Sermon Sandwich
Ephesians 1:1-16—Sermon Sandwich
Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
www.trinityedisto.com 843-869-3568
All Saints Sunday, November 7, 2021
Holy Eucharist - Renewed Ancient Text; 2019 BCP, p.123
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Ephesians 1:1-16 Sermon Notes
Intro - School yard story of Wey.
Ephesians 1:3-4 - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
1. Chosen - eklegomai - to make a choice, to select, to prefer. Verb in the Aorist Tense meaning it was a definite decision and action in the past.
Why am I chosen? Not because I am the Best or the Worst, but because of Love.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
John 15:13,16 - 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. … 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you
Ephesians 1:5 - In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
2. Predestined - proorizo - To come to a decision beforehand, to determine and decide ahead of time. Connects to “Destination.”
Destination - Adoption as sons (and daughters).
How do I know? By my response to The Gospel.
When I Repent and Believe in the Gospel, then I know.
The Gospel is the Good News of
the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:13 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
How do I know, down deep in my heart?
State - my current situation, my emotional state, my mental state, my physical state. How I am right now.
Status - my permanent identity, my position, my station in life.
The Gospel changes not my State but my Status. If I want this Gospel Truth to move from my head to my heart then I need to say it out loud.
Stories of Who are you?