Welcome to Worship
October 15, 2023
8:30am
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. —(Ephesians 2:13)
Welcome to Worship: Rev. Bill Archer
Worship Song: House of the Lord
Prayer: Rev. Bill Archer
Redland Happenings and Welcome: Rev. Bill Archer
Congregational Greeting
Children’s Moment: Lisa Jenkins
Worship Song: Only A Holy God
Ministry and Mission Moment: Ruth Figueroa
Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22
God’s Word for us Today: Connection Restored
Rev. Kevin Freeman
Sermon Notes:
People long for deep, meaningful connection, and the seek to fill that need in many places that cannot satisfy and that often only deepen the void they experience. This connection once existed in the Garden of Eden, was lost at the Fall, and has been restored through Jesus Christ. Christ-followers, however, often forget this restored connection and seek out the wrong sources to find it. Paul reminds the Ephesian believers of the amazing impact of our connection to God restored through Christ.
Man is born to have connection with God. —Clement of Alexandria
In Christ, our once-broken connection has been restored.
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. —Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV
1.) Restored Connection with
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. —Genesis 3:8 ESV
9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. —Exodus 33:9–11 ESV
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. —Ephesians 2:12–13 ESV
Do we live like we are connected to God?
The one who has no trust in God’s goodness, even though he or she has a “connection” to God, has no relationship with God and ends up with nothing from him in the end. —Darrell L. Bock
You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. —Ellen Gould White
2.) Restored Connection with
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. —Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV
The image of the body of Christ also emphasizes the connection of the church, as a group of believers, with Christ. —Millard J. Erickson
3.) Restored Connection with God’s
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. —Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV
A Christian who has lost the joy of the ministry does not have bad circumstances, but bad connections. You do not lose the joy of serving Christ unless your communion with Him breaks down. —John F. MacArthur
Connection with God’s work comes when we connect with the work of Christ on our behalf.
The Lord’s Supper
Bread: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Cup: At the Cross (Love Ran Red)
Time of Decision and Commitment: Living Hope
Benediction: Rev. Kevin Freeman