to grow beyond initial faith and love into deeper relationship with God. Despite their strong reputation, Paul interceded for them to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation, to understand their calling, to recognize their value as God's inheritance, and to experience God's power. This teaches us that the Christian life isn't about reaching a plateau but continually growing in our knowledge of God through the Holy Spirit's work in opening the eyes of our hearts.

Welcome to the Harvest Bible Chapel podcast. We're so glad you're joining us today. In this message, we continue our verse-by-verse study through the Book of Acts by turning to one of the most personal and powerful moments in Paul's ministry—his farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17–38. In this passage, Paul offers a compelling example of faithful leadership and gospel courage. He shows us what it means to serve with humility, sacrifice for the mission, teach the truth, protect the church, and—above all—trust the Lord. Wherever you're listening from, we pray this message encourages you to follow Jesus more fully and live boldly for His kingdom. Let's get into the Word together. This podcast is a production of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. Executive Producer: Flavius Herlo Speaker: Pastor Jeff Thompson Sound design, mixing, and editing: Bryan Tripp Graphic Design: Wesley Cassford Social Media: Bryan Spahr Producer: Dave Putnam WE INVITE YOU TO CONNECT WITH US: • Website: www.harvestbible.org/ WE INVITE YOU TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: • Instagram: @harvestbiblechapel • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harvestbiblechapel/

Ephesian 4.1 - 4.16 (CSB)

In our text, Paul is telling the Ephesian believers what the Spirit-filled life is all about. He tells them that when they are walking in the Spirit, there will be some evidence of His presence in their midst. It is that truth that I would like to focus in on this evening. I want to share with you the Evidence Of The Spirit Filled Life. When you and I are filled with the Holy Ghost, we will still speak English, but we will be more like Jesus than we have ever been. That is what the Spirit of God wants to do in your life and mine. He wants to duplicate the life of Christ in every saved individual. Are you filled with the Spirit this evening? Let's check the evidence and see where we stand.

As we said last time, Jesus was not afraid to tackle the tough subjects of the day in His Sermon on the Mount. After a confronting few minutes, during which he challenged his hearers to flee the perils of sexual temptation, the awkwardness for some is not yet over. Next Jesus goes full throttle against divorce. Let's start here, though, with the reminder that we live in an imperfect world and that God is a God of forgiveness, love, and grace. He mends broken hearts and helps us in our pain, giving wisdom in difficult decisions. Having said that, for the purposes of this devotion, the Scriptures are clear that the Lord created marriage, in Genesis chapter 2 v 22 – 24, and that He hates divorce (Mal 2: 16 NASB). In the next part of His sermon, Jesus said, 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 In Jesus' day there were two schools of thought about divorce. Rabbi Shammai taught that divorce can only be permitted for very serious offenses. Rabbi Hillel taught that a man can divorce his wife for any reason, however ridiculous. If she burnt a meal – she's out! If the husband prefers the looks of another woman, he can divorce his wife and marry the other!Jesus was probably referring to the second school of thought here in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice that He is talking to men, and He emphasises how the wife becomes the victim. This is important. Jesus is challenging every man to think about what is best for his wife. To not just think about himself.Whenever there is a relationship breakdown, whether it is just a petty argument or something as serious as seeking a divorce, the hardest thing to do is to start thinking about what is best for the other person. Perhaps there would be fewer divorces in the world if people gave the highest priority to what is best for the person they have married.Staying with the focus on men, Paul taught that husbands must love their wives as Christ has loved the church in Ephesian 5: 25. There is no condition here. It is not ‘love their wives', if the wives do their part. It is ‘love their wives as Christ loved the church'. Full Stop!I once heard somebody say that marriage is not 50-50; it is 100-100. In other words, we give to our partner without conditions attached. In Jesus's comments about divorce in the Sermon on the Mount it is easy to focus on the parts that talk about adultery and whether there are circumstances that permit divorce. I have a feeling Jesus also wants us to try looking away from self for a moment and consider what is best for the one I married. 

