EphesiansFood for the soul…

LPO Summer 2009Pete Phillips

St John's College

Durham

Daily Programme

Thankfulness: Ephs 1 (1:1-3, 15-16)

Saving Grace: Ephs 2 (2:1-10)

Prayerfulness: Ephs 3 (3:14-21)

Maturing in Christ: Ephs 4 (4:1-6, 14-16)

Imitating God: Ephs 5 (5:1-2, 8-17)

Tuesday Morning

Saving Grace

Ephesians 1(1:15-16)

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:1-3, 15-16

For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers... (1:15-16)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ... (1:3)

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, but rather thanksgiving (5:4) … always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (5:20)

Saying “Thank you”

Saying “Thank you”

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

Spiritual rule – always give thanksSpiritual rule – always give thanks Paul – before he addresses peoplePaul – before he addresses people Thanks to God...Ephs 1:3-14Thanks to God...Ephs 1:3-14 Thanking God for what he has doneThanking God for what he has done Resetting the perspectiveResetting the perspective Thankful Leper – Luke 17Thankful Leper – Luke 17

For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers... (1:15-16)

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

Thanksgiving – perspective changingThanksgiving – perspective changing Focuses on our need of othersFocuses on our need of others Self is deposedSelf is deposed Giving thanks resets the defaultGiving thanks resets the default Focus becomes GodFocus becomes God Not just - “What has he done for us?”Not just - “What has he done for us?”

For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers... (1:15-16)

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

What’s God done?What’s God done?• Note the verbs used to describe God’s action:Note the verbs used to describe God’s action:• He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing – 1.3He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing – 1.3• He chose us before the creation of the world – 1.4He chose us before the creation of the world – 1.4• He marked us out to be adopted as sons – 1.5He marked us out to be adopted as sons – 1.5• He has freely given us grace in the one he loves – 1.6He has freely given us grace in the one he loves – 1.6• He has redeemed us – 1.7He has redeemed us – 1.7• Forgiven us – 1.7Forgiven us – 1.7• Lavished grace upon us – 1.8Lavished grace upon us – 1.8• Made known to us the mystery of his will – 1.9Made known to us the mystery of his will – 1.9• He has chosen us, predestined us – 1.11He has chosen us, predestined us – 1.11• We might be the praise of his glory – 1.12We might be the praise of his glory – 1.12

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

What’s God like?What’s God like?

• An active God – not waiting to be pampered An active God – not waiting to be pampered or adoredor adored

• A God who acts on our behalfA God who acts on our behalf

• Praise, blessing, holy, blameless, love, Praise, blessing, holy, blameless, love, pleasure, will praise, gracepleasure, will praise, grace

• All things God does for usAll things God does for us

• God’s brilliance makes us brilliant peopleGod’s brilliance makes us brilliant people

What's your God like?

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

Openness to others – vulnerabilityOpenness to others – vulnerability Gratefulness gives others worthGratefulness gives others worth Notice not about what Paul gotNotice not about what Paul got About what the other person givesAbout what the other person gives Self-denying in a self-centred worldSelf-denying in a self-centred world

For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers... (1:15-16)

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16

What’s to give thanks for?What’s to give thanks for?

• He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing – 1.3He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing – 1.3• He chose us before the creation of the world – 1.4He chose us before the creation of the world – 1.4• He marked us out to be adopted as sons – 1.5He marked us out to be adopted as sons – 1.5• He has freely given us grace in the one he loves – 1.6He has freely given us grace in the one he loves – 1.6• He has redeemed us – 1.7He has redeemed us – 1.7• Forgiven us – 1.7Forgiven us – 1.7• Lavished grace upon us – 1.8Lavished grace upon us – 1.8• Made known to us the mystery of his will – 1.9Made known to us the mystery of his will – 1.9• He has chosen us, predestined us – 1.11He has chosen us, predestined us – 1.11• We might be the praise of his glory – 1.12We might be the praise of his glory – 1.12

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16, 5:4, 5:20

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, but rather thanksgiving (5:4) … always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (5:20)

• Habitualisation of thanksabitualisation of thanks• Self-denying/other-affirmingSelf-denying/other-affirming• Awareness of need - vulnerabilityAwareness of need - vulnerability• Beginning of most good theology Beginning of most good theology

Saying “Thank you”

EphesiansFood for the soul…

LPO Summer 2009Pete Phillips

St John's College

Durham