Podcasts about Ephesians 2

Providential People | Covenant Household of God | Ephesians 2:18-22 | Kort Marley by Providence Community Church

Ezekiel 17-18; Psalms 102-103; Ephesians 2-3

Todaywe're specifically looking at Ephesians 3:16. Two things we're going to talkabout and that's, “the riches of His glory” and “in the inner man”.As we look at this passage of scripture, we realize that the power of the HolySpirit is given to us “according to the riches of His glory”. Christreturned to glory. But remember He said, "If I don't go away, I can'tsend the Holy Spirit. But if I go away, I will send the Comforter, the HolySpirit." (John 14; John 16:7). Christ returned to glory and sent theHoly Spirit from heaven to indwell and to empower His people.  So,it's not necessary for us to work something up. The power of God has been sentdown. Jesus said, "Tarry at Jerusalem till the power of the Holy Spiritis come upon you." (Acts 1:4-8). They did tarry and the HolySpirit, 10 days later, on the day of Pentecost, came down upon them. The HolySpirit was sent down. The Holy Spirit is the “gift of God” according tothose first passages of Scripture in the book of Acts (Acts 2:38; 8:20; 10:45;11:17). Now the Holy Spirit dwells in us and empowers us.  Goddoesn't give us the Holy Spirit's power out of His riches, but “according toHis riches” and that is a far greater thing. If I'm a billionaire and Igive you $10, I've given you out of my riches. But if I give you a milliondollars, I have given you according to my riches. The first is a portion, butmy friend, the second is a proportion. Oh, God has His riches in heaven thatare immeasurable, unfathomable, endless, eternal. He gives you not out of Hisriches but “according to the riches of His glory”. Nowvery interesting this power is available for “the inner man”.This means the spiritual part of man where God dwells and God lives in us. Weread in Romans 8:16; “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit thatwe are the children of God”. The inner man of the lost sinner is dead (Ephesians2:1), but that inner spirit becomes alive when the Holy Spirit of Christ,Christ Himself comes to indwell us. We find that the inner mancan see in Psalm 119:18, "Open mine eyes that I may see wondrous thingsout of your law." The inner man can hear Matthew13:9, Jesus said, "He who has ears, let him hear."  “Theinner man”has taste in Psalm 34:8; “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. We findwe can feel with the inner man (Acts 17:27). According to 1 Timothy 4:7-8,we find that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness exercises greatprofit for those who trust and believe in Him. The outward man is perishing.But the inner man, the inner man can be renewed day by day in spite of thephysical outward decay that takes place. I love that passage in 2 Corinthians4:16-18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man isperishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our lightaffliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceedingand eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen,but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen aretemporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.  Whatdoes it mean to have the Holy Spirit empower “the inner man”? Itmeans that our spiritual faculties are controlled by God, and we are exercisingthem and growing in the Word (Hebrews 5:12-14). It is only when we yield to theSpirit and let Him control the inner man that we succeed in living to the gloryof God. This means we are feeding the inner man the Word of God, praying andworshiping, keeping clean, and exercising the senses by loving obedience. MayGod help us to trust Him today to have that strength that only He can give forHis glory and for His ministry of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ withthe world around us.  Godbless!

Ephesians Series

Ephesians 2-3

God's mighty resurrection power is available to us and working within us. This is a major them in Ephesians. Discover how the Holy Spirit provides revelation and wisdom to help us lay hold of and walk in God's power within us, the same power that raised Christ from the dead and is now active in our lives. God's mighty power is in us, through the Holy Spirit, and it is available to us, but we need to have a revelation of this power, so that we can draw upon it by faith, as well as the wisdom to walk in that power, for it is released through our obedience. Ephesians 1 gives us a revelation of this mighty power, by describing what it has already accomplished when it was released in Christ, when He was (1) made alive from the dead, (2) raised far above all powers, and (3) enthroned on high. Then Ephesians 2 describes what this resurrection power accomplished in our spirits when we were born again in Christ: (1) Our spirit was made alive with Christ, changing us from spiritual death to being spiritually alive to God. (2) Our spirit was raised far above all opposing powers (sin, satan and the world), for His victory was imparted to our spirit. (3) Our spirit was seated with Christ far above, having been empowered to reign with Christ. This same power is available to us in our life today! (Ephesians 3:20).