In this episode we continue talking about the topic of how the institutional box church misrepresents and misinterprets passages of scripture that mention women in the body of Christ. We take a look at the historical and cultural context of Paul's first letter to Timothy and specifically, 1 Timothy chapter 2. In giving his reasons for writing this letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him to dispel myths that had arisen in the assembly (1 Timothy 1:3-4). In chapter 2 of his letter we see Paul begin to dismantle some of those myths and those myths centered around the worship of the pagan idol, Artemis. The culture in Ephesus was heavily influenced by the worship of Artemis. Artemis was a female goddess of Greek origin and the worship and culture of Artemis was female centric. While males could participate in the worship of Artemis, women were dominate and men had a lesser role (kind of the opposite of what we see today in most churches). Here are some of the myths Paul addresses:In the Ephesian culture, Artemis was looked to as the protector of women in childbirth. Women stood a better chance of Artemis hearing and answering their prayers if they wore expensive clothes and jewelry when petitioning Artemis.Artemis was born before her twin brother Apollo, meaning woman was created before man.We also need to keep in mind these important points:Timothy was not a pastor. There's no indication of that anywhere in Scripture. That's a church history-driven idea that is incorrect.The letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are not "pastoral letters" written to pastors. Calling them pastoral letters is another false assumption delivered to us from church history.The letters to Timothy and Titus are not across-the-board manuals for doing church. They address specific problems that arose in specific locations involving specific people at a specific time. Failure to recognize this and instead promote the false assumption that everything in them is applicable to every generation without regard to the historical and cultural context they were written in, has led to the muzzling of half of the body of Christ.Books mentioned in this episode:Artemis: Virgin Goddess of the Sun and Moon - https://tinyurl.com/2p9cfykcWhat's With Paul and Women? https://tinyurl.com/yp6n47xnI brought this episode over from the Grace Cafe podcast. It's part 2 of a 4-part series I'm re-posting here on the UnSunday Show. The link to the Grace Cafe podcast is below if you would like to see other episodes on this topic.Enjoy!Other Places You'll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

In Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders, we see the hallmarks of a faithful ministry of following the Spirit, humbly serving the Lord and the church, proclaiming the gospel of grace, and protecting the church from false teaching.Scripture References: Acts 20:17-38, 2 Timothy 4:7, Matthew 4:19, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Revelation 2:1-6Pastor: Rob Orr

Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders

This week we explore Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church in chapter 1 of that letter. We explore how crucial it is that we Christians recognise the reality of the inheritance we have received in Christ.

[From] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus. . . . — Ephesians 1:1 What do you usually think of when you hear the word saint? Most of us think of some revered religious person. But what about the person you see in the mirror? Though most of us don't see ourselves as saints, that is what we are when we believe in Jesus. Because of his work, we are being sanctified, made holy, as we live out our lives serving the Lord—and that means we are saints. Because of Jesus, I am not what I or others will often perceive me to be. Instead, I am who God declares me to be. Through Jesus' sacrifice for my sake, I am now declared righteous and holy. Paul understood that we are profoundly transformed in God's sight when we come to faith in Jesus. That's why Paul begins his letter to the Ephesian believers by addressing them as “God's holy people.” Literally, he refers to them as “the saints in Ephesus.” Despite being new to the faith and still having a long way to go in their spiritual development, Paul recognizes them as saints. A saint is someone consecrated to God and set apart for God's service. Through baptism, believers are marked as God's treasured possession, set apart for his divine purposes. Just as it would be foolish to build only a doghouse on the foundation of a skyscraper, it would be foolish to build anything less than a sanctified life on the foundation Jesus established for us. Lord God, thank you for making us holy in Jesus. Help us to live into our new identity as saints each day. Amen.

Happy Mother's Day! The Ephesian church was influenced by both toxic masculinity and radical feminism. So the Apostle Paul reestablishes God's original design to show the mutual value that women and men both possess in working together. 

Happy Mother's Day! The Ephesian church was influenced by both toxic masculinity and radical feminism. So the Apostle Paul reestablishes God's original design to show the mutual value that women and men both possess in working together. 

Pastor Lee brought an inspiring message encouraging Mothers. His scripture reference was Ephesian 6:1-4. Be sure to check it out! 

Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonia. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and requests that the elders of Ephesus join him for final words of encouraging and warning. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead. Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of a quick visit in to Macedonia appear to have been thwarted and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace – read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would come upon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage.

Series: Ephesians 2025Service: Sun Bible StudyType: SermonSpeaker: Phillip Shumake

Teaching from Ephesian 4:17-24 by Bro. Adam Martinez.

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT) In our increasingly fractured culture, we don’t have to look hard for issues that divide us. But where can we find things that unite us? Ephesians 4 is a good place to start our search. For the next few days, we’re going to look at the apostle Paul’s teachings on creating and nurturing unity in the church. In the first three chapters of his letter, Paul reminded the Ephesian believers of what God had done for them. In Ephesians 4:1, he urged them “to lead a life worthy of your calling” (NLT). When you have a sense of what God has done for you, you’re more likely to serve Him out of gratitude. You don’t lead a worthy life so that He will love you; you lead a worthy life because He loves you. Leading a worthy life means embracing qualities such as humility, gentleness, and patience. That might involve tabling your own agenda for the sake of someone else’s. Or choosing to forgive instead of taking revenge. Or learning to appreciate the characteristics and quirks in other people that don’t mesh with ours. James put it a little more bluntly: “Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9 NLT). Don’t complain about other believers. Go to them and try to help them. The phrase “grumble about each other” means to groan within yourself. It speaks of a person who has a bitter attitude. Some people are always criticizing. They think it’s a spiritual gift—the gift of tearing others down. But it’s not a gift of the Spirit; it’s a work of the flesh, and it’s used by the enemy. Don’t be known as someone who burns bridges; be known as someone who builds bridges. Don’t be known as someone who kicks others when they’re down; be known as someone who reaches out to people and pulls them back up again. Don’t denigrate and tear down one another. If you have something to say about someone, say it to them, not about them. Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). If that means sacrificing your own preferences, so be it. If it means swallowing your pride, so be it. If it means meeting people more than halfway or doing the heavy lifting in a relationship, so be it. Keeping people united may seem like thankless work at times, but God sees and rewards our efforts. His Spirit works in us and through us, making sure that our efforts don’t go to waste. As believers, we share one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. That gives us a wide swath of common ground on which to build unity. Reflection Question: What is your best strategy for building unity in a group? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekly Sermon from Trinity Church Denver

