St. Aidan's Anglican Church
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering

the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday

The Gift of Grace - by Chris Barnes

11/15/2021

 
OBSERVE: Within these chapters we observe the following:

  • God’s plan for the Gentiles revealed through the gospel
  • A prayer for the Ephesians that they be strengthened through God’s Spirit
  • A call to be unified in the Spirit as one body
  • Instructions on Christian living for the church

INTERPRET: Paul was a minister of the gospel according to God’s grace. Though he was the least likely to be in this role, God gave him this calling to share Christ with the Gentiles. He sought to bring light to everyone, regarding the plan and grace of God.
The first three chapters of this letter are primarily doctrine; while the last three chapters provide a practical approach on how to live. It is chapter 3 that begins the transition from a Christian understanding of salvation, grace, and the power of Christ; into a practical guide for Christian living. To ease the transition, Paul refers to his own calling by God and prays for the spiritual strength of the Ephesian church.

Beginning in chapter 4, Paul puts the doctrine into practice. Paul begins by emphasizing the ultimate unity of all Christians. Paul makes it clear that spiritual gifts are given to us through the grace of God. These gifts are then used to build up the church as a unified body. Paul also begins to explain how knowledge of God’s truths should translate into real life action. Paul urges the church to live in ways that reflect the grace that they’ve been given.

APPLICATION: God’s grace is an undeserved gift that is epitomized at the cross. Grace is an undeserved gift that keeps on giving; as we continually seek to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Grace is not only a quality of the nature of God, but it is an acting of God that works in us to change our capacity for obedience, work and even suffering.

God’s grace empowers us to live in ways that glorify God. We are to set our minds on spiritual things; putting on the new self of godly living.  As we focus on Christ and what he has done for us; he will build up the church as one unified body. As believers; the Holy Spirit will equip us with spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts will help us minister to other believers and to make a difference to the world around us.

REFLECTION: Have you be prepared to receive the spiritual gifts that God wants to grace you with? Have you discerned your gifts by testing them within your church body?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father; I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me daily with power through your Spirit; so that Christ may dwell in my heart. I also ask that you will help me; along with all of your holy people; to grasp how wide and long and high and deep your love is. AMEN.

SONG: Ephesians 3:14 20- A Scripture Song


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture

    Preachers Blog

    In 2023, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions.

    ​Thank you for joining us as we journeyed through the Bible in a Year in 2021 and the Psalms in 2022.  All past blogs remain available if you wish to catch up with any days missed.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Who is Jesus?
At St Aidan's, it's our desire to know our Real God,
to grow as a Real Church and
​ to live Real Lives for Him.

Picture
St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: staidans.churchoffice@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering