God's Plan
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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
God’s plan (v10, 11) for the world is overwhelmingly gracious (vv7-8).
1. In love (v4)
v3 “who has blessed us”, v7 “through his blood”
v4 “chose us in him before the foundation of the world”
v5 “to himself” (v10 “unite all things in him”)
2. He predestined us (v5)
v5 “for adoption” (v7 “redemption”)
v1 “Paul, an apostle… by the will of God”
3. To the praise of his glorious grace (v5)
vv7-8 “riches of grace… lavished upon us”
vv13-14 “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit… the guarantee of our inheritance”
v12, v14 “praise of his glory”
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we should be holy and blameless, but we are not. We do not treat other people with grace. We have been harsh, judgmental, arrogant, fearful, cruel. Our words and actions expose our distorted thoughts and feelings. We lack faith, and so we question your actions and motives. We confess we have trouble understanding how you have loved us. Lord, despite our unworthiness, you have redeemed us. You have set your love on us, not because we deserve it, but because you love. We thank you for your grace and generosity. We are assembled before you in Christ, so we pray this in his name. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Does God have a plan for history? How would you know? If you think there is a plan, what does it involve?
What difference does it make that God acts with love? How does believing that shape how you interpret events and circumstances? How does not believing it shape how you interpret events and circumstances?
If God’s love is parental, what are implications for understanding how God relates to us and we relate to God?
Why does the Bible tell Christians that God predestined them?
What benefits come with being adopted by God?
How does grace work? What makes it so good? What makes it so unique?
What difficulties do people have with grace? How can grace be misunderstood?
What role does the Holy Spirit play in connecting you to God’s plan?
How should the presence of the Holy Spirit in you change you? What characteristics should you have that would signal to others that God is present in you?