God's mighty resurrection power is available to us and working within us. This is a major them in Ephesians. Discover how the Holy Spirit provides revelation and wisdom to help us lay hold of and walk in God's power within us, the same power that raised Christ from the dead and is now active in our lives. God's mighty power is in us, through the Holy Spirit, and it is available to us, but we need to have a revelation of this power, so that we can draw upon it by faith, as well as the wisdom to walk in that power, for it is released through our obedience. Ephesians 1 gives us a revelation of this mighty power, by describing what it has already accomplished when it was released in Christ, when He was (1) made alive from the dead, (2) raised far above all powers, and (3) enthroned on high. Then Ephesians 2 describes what this resurrection power accomplished in our spirits when we were born again in Christ: (1) Our spirit was made alive with Christ, changing us from spiritual death to being spiritually alive to God. (2) Our spirit was raised far above all opposing powers (sin, satan and the world), for His victory was imparted to our spirit. (3) Our spirit was seated with Christ far above, having been empowered to reign with Christ. This same power is available to us in our life today! (Ephesians 3:20).

November 9, 2025 Pastor Paul Titus

Send us your feedback — we're listeningEphesians 2 : 8–10 — Faith Under Fire: Prayer for the Secret, Underground and Whispering Church Living by Grace in Jesus Christ9 A.M. Release — Recorded live here in London, England — from London to Yangon, from Yangon to Kabul, from Kabul to Addis Ababa — as the free Church worships openly, the hidden Church prays quietly, clinging to the grace of Jesus Christ.Scripture (NIV)“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2 : 8–10 (NIV)Show NotesAll over the world, the persecuted Church prays in whispers. Their worship is unseen, but heaven hears every word. Reports from Open Doors and Release International reveal that persecution is rising, yet so is grace. Across search platforms, believers type “prayer for persecuted Christians,” “strength for the underground Church,” and “courage through Jesus Christ.”From London to Yangon, Kabul to Addis Ababa, we intercede for the Secret Church — those whose faith costs them everything. They cannot post a sermon, but they preach by endurance. They cannot sing in public, yet their quiet hymns move heaven. By the grace of Jesus Christ, they are not forgotten — they are God's handiwork in the hardest places on earth.This morning we pray for divine protection, unbreakable courage, and a fresh outpouring of grace for every believer living under fire.10 Global Prayer Points Prayer for the persecuted and underground Church Prayer for courage for secret believers in Jesus Christ Prayer for faith under persecution Prayer for strength through the grace of Christ Prayer for safety for Christians in hostile nations Prayer for boldness to share the Gospel Prayer for protection of underground pastors and leaders Prayer for hope for families separated by faith Prayer for grace to endure in Jesus' name Prayer for revival through the Whispering ChurchLife ApplicationGrace is not given to escape the fire — it is the strength that keeps faith alive inside it.DeclarationBy the grace of Jesus Christ, I will stand firm. His Church will not be silenced, and His WordSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 "The whole range of human miseries, from restlessness and estrangement through shame and guilt… to the agonies of daytime television—all of them tell us that things in human life are not as they ought to be." – Cornelius Plantinga + The default mode of humanity is dead, defiant, and doomed "Behold my heart, O God, behold my heart which you had pity upon in the bottom of the abyss. Now let my heart tell you what it was seeking there, that I should be gratuitously evil, having no inducement to evil but the evil itself. It was foul, and I loved it. I loved the evil in me—not that for which I was committing the evil, but the evil itself." – Augustine of Hippo "The thought is overwhelming, that soon this body of mine must be a carnival for worms; that in and out of these places, where my eyes are glistening, foul things, the offspring of loathsomeness, shall crawl; that this body must be stretched in still, cold, abject, passive, death. It must then become a noxious, nauseous thing, cast out even by those that loved me, who will say, 'Bury my dead out of my sight.' Now, endeavour, as well as you can, to get the idea of a dead corpse, and when you have so done, please to understand that that is the metaphor employed in my text, to set forth the condition of your soul by nature." – Charles Spurgeon + Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Romans 5:12; 17 + Partner with God in Kingdom Expansion

Lord's Day Three (Ephesians 2:1-10) - Evening SermonPastor Mitchell Leach

November 9, 2025. Pastor Bobby Pringle

SUNDAY SERMON - EPHESIANS SERMON SERIES - EPHESIANS 2:8-10 – WEEK 2 - FROM GRACE TO GOOD WORKS

In this sermon, Dan Holder helps us understand how to align our work with God's mission.We hope you enjoyed this sermon! To learn more about our ministry, you can visit us at the Harvest Plains website.Harvest Plains Church is a small church plant located in Mapleton, North Dakota. Our heart is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our local communities, and to build disciples with Bible-centered preaching. If you're near Mapleton or the Fargo/Moorhead area, we'd love to have you join us!

