fbpx
314-843-3500 [email protected]

God’s Handiwork

by | Jul 17, 2022

Sermon Notes

Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:8-10

Key Question

-How do you see yourself?

-How does God see you?

Consider:

One word that most all parents struggle with is this: inadequacy. But what if we could change how we view ourselves by understanding how our heavenly Father sees us?

1. What has God provided for us? (Eph. 1:3-7)

  • Blessed with spiritual blessings (v. 3)
  • Chosen us before creation began (v. 4)
  • Adopted into his family (v. 5)
  • Forgiven our sins (vs. 6-7)

2. What has God said about us (Eph. 2:10)?

  • You are God’s handiwork.
  • You are created to do good works.

3. All these benefits have a time stamp (a “when”) on them (Eph 1:13-14).

  • You heard the gospel.
  • You believed
  • You received the Holy Spirit

Discussion Questions

TALK IT OUT: 

  1. Pastor Rusty begins his message with this question; how do you see yourself? Take a moment to answer that question.  
  1. Pastor Rusty says, “One word that almost all parents struggle with its inadequacy.” He suggests it would change how we view ourselves if we could understand how our heavenly Father sees us. How do you think God sees you?  
  1. Based upon Ephesians 1:3-7 Pastor, Rusty says God has provided for us in the following ways: 1) He has blessed us with spiritual blessings (vs. 3). 2) He had chosen us before creation began (vs. 4). 3) He has adopted us into his family (vs. 5). 4) He has forgiven our sins (vs. 6-7). On a sheet of paper, jot down what each of these four things means to you.  
  1. Pastor Rusty points from Ephesians 2:10 that we are God’s handiwork. What are the implications of that fact?  
  1. In Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Rusty also points out that we have also been created to do good works. What good work are you doing?  
  1. Pastor Rusty shares that these benefits have a time stamp on them (a when) according to Ephesians 1:13-14. The timestamp is when we have: 1) Heard the gospel and 2) Received the Holy Spirit. When did you hear the gospel? What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit?  

LIVE IT OUT 

  • If you are a believer, thank God for your spiritual blessings for a few moments.  
  • If you are a believer, thank God for choosing you, adopting you into his family, and forgiving your sins.  
  • If you are not a believer or if these concepts don’t currently make sense, talk to a Christian friend or contact Concord Church to find out how to become a believer.