Ephesians – Page 5

Morning Musings: Ephesians 4:26-27

November 1, 2017November 1, 2017Leave a comment

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (ESV – Read the chapter)

This is a verse that is often misunderstood and misapplied. For starters, Paul is not somehow outlawing anger here. Sometimes believers let themselves be convinced that negative emotions of any kind are not appropriate for believers to experience. This is far from the truth. A quick look at the Scriptures reveals this to be the case rather conclusively. Our God is a passionate God who experiences a full range of emotions. Jesus in particular experienced loss, hurt, anger, rejection, and so on. Read the rest…

The Happiness Trap

October 30, 2017October 27, 20171 Comment

In this final part of our series, Marriage Myths, we look at one last myth our culture tells us about marriage. This is the myth that marriage is primarily about our happiness. It sounds nice, to be sure, but just like every other myth, it does not compare with the truth. Keep reading to find out what the truth here is and how we can live in it, and stay tuned for next week when we start a brand new teaching series called The Big Story. If you’ve ever wondered what the Bible is all about, over the next four weeks we’ll talk about it together. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Ephesians 4:1

October 30, 2017October 30, 2017Leave a comment

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. (ESV – Read the chapter)

For the previous three chapters Paul has been unpacking the incredibly high nature of the calling those who are in Christ have received from Him. It is not just a high calling, but a holy one. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Ephesians 2:8-10

October 27, 2017October 26, 2017Leave a comment

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship; created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (ESV – Read the chapter)

For anyone who would argue that our salvation has in even the tiniest of ways to do with our good works, this verse puts the lie to their position. Any individual, church, or even whole faith tradition that says otherwise is mistaken. That’s a pretty strong way to put it, but there really isn’t any other way around what Paul says here. Salvation comes by grace through faith and not by works. Period. We didn’t have anything to do with it being given to us beyond receiving the gift by faith. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Ephesians 2:4

October 25, 2017October 24, 2017Leave a comment

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Have you ever wondered how and why our God could be such a merciful God? Perhaps not. Perhaps you’ve wondered more often why God seems like such an angry God. If that’s the case, you haven’t been taught very well about the character of God. That’s not your fault. It’s a symptom of our culture. Read the rest…