Larry Kramer - Ephesians 2 by Terrill Road Bible Chapel

Pastor Michael Torres - Ephesians 2:1-7. Sunday, Nov 9, 2025Click To View Slideshttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tdgsC7Vz1mQfG1NLLsMjKE8zlJuqK2kP/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=109643752056010674706&rtpof=true&sd=trueOur Location : https://goo.gl/maps/2tAhVnZGbEavLP2C9Website: https://calvaryitl.orgGive: https://calvaryitl.org/giveYou can also donate via your phone directly by texting “itlGive" to 888-364-4483Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1U1Y6LJUioUoayFRwmzgfyFollow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/calvary-chapel-into-the-light-podcast/id1374484093 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryITLFollow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CalvaryITLFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarychapel_itl/ 

Ephesians 2:14-18 with Pastor Greg Denham

On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland's tragic death and the incredible rescue of a missing California hunter. FOCUS STORY: A victory for free speech and religious liberty in Chapin, South Carolina. MAIN THING: Actor Brett Varvel on faith, film, and what America might look like if owning a Bible were illegal. LAST THING: Ephesians 2:8-10 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” PRAY WITH US! Faithwire.substack.com SHOW LINKS Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 Navigating Trump 2.0: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-trump-2-0/id1691121630

Todaywe are continuing to look at Ephesians 2:18-22. In these verses, we find thatGod's purpose for the church, God's purpose for Jew and Gentile. God's purposefor every human being is to know that you are of tremendous value to God. Itdoesn't matter whether you're a Jew, whether you're a Palestinian, whetheryou're called a Christian, whether you're called a Muslim, Hindu, a Buddhist, aRussian, an American, a Chinese, or any other nationality for that matter. Itdoesn't matter your ethnic background or your racial background. It doesn'tmatter whether you're rich or poor. You are of tremendous value to God.  Everyhuman being was created in the image of God. That means we have personality.That means we can think, we have a will, we have emotions. Every human beinghas all these things because we're created in the image of God. God's plan andpurpose is that we have peace with one another and that we get along with oneanother and that we love one another. The great commandment is to love God withall your heart, soul, and mind. Alongside of this first and great commandmentis the second commandment, which is the proof that we truly love God, that welove our neighbors as ourselves. No matter who our neighbor is.Wehave been created with and for something special. Every human being, no matteryour background and religion, no matter who you are, where you live, whereyou're from, or what you've been taught, you have been created with eternity inyour heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  In thelast verses in Ephesians 2, Paul reminds us, “For through Him we both haveaccess by one Spirit to the Father”. Yes, we can have access to the creatorGod and Father of the universe. You can have access to the God, already beingworshiped as “the unknown God” that many are still looking for.  But He can only be found “through”Jesus Christ alone.  Myfriend, only then can you enjoy personal peace and experience unity with thosearound you. Now, therefore, we're no longer strangers or foreigners, butfellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (v. 19).Verse 20 tells us that this unity is: “built on the foundation of theapostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” Paulsaid in 1 Corinthians 3:6:11, “I planted. He says Apollos watered. But Godgave the increase." He then goes on to say, "For no other foundation can anyone laythan that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus."  WhenPaul said, "I laid the foundation," he says earlier in 1Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you exceptJesus Christ and Him crucified”. Christ is the foundation and He's thechief cornerstone of Psalm 118:22. This is the chief cornerstone which thebuilders rejected and is often referred to in the New Testament as in verse 20.The “cornerstone” binds a building together.  Nowwe are part of His temple, the church of Jesus Christ, the universal church,the church which is His body. Oh, how wonderful to be a part of something sospecial and that's eternal. Nations come and go, institutions come and go, butone thing will last, for eternity, and that is the body of Jesus Christ, Hischurch. Today, you can be a part of His church by placing your faith, not in areligion but in a person, Jesus Christ! A religion didn't die for you! OnlyJesus Christ did! Thatis what this chapter is about. We're separated from God by our sin, but Jesusdied to give us eternal life. We can by faith trust Him and enter into ourunion with Him and with one another today. Would you do that? Would you trustChrist? And then if you know Christ, if you're in Christ, then as a follower ofChrist, tell others.  Today,would you tell someone about this hope, this faith you can have that changesand transforms everything and brings you peace with God and with others.   GodBless!

