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Ephesians 2:4-7 -- ”But GOD!”

Ephesians 2:4-7

From Creation, we learn of GOD's power & wisdom, His creativity & benevolence.  By individual conscience, we gain unmistakable impressions of GOD's holiness & righteousness (His moral character).  But it in/through GOD's sending of the Son we learn of His LOVE (His mercy, grace, kindness)!

Ephesaians 2:2-5 - ”How Dead Were We?”

Ephesians 2:2-5

Andrew MacLaren (1826–1910), a British Baptist pastor and contemporary of Charles Spurgeon wrote (preached): "The Apostle looks upon the world — many-coloured, full of activity, full of intellectual stir, full of human emotions, affections, joys, sorrows, fluctuations — as if it were one great cemetery, and on every gravestone there were written the same inscription.  They all died of the same disease — 'dead through sin,'..."

Ephesians 2:1-7 / DEAD!

Ephesians 2:1-4

John Stott (1921-2011) writes in his commentary on Ephesians:
"Paul first plumbs the depths of pessimism about man, and then rises to the heights of optimism about God.  It is this combination of pessimism and optimism, of despair and faith, which constitutes the refreshing realism of the Bible. For what Paul does in this passage is to paint a vivid contrast between what man is by nature and what he can become by grace."

1 John 5:10-13 / Doctrine of Assurance

1 John 5:10-13
The Doctrine of Biblical Assurance
Guest speaker, Kendall Oliver is pastor of Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in Decatur.

Titus 2:11-14 / How God’s Grace Gives Hope!

Titus 2:11-14

Guest Speaker, Jordan McFarland  (current ministry intern at Southern View Chapel in Springfield).  Jordan is a graduate of Calvary Bible College (now, Calvary University), receiving a B.A. in Advanced Biblical Studies.  He is starting classes at Faith Seminary
in Lafayette, IN with the intention of receiving a Masters of Divinity.  Jordan desires to serve in pastoral ministry somewhere as the Lord leads.

 

Ephesians 1:20-23 / The Power of GOD in Christ!

Ephesians 1:20-23 -- Wonder of wonders!  GOD gives (the resurrected, and ascended, and ruling) CHRIST to the Church!

Ephesians 1:18-19 - A Believer’s Hope and Call

Ephesians 1:18-19

The effect of having "the eyes of our hearts are enlightened" is that we know:
1) the hope to which God has called us
2) the riches of God's glorious inheritance among [in] the saints
3) the immeasurable greatness of God's power...

Ephesians 1:15-18a -- ”Knowing God”

Ephesians 1:15-18a

Having praised God for the gracious and comprehensive blessings found in Christ (vss 3-14), Paul prays that the believers (the Church) will more fully comprehend the significance of those blessings.  Paul doesn't pray for an additional "second blessing" ; rather, he prays for their "EYES TO BE ENLIGHTENED" to what they already have!

Job 38:8-17 / Ray Clark

It is always a treat when Pastor Ray Clark, along with members from Baptist Bible Church in Decatur, join our church's gathering in Mount Zion!  Pastor Ray's lively and engaging style takes us to the LORD's response to Job.  As it turns out, Job doesn't know or understand nearly so much as he previously imagined.  Very practical applications to our own life circumstances.

1 Peter 1:1-3 / Phil Underhile

Special guest speaker, Phil Underhile, has roots in our church that go back to 1992!  He currently serves as a church planting missionary-pastor in Hawaii.  Today's message considers the magnificence of a Christian's salvation from 1 Peter 1:3-5.