Living in Wonder

4th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Rev. Leo Schuster - 23 October 2011

Ephesians 1:15-23
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the siants, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

• A sensory and illuminating understanding of God--not just an intellectual one.


• Connection to God is uniqe to you.


• Only invest in hope with God (not material things)


• Church is the group of people that have hope of the future of God through Jesus.

Marked as Possession

3rd Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Dr. Timothy Keller - 16 October 2011

Ephesians 1:11-16

11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

• Post Modernism deprivleges meaning which says everything is ok---But by getting rid of absolute Truth, it's hard to object to anything.


• Christianity starts with the Truth through the Gospels


• Gospels are the news of what God has done for you.


• Hope is life changing belief about the future--Ultimate redemption is definitely coming.


• We are God's possessions through His Glory.


• If God is perfect---then anything is worth doing to be on His side---ie, even the stuff we may disagree with that's in the Bible.