Today,as we are looking at the last verses of Ephesians 2, we need to remember thatPaul has been talking about separation beginning in verses 11-12. TheJews were separated from the Gentiles, the Gentiles from the Jews. They bothwere separated from God because of sin. Next, we see reconciliation inverses 13-18. How now through the blood of Jesus Christ, we've been reconciledto God. We can be reconciled and have peace with one another. In these lastverses, Paul speaks of unification.  Paulhas repeated the word "one" to emphasize the unifyingwork of Christ: "who has made both one" (Ephesians2:14); "to create in Himself one new man" (Ephesians2:15); "might reconcile them both to God in one body" (Ephesians2:16); and, "we both have access by one Spirit" (Ephesians2:18). All spiritual distance and division have been overcome by Christ. In theclosing verses of this chapter, Paul gives three pictures that illustrate theunity of believing Jews and Gentiles in the church. Weare now one new nation (v. 19a).  Israel was God'schosen nation, but they rejected their Redeemer and suffered the consequences.The kingdom was taken from them and given to "a nation bringing forththe fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). This "new nation" isthe church. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holynation, His own special people, (1 Peter 2:9-10).  Inthe Old Testament, the nations were reckoned by their descent from Shem, Ham,or Japheth (Genesis 10). In the Book of Acts, we see these three familiesunited in Christ. In Acts 8, a descendant of Ham is saved, the Ethiopiantreasurer. In Acts 9, a descendant of Shem, Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul theapostle. And in Acts 10, the descendants of Japheth, the Gentiles in thehousehold of the Roman soldier, Cornelius. Sin has divided mankind, but Christunites by His Spirit. All believers, regardless of national background, belongto that "holy nation" with citizenship in heaven (Philippians3:20-21). “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly waitfor the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ". Weare now one family(v. 19b). “But fellow citizens with the saints and members of the householdof God”.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ,we enter into God's family, and God becomes our Father. This wonderful familyof God is found in two places, "in heaven and earth" (Ephesians3:15). Living believers are on earth and believers who have died are in heaven.None of God's children are "under the earth" (Philippians2:10) or in any other place in the universe. We are all brothers and sisters inthe one family, no matter what racial, national, or physical distinctions wemay possess. Weare now one temple(vv. 20-22). In the Book of Genesis, God "walked" with His people.Enoch walked with God (Genesis. 5:22-24). And Noah walked with God (Genesis6:9). But then in the Book of Exodus, God decided to "dwell" with Hispeople:  (Exodus 25:8). God dwelt in thetabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) until Israel's sins caused "the glory todepart" when the Philistines captured the ark in battle. (1 Samuel 4).  ThenGod dwelt in the temple Solomon built (1 Kings 8:1-11). But again Israel sinnedand the glory departed: “Then the glory of the LORD departed from thethreshold of the temple…” (Ezekiel 10:18-19). God's next dwelling place wasthe body of Christ: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and webeheld His glory " (John 1:14). But men took and nailed this body to a cross. Today,through His Spirit, God dwells in the church, the temple of God. God does notdwell in man-made temples, including church buildings (Acts 7:48-50). Goddwells in the hearts of those who have trusted Christ: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And God dwellsin the church collectively as we see in these last verses in Ephesians 2:20-22. Ourunity is in Christ and is best displayed when we love one another despite ourdifferences! GodBless!

