Ephesians Food for the soul… LPO Summer 2009 Pete 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, 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”

Thankfulness: Ephesians 1:15-16  Spiritual rule – always give thanks  Paul – before he addresses people  Thanks to God...Ephs 1:3-14  Thanking God for what he has done  Resetting the perspective  Thankful 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 changing  Focuses on our need of others  Self is deposed  Giving thanks resets the default  Focus becomes God  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? 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? An active God – not waiting to be pampered or adoredAn active God – not waiting to be pampered or adored A God who acts on our behalfA God who acts on our behalf Praise, blessing, holy, blameless, love, pleasure, will praise, gracePraise, blessing, holy, blameless, love, pleasure, 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 – vulnerability  Gratefulness gives others worth  Notice not about what Paul got  About what the other person gives  Self-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? 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) abitualisation of thanks Habitualisation of thanks Self-denying/other-affirming Self-denying/other-affirming Awareness of need - vulnerability Awareness of need - vulnerability Beginning of most good theology Beginning of most good theology

Saying “Thank you”

Ephesians Food for the soul… LPO Summer 2009 Pete Phillips St John's College Durham