In this first message of our new sermon series "The Language of Prayer" , Pastor Brian teaches how to pray biblically by examining Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church. Learn how to develop a prayer language that goes beyond simply asking for things, to praying that others would truly know God better.

This episode JUST C.O.S. joins us to talk about writing, life, and The Sparrow's Fortune, a poetry collective working to inspire, educate, and encourage our community through arts, entertainment, and creative writing workshops.Check out The Sparrow's Fortune here: https://www.thesparrowsfortune.com/Or follow them on Instagram @thesparrowsfortuneFollow @just.c.o.s. on Insta, and if you want to book email JustCOS.info@gmail.comHappy writing everyone!Be sure to follow us on Instagram (if that's your sort of thing). Please do send us an email with your story if you write along, which we hope you will do. Episodes of Radio FreeWrite are protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license. All Stories remain the property of their respective authors.

Acts Series

One Sure Word & A Testimony of Tears (Acts 20) In this episode, I share a sermon I preached in chapel at Cedarville University on Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17–38. In particular, I explore the way that Paul envisions the life of the churches after the age of the apostles.   This podcast is hosted by Ched Spellman (https://linktr.ee/chedspellman).   Thanks for listening! My Most Recent Book: One Grand Story: How the Bible Tells its Story and Why it Matters Substack Series on the Canonical Approach: https://bit.ly/3rht399 Digital Tip Jar ("Buy Me a Coffee"): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chedspellman Clarifying Note: The views of special guests are their own & do not necessarily reflect my own or the organizations with which I am formally and informally affiliated.

Paul exhorts the Ephesian church to maintain unity, to use the diversity of their gifts, and to grow in spiritual maturity.

Commitment Sunday. Leave 10 minutes in service for filling out commitment cards. Response moment in service for making commitments. Overview: As Paul considers the possible end of his life in an Ephesian jail, he wants the Philippians to understand that whether he lives or dies, he will “bring honor to Christ” (1:20). Why? Because if he dies, he will go to be with the Lord. But if he lives, he can live for Christ and even visit with the Philippians again to help them “grow and experience the joy of their faith” (1:25). This mindset, of complete confidence that God is working, is one we must have as we lead Grace Church into the future. If we face hardships, we'll experience God's presence in the midst of them. If we face abundance, we'll experience God's blessing in new ways. Either way, let us not be ashamed of what God is doing at Grace, but renew our dedication to join God in his mission to heal this broken world!

From Rev. 2:1-7 with Tyler Staton Lent is a 40-day season within the church calendar that stretches from Ash Wednesday (March 5) to Easter Sunday (April 20), mirroring Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert. This year, we want God to use the 40 days of Lent to help us reclaim our first love. https://bridgetown.church/teaching

Paul continues to preach the good news of Jesus from city to city, and the Jews continue to be jealous of the attention he is getting by preaching Jesus. Riots ensue, often because Jewish leaders conspire to work up crowds against the apostles. Both Jews and Greeks come to faith in Christ, and new churches are planted. Finally, Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian church elders, knowing he will never see them again. Our passage begins where we last left Paul and Luke, as they are travelling through Phillipi and preaching the good news.Acts 16:16 – 1:13 . Acts 17 – 5:09 . Acts 18 – 11:25 . Acts 19 – 15:42 . Acts 20 – 22:48 . Proverbs 13 – 28:33 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

A ride-sharing customer shared that he had endured a driver eating the world’s smelliest fruit, another driver who was bickering with a girlfriend, and one who tried to get him to invest in a Ponzi scheme. In each case, instead of a poor rating, he gave the drivers five stars. He explained, “They all seemed like nice people. I didn’t want them to be kicked off the app over my bad rating.” He gave false reviews—keeping the truth from the drivers . . . and others. For different reasons, we might withhold the truth from others. But the apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to lovingly speak the truth to one another as new creatures in Christ. This required cultivating habits of “righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24)—lives set apart for Him and that reflected His ways. They were to replace lying with telling one another the truth because lies divide and disrupt while truth unites us as believers. He wrote, “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (v. 25). Jesus empowers us with the courage to resist lying and giving one another “fake ratings”—things that can disrupt our unity with other believers. Living a life of love, as He guides us, will lead to our sharing “kind and compassionate” expressions of truth (v. 32).