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. - Ephesians 2:14

Ifthere's one thing everyone needs, is looking for, and desires, it is to havepeace. To have peace within themselves, peace with God, and peace with thosearound them. But it often appears that many people today are bent on havingwar, at enmity with others, with hatred, malice, anger and violence in their heartsand lives. There is no peace in their lives, and they live to destroy any peacein the world around them. The Bible describes it this way in Isaiah 57:20-21, “Butthe wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast upmire and dirt. "There is no peace," Says my God, "for thewicked."  Theirhearts are against God, so their hearts are against everyone around them, andin a sense even themselves. But I believe that deep inside every individualthere is a desire, there is a yearning for peace. The only way to make thatpeace is with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:1 tells us: “Havingtherefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LordJesus Christ.” That's what we're talking about in these verses before ustoday in Ephesians 2:16-18.  Rememberin verses 11-15, Paul was dealing with the Gentiles basically and thereconciliation they needed and could now experience between themselves and theJews now that they were in the same church, in the same body of Christ. Now we'rein Christ (v. 13). Before we were aliens and strangers but now, we're a holynation. Colossians 1:19-22 speaks of this very thing: “For it pleased theFather that in Him all the fullness should dwell, speaking of Jesus. By Him,Jesus, to reconcile all things to Himself. By Him, whether things on earth orthings in heaven. having made peace through the blood of His cross, and you whowere once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has Hereconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy andblameless, and above reproach in His sight.” How wonderful, how powerful isthat? We'reno longer strangers because we are now in the family of God along with theJewish people. We had no hope. Now we've been called into one hope. We werewithout God, but now through Christ God is our Father. Nowin verses 16-18, Paul is talking about how both Jews and Gentiles needreconciliation as sinners with God.  Paul'sletter to the Colossians in chapter 2:13-14 says it this way: “You beingdead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alivetogether with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out thehandwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, andHe has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to His cross." Inother words, the law tells us we're sinners. The law tells us that we arecondemned. God is a holy God and He must punish sin. God also at the same timeis a God of love. He's a God who wants us to know peace and have peace.  That'swhy in Ephesians 2:17, Paul writes: “He came and He preached peace.” Didyou notice that in verse 14 it says Jesus Christ is our peace. In verse15, He made peace because of the blood of His cross between us and God.Then in verse 17, He preached peace. Remember the angels saying to theshepherds that day on the hillside, "Peace on earth and good willtoward men”, is the message of Jesus Christ to all world of sinners."(Luke 2:13-14).   Ifyou want peace, the only peace you'll ever find and the only peace the worldwill ever find is in the person and ministry and work of Jesus Christ throughHis Holy Spirit that can be in all of our hearts at the same time. “Forthrough Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (v. 18).  Whata wonderful message for us today. We have a God that can take care of theenmity, bring reconciliation, and bring us back into a place where we can havefellowship one with another. Today,I trust you're experiencing that peace and joy in yourself, and with God, andwith those around you.  

SUNDAY SERMON - EPHESIANS SERMON SERIES - EPHESIANS 2:1-7 – WEEK 1 - FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Discover how God wants YOUR passions to intersect with His kingdom purposes! Pastor Mark unpacks Ephesians 2:10, exploring how God sets up divine appointments in everyday life—not just Sundays. Learn the difference between godly passions (people, causes/hobbies, roles) and how to test if yours honor God and benefit others. Hear inspiring stories from church members Karen and Eric about discovering their gifts in family ministry and youth outreach. Plus, powerful testimonies of God using running, crafting, barbecue, and even DJing for His glory! But there's a cost: Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. The Passion of Christ demands a passionate response. What's YOUR next step?#passionandpurpose, #Ephesians2, #divineappointments, #Godscalling, #takeupyourcross, #kingdompurposes, #giftsandpassions, #dyingtoself, #resurrectionlife, #masterpiece

Ephesians 2 - Who we are and where we come from by Doc 02.11.25

No Longer a Dead Man Walking | Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:8-10

