Enlightened Hearts
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV)
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Sermon Outline
Personal knowledge of God brings remarkable changes to our lives.
1. Connection Between Wisdom and Revelation
v17 “may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him”
v15-16 “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints”
2. The Role of the Heart
v18 “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”
vv19-21 “… he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…”
v16 “remembering you in my prayers”; v17 “may give you”
3. Cosmic Integration
vv18-19 “that you may know… the hope… inheritance… greatness of his power”
vv22-23 “and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness…”
Prayer of Confession
Father of glory, we need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. We confess our discouragement, apathy, and cynicism. We have been guilty of contempt. Our faith has been shallow. Our love has been insufficient. We know about you, but it doesn’t always seem like we know you. We have not integrated deeply in the body of Christ. Forgive us. Enlighten our hearts. Show us the hope that is in you. Thank you for all that is ours in Christ. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What does it mean to know God? How do you come to know God, or grow in that knowledge?
Why is trust needed to make faith more than just an assent to information?
What evidence is there that human hearts are naturally hard and filled with darkness? How does God change our hearts?
What makes the promises of scripture (hope, riches, power) seem distant? How can your knowledge of these things bring something of the reality of them into your present experience?
How can the church cultivate life together? How can our common connection to Christ help us to experience more of the good things that are ours in Christ?