Ephesians 3 says that Paul has a reason for preaching that you (those who believe) have the Spirit and praying that you would be filled with the Spirit. The reason for doing so is found in the previous section of Ephesians: that Christ is our peace, has made peace between us and God and between Jews and Gentiles, and has preached peace through the apostles. That you have the Spirit is the content of much of my preaching and that you would be filled with the Spirit is the content of much of my praying. My purpose in preaching Ephesians first is that it is all about the church and it briefly hits on most of the major themes of faithful preaching and prayer.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: peace, prayer, sermons, spirit

Ephesians 1:15-23, like Joshua 5:13-15, shows us the way things really are. This sermon attempts to help you see God's interpretation of you and your world, which is one reason for Sunday worship. We see here reasons for offering a prayer of thanksgiving and thus for praying that you would have a Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God are so that you would know God's riches, power, and hope. You are not worthless, you are God's rich inheritance. You are not powerless, Jesus is Lord. You are not hopeless, you have a certain hope for your inheritance of the new heavens and earth.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: hope, inheritance, power, prayer, riches, Sunday worship

Ephesians 1:1-14 models passing the peace (1:2) and a prayer of adoration (1:3-14). Thus I reflected upon worship and how prayer is an essential element of worship and the passing of the peace is appropriate too. All worship is according to the pattern revealed in the word of God just as all prayer should be according to the pattern revealed in the word of God. The model and summary of right prayer is the Lord's Prayer and expanding on its first three petitions we have here a model prayer of adoration. It is a prayer blessing the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ because of election and adoption in Christ, redemption and reconciliation in Christ, and for the assurance of our inheritance. God tells us these things not only to give His people assurance but also so that all of the glory would go to Him alone.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: adoption, assurance, blessing, election, passing the peace, prayer

Acts 6:1-7 is the beginning of a division of labor in the leadership of the church. Later there would be an even further division of labor among elders between the ruling elders and the teaching elders. Elders provide servant leadership with respect to word gifts and deacons provide servant leadership with respect to deed gifts. And most members major in one or the other: word or deed. What we must all realize is that serving with your hands (deed) can be Spirit-filled service just as prayer and the service of the Word. And we should all appreciate that just as serving with your hands can be hard work, so too is prayer and the service of the Word. And when everyone is contributing their gifts, we have the right conditions for growth.


Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: elders, leadership, ministry, prayer, serve, spirit, Spiritual gifts, Sunday worship

Luke 11:1-13 shows us what to pray for, when to pray, and how to pray. Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray by giving them an example approaching God as Father (meaning the approach is within an intimate relationship, with honor and respect), an attitude of forgiveness toward others, and with balance (not all requests for necessities and health). He shows them that it is not disrespectful to pray at midnight (or any other time) but instead that we can pray at any time. And ultimately prayer should be asking for the Holy Spirit -- this is the primary content of prayer.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: forgiven, honor, luke, prayer, spirit

Luke 11:1-13 shows us what to pray for, when to pray, and how to pray. Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray by giving them an example approaching God as Father (meaning the approach is within an intimate relationship, with honor and respect), an attitude of forgiveness toward others, and with balance (not all requests for necessities and health). He shows them that it is not disrespectful to pray at midnight (or any other time) but instead that we can pray at any time. And ultimately prayer should be asking for the Holy Spirit -- this is the primary content of prayer.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: forgiven, honor, luke, prayer, spirit