First,I want to thank you for your prayers for traveling mercies for my wife and Iyesterday as we left our home in Sneads Ferry NC around 3am to drive 6 hours upto Roanoke, Virginia for the ribbon cutting ceremony and the grand opening ofthe Go Center. Aroundnoon, we were got in the car to go to Charlottesville to visit my brother Mark atthe UVA Medical Center. We called to make sure it would be ok to visit him andwere pleasantly surprised to find out he was being discharged at that verymoment to go back home to Lynchburg. He has made an amazing recovery from hisbypass surgery. Todaywe want to look specifically at Ephesians 2:14-15, where it speaks of the factthat, “Jesus Christ Himself is our peace who has made both one and hasbroken down the middle wall of separation having abolished in His flesh theenmity that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances so as to createin Himself one new man from the two thus making peace.”  Myfirst big question as a brand-new Christian was how did people get saved beforethe cross? How did they get saved in the Old Testament? My friend over theyears I've concluded there's only one way of salvation. That is the way offaith. The way of faith through Christ Jesus. In the Old Testament, they lookforward to His sacrifice on the cross and now we look backwards, and by faith,both looks are taken. Everyone, both Jew and Gentile receive salvation becauseof Jesus and His sacrifice and blood shed on the cross. Verse15 reveals that the cause of the enmity was the law because the law had made adefinite distinction between Jew and Gentiles. The dietary laws reminded theJews that God had put a distance and difference between the clean and theunclean (Leviticus 11:44-47). But the Gentiles did not obey these laws.Therefore, they were unclean. Ezekiel the prophet reminded the priests thattheir task was to teach the Jews the difference between the holy and theprofane (Ezekiel 44:23). The divine ordinances given by God to Israel stood asa wall between the Jews and the other nations. In fact, there was a wall in theJewish temple separating the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the templeareas.  Archaeologistshave discovered this inscription from Herod's temple. It reads like this: “Noforeigner may enter within this barricade that surrounds the sanctuary andenclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will himself be blamed for his ensuingdeath”. It was this wall that the Jews thought Paul and his gentile friendscrossed when the Jews attacked him in the temple and threatened to kill him inActs 21:28-31.  Inorder for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled, this wall had to be destroyed,and this Jesus did on the cross. The cost of destroying the enmity was theblood of Christ. When He died, the veil in the temple was literally torn intwo, and the wall of separation (figuratively) was torn down. By fulfilling thedemands of the Law in His righteous life, and by bearing the curse of the Lawin His sacrificial death (Galatians 3:10-13), Jesus removed the legal barrierthat separated Jew from Gentile. For centuries, there was a difference betweenthem. But today, "there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek.For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoevershall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans10:12-13). Ohmy friend, what a wonderful Savior we have. He is our peace. We are now onewith anyone. The new creation is the church, the body of Jesus Christ. We arepart of that new creation. “Old things have passed away. Behold, all thingshave become new”. Oh, what a wonderful thing it is to have peace with God,peace with one another, and be made one in Christ, and with any and everyonewho accepts Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Godbless!

Worship - November 2, 2025“The Danger at the Door: We are his workmanship” Ephesians 2:8-18Pastor Don Meeks

Join us this week as we continue our series “In Christ…” Watch or listen on our website, Youtube, or your favorite podcast app!

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On episode 28, host Steven Crawford dives into Ephesians 2:8-9. FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH. NOT A RESULT OF WORKS.After the Red Letters Portion of the podcast, Steven is joined by good friend Nick Kissane as they travel out to Montana for their week-long elk hunt. They start by sharing both of their whitetail success stories from this past week in Michigan, as both Steven and Nick tagged great Michigan Bucks! They finish by discussing the anticipation of their Elk hunt as they drive through Wyoming and Montana while recording the podcast!LIVE FOR JESUS Y'ALL! SUBSCRIBE AND ENJOY!

Send us a textThis podcast talks about how believers were all dead in their sins and trespasses yet God reached down to earth raising us up to life. Not only were we brought to life once we believed on the work of Jesus Christ but we were seated with Christ in heaven. We became children of God and now He sees us perfect like Jesus. This is a great mystery of God. Listen to understand Paul's words. Support the show

In these verses, we see that Paul isspeaking to the Gentiles, specifically telling them how by the blood of Christ thatthey have now been able to make peace not only with God, but with the Jewishbelievers also in the church. They have been brought together to be one. Veryimportant. God wants His church to be one. One in Christ. Despite our culturaland religious and other backgrounds that could cause tremendous enmity, division,and strife, God wants us to be one. Ourpreferences often divide us in the church over music, rituals, ceremonies anddifferent things that might take place. But God wants us to be one. Jesus said,"By this shall all men know that you are my disciples because you loveone another." It was the love of Christ that gave us oneness with Godthrough Christ Jesus and His blood on the cross. My friend, it's the love thatwe can have for God and for others that can help us to set aside ourpreferences and our differences and love one another in such a way that theworld sees this great reconciliation between those who are at enmity. Inever forget that in my first years of ministry, I was out visiting and stoppedalongside a country road to talk with a man from our church. While were talkingwe were accosted by a man who actually began to beat up my friend. When I sawthe drunk man coming down his driveway with a crowbar in his hand, I told myfriend we should drive down the road to get away from him. I drove down the roadbut my friend felt he had the right to stay where he was and the drunk man beganto beat up my friend. My friend went and reported it to the police, of course,and there were some issues that took place. A few years later on a Sundayevening, at a new members gathering, was a man who had gotten saved because hischildren had come to church and gotten saved. I'll never forget this because theman that got saved said, "See that man over there?" He said, "Iremember beating him up and having a terrible situation with him. Would youtell him I want to ask him to forgive me for the way I acted and what I did tohim?" It was a wonderful experience that night to watch two men who hadbeen at enmity, had been in a terrible altercation, now making reconciliationbecause of the blood of Jesus Christ and the peace that God had brought intotheir hearts. It was a great testimony to watch them over the next years they becamegood friends and worked together maintaining buses for our outreach ministry. Thiskind of peace and reconciliation is only possible through Jesus Christ. Sowe see that in this passage of scripture we're at enmity with God before oursalvation. Enmity with God began in the Garden of Eden when sin entered thepicture. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were separated from God. That's whatscripture teaches. They experienced death. Death is separation. They wereseparated from God. Their first two children, Cain and Abel, they experiencedenmity, deep-seated hatred to the point that Cain killed Abel, the first two brothersthat were ever born on planet earth.  Sincreated this enmity between human beings and only God can reconcile us. Then wefind that violence came into the earth because of the enmity between oneanother. The earth was filled with violence in Genesis chapter 6 and the floodtook place. But then even after the flood, men tried to make peace with eachother by building the Tower of Babel so that they can have unity. Yet this didnot bring unity. God scattered the nations and gives them the curse oflanguages that separated them.  Myfriend, there has always been this enmity because of sin. The only answer forsin is the blood of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 describes the ministryof reconciliation. Please take time to read these verses!God bless!

Ialso wanted to remind you of the grand opening tomorrow of the GO Center therein Bonsack, Virginia, right outside Roanoke, Virginia at 9:30am. You're morethan welcome to attend this grand ribbon cutting ceremony opening up the GOCenter. You can read more about this in my Pastor's Chat. Again, thank you somuch for your prayers and being a part of this ministry with us at Pastor MikeImpact Ministries. Today,we are continuing to look at Ephesians 2. We've been talking about how Paulhere in verse 11 begins to address specifically the Gentiles in the church. Anamazing thing took place when of course the Gentiles began to get saved. BeforeActs 11, there was no conflict in the church at Jerusalem. The conflict, strifeand contention, appears in the church when the Gentiles started getting saved inActs chapter 10. This is when Peter went to speak to Cornelius the centurionand brought him to faith in Christ. It was then in Acts 11 we begin to see thisconflict between the Jewish believers concerning circumcision and the Gentiles.Of course, even at the church at Ephesus, because there are both Jewishbelievers and Gentile believers, this conflict possibly was continuing. No doubtthat is why here in Ephesians 2 Paul is writing about the greatest peacemission that has ever taken place on planet earth. That's the peace JesusChrist came to make between us and God, and to make between us and others. Especiallybetween other believers that we might be one. AsI was reading through these verses 11-22, the word one keptcoming up. I circled it. It is important to note that God came to make us onewith Himself through Christ and make us one with one another. Rememberthat was the prayer of Jesus in John 17. Now in Ephesians 2:11. Paul had remindsthe Gentiles that before their salvation, they were without God. They werewithout hope. They were without Christ. They were alienated and strangers tothe commonwealth of Israel, separated from the Jews. Verse13 begins with: “But now”.  This“But now” parallels the “But God” in verse 4, “Whois rich in mercy with His great love”. “But now in Christ,you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ.”He goes on to write. We're going to read through verse 18. “For HeHimself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down themiddle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity,that is the law of commandments contained in the ordinances, so as to create inHimself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that Hemight reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,thereby putting to death the enmity. He came and preached peace to youwho are far off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have accessby one Spirit to the Father.” Howpowerful is that? So, we see a key word here is enmity. The word enmitymeans a deep-seated hatred between people or groups. It's often long-lasting.We see this enmity going on in America today between the left and the right inpolitics and the hatred that the left has for our president. We see thisenmity. It's long-lasting. That there seems to be no reconciliation or peace.We see in this passage of scripture the enmity between the Jews and theGentiles, between sinners and God. But thank God we see that Jesus Christ hascome with the greatest peace mission in history, there is only reconciliationbetween Jews and Gentiles, between God and man through Jesus Christ.  Haveyou made peace with God through Jesus Christ? I trust that it will encourageyou to know only through Christ you can receive reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Godbless!

