Ephesians: Pray Big

Ephesians 1:15-23

This message explores the big prayer of the Apostle Paul for those who are God’s own. The great problem Christians are up against, despite having the Spirit within them, is dullness. Even though we might have had a wonderful encounter with Jesus a few days ago, the things of eternity may not seem real today. This dullness is a constant struggle for the believer. Paul’s prayer strikes at the very root of this problem. He prays that the Spirit would open the eyes of the heart and reveal the knowledge of God. He prays, specifically, that we would know the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance and the immeasurable greatness of His power. This prayer of Paul not only gives us inspiration to pray big but it also gives us permission. 

Ephesians: Intercessory Prayer

Ephesians 1:15-16

Paul said that he did not cease to pray for the believers in Ephesus. This practice of earnest continual prayer marked the early Christians and especially the prophets before them. Many examples from history are given to paint a picture of what intercessory prayer is all about. Scott explains that it’s a different sort of prayer. It’s not the prayer of rest. It’s not merely coffee, contemplation and communion. It’s war. It’s a toil not of human effort but of supernatural power. Paul talked of “struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works within him”. This message is a strong call to be devoted to the serious practice of laboring in prayer for others. It’s a call to return to what the old saints called “travail” and the “burden of the Lord”. It’s this kind of praying alone that has paved the way for mighty moves of God throughout the world. 

Ephesians: Assurance

Ephesians 1:14 

In America, most people believe that heaven awaits them after death. This includes not only Christians and Catholics but Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and all sorts of other religious folks. Even people who don’t hold to a specific religion have a loose idea that there is a God and that they will be welcomed into heaven after death. Jesus, however, warned that many will be surprised and shocked on judgment day when they find the door is closed. They will hear the words, “I never knew you”. Jesus is famous for his statement in John 3 that “unless we are born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God”. So how do we know we are truly saved? One of the crowning promises in the Bible is that the Christian will receive assurance that after death he or she will forever be with Christ in glory. What are the distinguishing marks of this assurance? How do we know that our assurance is genuine and not mere wishful thinking? This message explores these important questions and offers guidance to those who are uncertain about their standing before God. 

Ephesians: How We Are Saved

Ephesians 1:13 

How does a person go from lost to saved, from not knowing Jesus to knowing Him, from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ? What are the elements of this sacred process of entering into the kingdom of God? What must happen to obtain salvation? These are the questions explored in this small verse in Ephesians. Scott shows that the gospel must be preached and heard; there must be a response of faith; the Spirit must cause new birth. From start to finish it is God doing the work. The last part of the message is an exhortation to the church about the importance of preaching the gospel because no one will be saved unless the gospel is preached (Romans 10). Strong reasons are given to preach the gospel even if most reject it and the effort to communicate has negative effects socially most of the time. 

Ephesians: Inheritance

Ephesians 1:11,12

Even the most amazing earthly inheritance we could imagine pales in comparison to the inheritance we obtain in Christ. Because we are God’s chosen beloved children we will receive an inheritance that will never fade and that will last forever. We have been made rich through our adoption! This message also touches on predestination and the doctrine of election. It again explores the question—why are some saved and others not? The last part of the sermon unfolds the ultimate purpose of our existence, namely, that we would glorify God. Scott shows that the revelation of what God has done for us has a way of making us want to worship with everything in us. We loathe the idea of mediocrity or shoddy worship or partial giving or mere minimum requirement. Our hearts burn to please Him and to give our utmost to Him. 

Standalone Sermons: Controlling Relationships

Special guest, Dr. Michael Caparelli, has served as a lead pastor in Rhode Island for over 10 years. He has recently branched out to begin a new ministry called UnMuted, giving victims of trauma their voices back. This particular message was about controlling relationships. The classic story of Pharaoh’s relationship with the people of Israel (Exodus 5) was used as an illustration of how control works. The aim of the message was to bring light and freedom to anyone suffering from a toxic relationship and the courage to break the cycle of control. 

Ephesians: Lavished

Ephesians 1:7-10

Because all of us have experienced broken love in varying degrees, it can be a struggle to fully grasp that God lavishes, loves, and even likes us. This message explores the heart of God before creation and how he devised a grand plan with excitement and joy to bless us. As God’s chosen and dearly beloved people, we are a part of this plan to unite all things together in Christ in the coming ages. May we be overwhelmed by the depth of the Father’s love for us! 

Ephesians: Chosen

Ephesians 1:1-6

If God is so powerful why doesn’t He save everyone? Why are some saved and others not? Why does God say in the Word that our salvation does not depend on anything we do? What does it mean that God chose us before the creation of the world? Did we choose Jesus or did He choose us? Do human beings have the ability to come to Christ? Does God give everyone the ability? Does God want all people to be saved? Did God know some people would end up in hell before He made them? Does God extend mercy to all or to some? If to only some, is that just? What is just? Does everyone have an equal opportunity to be saved? These are some of the questions Pastor Scott cracked open from Ephesians 1:1-6 and the great theme of election. Scripture seems to teach opposing ideas on God’d sovereignty and man’s responsibility, which theologians have long struggled to reconcile. Scott encourages us to hold them in tension, embrace the mystery and trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways. The overall thrust of the message is to breathe in the wonder of being chosen and let it humble you and evoke joyful worship. 

Ephesians: Intro

This is the first message of a series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and includes introduction details to lay a foundation for the study. Most of the message is an expounding of the accounts in Acts 18-19 that talk about the extraordinary things that happened in Ephesus as the movement of Jesus was established there through Paul. The message not only gave some context for the study but also served to set the tone for the new year. Themes such as boldness, bravery, persecution and the Word of God are explored. 

Communion Sundays: Psalm 32

This was the first message of 2020 and also a Communion Sunday. Psalm 32 was expounded on as a way of helping to reset hearts for the new year. The essential message was that God is merciful and yet we are responsible to deal honestly with our sins.