Union With Christ
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 1:1-14 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Sermon Outline
Union with Christ is how all the blessings of God come into our lives and world.
1. How we know we need it
v3 every spiritual blessing: v4 holy and blameless; v5 adoption; v7 redemption, forgiveness; v9 making known the mystery of his will; v11 inheritance; v13 salvation
2. How it comes to us with power
v13 “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”
v10 “a plan for the fullness of time”
3. How it reshapes our lives
v3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ”
vv7-8 “the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us”
v13 “you heard the word of truth… and believed…”
Prayer of Confession
Blessed are you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You lavish grace upon us, but we confess we have not been faithful to you. All of us have gone astray. We have been divided against you and one another. We have failed to take responsibility for our guilt and the consequences of our choices. Forgive us. We thank you that you have sent Jesus in the fulness of time. You have redeemed us, adopted us, forgiven us, revealed yourself to us, and given us all things. You have saved us. Thank you for the mercy that is ours in Christ. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How does sin cause division? What are examples of ways sin disconnects things?
If someone were to look at how you spend money, what you think and talk most about, what brings you joy, or what worries you, what would they say your deepest desires are? What do you want most?
Ephesians 1 claims that every spiritual blessing comes to us from the Father, in Christ. What is in view? How does this work?
Why does the story of Jesus, fulfilling all things in the particular ways that he did, have power to change hearts?
What does it mean to be united to Christ? How should this union change your life?
How should Christians live in a city like New York? What does it mean to be in the city, but faithful in Christ? How does being rooted in Christ create the possibility of living a life that is good for the city?