This morning let’s not be just ‘hearers’ of the Word, but ‘doers of the word. Take some time at lunch, dinner, or bedtime to DIG DEEPER into the today’s lesson and story. Take a few moments to apply today’s lesson to our lives.

ASK MYSELF…challenging questions for the heart:

  1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?
  2. What are all the “before-and-after” statements Paul lists in this passage?
  3. How can we be sure we have been born again?
  4. If you could sum up your life before Christ and now with Christ in one before-and-after statement, what would it be?
  5. Is there anything in your life with Christ that you wish were farther along in the transformation process?

FOR THE FAMILY…challenging questions for family life:

  1. Read together Ephesians 2:1-10
  2. Ask you kids for some before and after examples (perhaps you all watch a before-and-after type TV show together)
  3. Discuss the idea that sin and disobedience to God leads to death and how giving our lives to God leads to life. (express on terms your kids can understand)
  4. Discuss the idea that other Christians are key to an ongoing before-and-after pictures in our lives.
  5. Pray together.

Today’s Service

April9th,2017

Part3

“Get”

Pastor Brian Stanley

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT)1Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.2You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.3All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.7So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)9If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

When God gets a hold of a life, He creates something ____ and ______.

God has perfect ______for ______people.

“We bless others naturally through our strengths. But we bless others supernaturally through our weaknesses…and Scripture makes this clear: God’s power is made perfect in weakness.”
Dr. Leonard Sweet in his book,I Am A Follower(162)

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)9Each time he said,“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Your purpose in Christ is ______to the lives of those God has placed in your life.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

NOTES: ______