Downtown Church: Memphis, TN

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-10)

Principle 1: Human beings learn through the seeing about that which is unseen. Principle 2: A body that does not follow its head becomes sick; it will wither and it will die. Principle 3: The big mission is lived out in the little mission.

Sermon in a sentence: Use the gifts God has given you to build his church. 1. The Source of our Gifts. V.7-10 "The ascension of Jesus Christ is one of the most neglected concepts in Protestant history. Jesus was elevated to heaven, where he is enthroned as the King of kings and where He is our great high priest forever… He’s just not the risen Lord; He’s the ascended Lord.” RC Sprouls 2. The Purpose for our Gifts. V.11-12

Main Idea: Trust God. Trust God. Trust God. Verse 1: The Question: From where does my help come? Verse 2: The Answer: My Help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Reason #1 to Trust in the Lord: The Lord works the Night Shift. Verse 3-4 Reason #2 to Trust in the Lord: The Lord is a Keeper. Verse 5-6 Reason #3 to Trust in the Lord: The Lord’s Keeping has no Expiration Date. Verse 7-8

Prayer: (v 1) “prisoner of Christ, (v13) “don’t lose heart” Eph. 3:2-6 – Paul’s role in God’s plan Eph 3:7-12 – The church in God’s plan 1. God’s plan for the world 2. The church in God’s plan 3. Individuals in God’s plan 1. God’s plan for the world “Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me” – Eph 3:1 (ESV) “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan” – Eph 3:10 (ESV) “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” – Eph 1:9-10 (ESV) 2. The church in God’s plan and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. – Eph 3:9-10 (ESV) “with” compound verbs in Ephesians 2 & 3 “made us alive together with” – Eph 2:5 “raised us with and seated us with – Eph 2:6 “fellow citizens with” – Eph 2:19 “being joined together with” – Eph 2:21 “heirs with, members of the body with, partakers of promises with” – Eph 3:6 "The church is unified across ethnic lines and is a newly created human being. By its very existence as a unified body, then, the church makes known to the evil spiritual rulers and authorities the vastness of God’s creative wisdom: he not only created the universe with its endless variety, but in a wholly surprising way he has also begun to restore the crowning achievement of his creation—humanity—to its original unity." – Frank Thielman 3. Individuals in God’s plan

Central Idea: Christians tear down walls that divide to build a house that unites. 1. Our Hostile CONDITION. Verse 11-12 "You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” Acts 10:28 2. Christ’s Peaceful CONSTRUCTION. Verse 13-18 3. The Church’s Pressing CHARGE. Verse 19-22 How to be a Peacemaker: Pray: God, your will be done, and your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive those who have offended us, and we seek forgiveness from those we have offended. Pick up our crosses and die to our worldly allegiances. Extend the grace you have been given.

Main idea – God’s gift of salvation revives the walking dead to live for God’s glory 1. Salvation is because of grace 2. Salvation gives us new life 3. Salvation is by faith “God’s workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10) vs. “that which God created” (Romans 1:20) Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. 2. Salvation gives us new life 3. Salvation is by faith

I. The Currency: God’s love and mercy [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, II. The Transaction: Christ made dead sinners alive and holy [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, III. The Receipt: God’s eternal commitment to His people [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

This Sunday we continue our series "Ephesians: God's plan for all people" Rev. Sir Gregory Thornton will preach from Ephesians 2:1-3, "It's Worse than You Think." 

1. Experience the hope of your calling (Verse 18) 2. Experience that you are God’s glorious inheritance (Verse 18) 3. Experience God’s power at work in you (Verse 19)

“When we forget about the Spirit, we really are forgetting God...There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches operate today.” Francis Chan Main Idea: The Holy Spirit guarantees God’s current presence and future blessing in our lives. 1. Signed - Signed with Good News. Verse 13a 2. Sealed - Sealed as God’s Possession. Verse 13b “whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.” (John 7:38-39) 3. Delivered - Delivered to Receive our Inheritance. Verse 14

Join us as we continue on a transformative journey through the pages of Ephesians. We will discover God’s plan for the world, the church, and God’s plan for you. Ephesians uncovers for us the profound riches of God’s grace, the blessings of salvation, and how mankind can live in unity. We hope that as we walk through Ephesians: God’s Plan for All People, we will be ignited with a passion for God’s Word and empowered to live by faith.

As the new people of God, Christians / Saints have experienced the abundance of God's good pleasure in His Providing all insight and wisdom. This spiritual blessing from the Father reveals to us God's secret plan, - that at the fullness of times, God will restore harmony to all Creation by uniting, in Christ, all things in Heaven and on Earth.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3 Main Idea: Live in and enjoy the blessing of redemption 1. In Him: WHO of redemption Colossians 1:13-14, “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.” 2. By His Blood: HOW of redemption Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." 3. According to the riches of His Grace: WHAT of redemption.

Big idea: Our adoption is in and through Christ alone, we must live according to the purpose of His will. Conforming to the image of Jesus Christ the Son of Man Confidence in our blessed assurance Committed to the Beloved Family

1. Chosen Unconditionally 2. Chosen to be blameless 3. Chosen to be holy 4. Chosen in Him 5. Chosen in His presence

1. Grace: Proof of God’s love. 2. Peace: Product of God’s Grace. 3. Praise: Bless God because, by His Grace, we have Peace. Blessing: #1 God chose you in him before the foundation of the world. Verse 4 #2 Adopted you to himself according to the purpose of his will. Verse 5 #3 Redemption and forgiveness of our trespasses, because of the riches of his grace. Verse 7 #4 Inheritance. Verse 11 #5 Sealed with the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of your inheritance. Verse 13

Main Idea: God's Word has the power to transform our lives, cities, and the world. 1. God uses SUBMITTED hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 8-12 Ways Paul Proclaimed: 1. Bold 2. Reasoned 3. Persuasive 4. Consistent 2. God uses COMPETING hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 13-17

Main Idea: Jesus being alive gives us reason to rejoice. 1. Jesus is Alive Hymn: I serve a risen Savior I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him, He’s always near Refrain: He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart. 2. Jesus is Accessible 3. Jesus is more than an Acquaintance. He is our Brother.

Big Idea: Because of God’s infinite authority we are sent out to the nations to make disciples. John 17:18 (ESV): “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:20–21 (ESV): “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”