Andrew: Recent Episodes
Andrew
We Change The World When We Are Willing To Reach Just One More Person With The Gospel by Andrew
Our Commitment To The Gospel Changes The World: February 24, 2019- Pastor Andrew Stucker by Andrew
God Still Works In The Detours Of Life: December 2, 2018- Pastor Andrew Stucker by Andrew
As Paul closes out Ephesians chapter 4 he reminds us that our new identity begins to produce new activity. In following Jesus we begin to walk in a new way of life, putting off the old way of living and putting on a new way of living.
As we continue to move through the book of Ephesians, the first way Paul tells us to live out the new identity we have been given is to be a loving unified body. But aren't unified simply for the sake of being unified. Our unity should lead us to greater maturity.
At this point in Ephesians, Paul has told us Jesus has reshaped our identity, our condition, and our status. Before Paul begins telling us how all of this will affect our new way of life, he wants to make sure our understanding of God's love is reshaped as well. Before we ever do anything for God we must be rooted and grounded in His love for us.
Not only does Jesus makes us right with God, but Jesus also makes us right with man. He takes those who are far off and draws them near. For those who know they have been saved by grace through faith alone, it becomes impossible for them to reject others who have also been made part of the family.
In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul tells us how Jesus has reshaped our condition. He tells us how hopeless our condition is apart from Jesus but how also how magnificent the good news is with Him. We have to understand the magnitude of our probelm if we're the rejoice in the magnitude of the solution.
In Ephesians Chapter 1, Paul tells us that the Gospel reshapes our identity. Once we know our identity, and how God views us, our identity will direct our activity.
The goal of the Christian life is to grow in godliness. We do not naturally drift towards godliness. However, with the right training and strategy we can set ourselves up to experience tremendous spiritual growth.
Jesus is the only hope for a lost and dying world. Mark, in his gospel, records the story of four friends who were willing to do whatever it took in order to bring their friend to Jesus. Are we willing to go to the same lengths in order to see our communities redeemed and our world changed by Jesus?
As Christians, we are called to not only worship together as a large congregation but to walk through life together in small communities of believers. The first believers understood that doing life together within small groups led to greater spiritual impact. The same is true for us. When we engage in community, we experience greater spiritual blessings in our lives.
At Shiloh Baptist Church, we want growing disciples to know know God through weekly worship and teaching. Be inspired as the author of Hebrews encourages believers to not forsake consistently meeting together with God's church.