Paul talks about some definite things that have brought these twogroups together who usually were at odds with one another. In the first versesof this chapter Paul is addressing both the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul tells bothJews and Gentiles that God has made alive those who were dead in trespasses andsins. Remember that a Gentile is anyone who is not born of Jewish descent. Paulreminds them and us how before salvation in Christ we are all dead in ourtrespasses and sins because sin works against us. We're disobedient. We'redepraved, and we're doomed, and we are children of wrath. But God, but God whois rich in His mercy with a great love that He's loved us. And with that loveHe has now brought us salvation and reconciliation and redemption by His graceand through our faith in Christ (vv. 4-9). God has a plan for our life and weare His workmanship, land He has before ordained before the foundation of theworld that we should walk in these wonderful works of God, the good works thatonly He can do through us and let the light of Christ shine out of us andthrough us to a dark world. Nowwe come to verse 11. Here Paul is particularly addressing theGentiles, those who are not of Jewish descent. First, He reminds them, you'recalled uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision (the Jews) made in theflesh by the hand. The Jews look down upon the Gentiles, calling them the uncircumcision.The Gentiles were like dogs in many cases for most of the Jewish people.  Inverse 12 Paul points out that the Gentiles were without Christ being aliensfrom the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant of promisehaving no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you whowere once a far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. The one wordthat best describes the Gentiles is without. They were “outside” in severalrespects. They were without Christ. They're without citizenship in the nationof Israel without the covenants. The covenants were given to Abraham and to hisseed.  BothJews and Gentiles were without hope. Historians tell us that a great cloud ofhopelessness covered the ancient world. Philosophies were empty; traditionswere disappearing; religions were powerless to help men face either life ordeath. People longed to pierce the veil and get some message of hope from theother side, but there was none (1 Thes. 4:13-18). Theywere without God. The heathen had gods aplenty, as Paul discovered in Athens(Acts 17:16-23). But the pagan, no matter how religious or moral he might have been,did not know the true God. The writer of Psalm 115 contrasted the true God withthe idols of the heathen. Itis worth noting that the spiritual plight of the Gentiles was caused not by Godbut by their own willful sin. Paul said the Gentiles knew the true God butdeliberately refused to honor Him (Rom. 1:18-23). Religious history is not arecord of man starting with many gods (idolatry) and gradually discovering theone true God. Rather, it is the sad story of man knowing the truth about Godand deliberately turning away from it! It is a story of devolution, notevolution! The first eleven chapters of Genesis give the story of the declineof the Gentiles; and from Genesis 12 on (the call of Abraham), it is the storyof the Jews. God separated the Jews from the Gentiles that He might be able tosave the Gentiles also. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Godcalled the Jews, beginning with Abraham, that through them He might revealHimself as the one true God. With the Jews He deposited His Word, and throughthe Jews He gave the world the Savior (Rom. 9:1-5). Israel was to be a light tothe Gentiles that they too might be saved. But sad to say, Israel became likethe Gentiles, and the light burned but dimly. This fact is a warning to thechurch today. When the church is least like the world, it does the most for theworld. 

Ephesians 2:8-13 with Pastor Greg Denham

Today's episode is a lecture I gave at the 2025 Inspire Lectureship at Harding University. The topic for this lecture was "Unity in the Body," going along with the theme for Lectureship, Oneness: An Ancient Vision for Unity.

From Solomon's temple to the coming of Jesus, God has always desired to dwell with His people. God's presence was never meant to dwell in buildings alone—but in His people through the Spirit. Now, as His dwelling place, we are sent to carry His presence into every corner of the world.Catch the sermon Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or bridge.tv/sermons.Support the show