In the opening chapter of Ephesians, after running through a litany of the amazing blessings of God's grace in Christ, Paul goes on to tell the church of his prayers for them. As he shares with them what he is praying, he doesn't focus on their circumstances or asking God to provide something they lack. Rather his prayer is focused on them knowing and realizing and living out the reality of that which they already have in Christ Jesus.  From chapter 1 vs 15-23 we continue in our study of God's grace in Christ, and learn what we need to know to continue faithfully living in light of that grace in this world.

Have you ever sought to encourage yourself or others with the advice to "count your blessings?" It's always helpful, especially when life is difficult, to reflect on the good things for which we can be thankful. But God's blessings run deeper than just the good things that happen in our lives. His blessings in Christ include spiritual realities that serve as unshakeable foundations of our souls which no trial or threat can overcome. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that in Christ, we have every spiritual blessing, and then he counts several of them as particularly noteworthy for us to remember.  We begin our journey through the book of Ephesians exploring Ch 1:3-14 and count our blessings in Christ.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is written to remind us of the abundant riches of God’s grace in Christ given to his church and how that wealth should be manifest in our walk and witness as God’s people in this world. In this series, we delve deeper into blessings of God’s grace in Christ and what it means to walk in that grace together as his people.Ephesians 1:1-3 - A Treasure of GraceMany of us know what we have in our bank account down to the nearest penny.  But few of us truly understand or comprehend the wealth of blessings we possess as a result of God’s grace to us in Christ Jesus.  Here we begin a series of messages in the book of Ephesians, a clear and concise treatment of the vast treasure of grace in the gospel which God bestows on us in Christ.  We take an overview of this great treasury of grace before we dive deeper into the details of what it is and what difference it makes in the weeks ahead.

Have you thought lately about your mindset toward your brothers and sisters in Christ? As we look at Philippians 2:1-11 we'll look at two contrasting mindsets toward others and how Jesus invites you to approach others. Rev. Josh Grimm brings us an update from Queens University in Charlotte, NC, and shares the Word of God with us.

Psalm 23:6; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Psalm 23 ends on a note of enduring hope.  The providing, protecting, preserving care of the Lord as our Shepherd leads to a life-long experience of his goodness and mercy for us, and the assured hope of dwelling securely in his presence for eternity.  Such hope is secured for us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep and took it up again that we might experience God's mercy and know the security of his presence and provision for eternity.  Celebrate Easter as we consider the resurrection hope that we have in our Savior and Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Harvey shares a Maundy Thursday message as he continues in the Psalm 23 series.

Psalm 23:5b & Matthew 20:17- 21:11 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Like David, Jesus is the Shepherd-King, the long-expected, true Shepherd-King anointed to restore the Kingdom of God and pour out the cup of blessing. But he comes ... unexpectedly. His triumph will be humiliation; his anointing, for burial; his cup, of suffering - a cup we too will drink if we hope in the glory of his everlasting Kingdom. Let us see, and wonder, at this king Jesus' entry into power, and follow him.

Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 12:3-11

Rarely do we associate trials, suffering, or pain as something that is actually good for us. When we want to help someone, our first instinct is usually to try and alleviate the struggle or ease the pain they are going through, and that is what we desire from God. Yet, the truth is, in many cases, the best thing we can do for someone we love is to allow or even induce some pain that will actually protect and help them. Such is the case with the shepherd leading his sheep, particular through difficult or dangerous places, and such is the case with the comforting discipline of our heavenly Father for his children. Here we look at the gracious discipline of the Lord, our Shepherd, and consider when hurting actually helps.

Psalm 23:4; Matthew 10:16-33

At times the difficulties and dangers of life may press in hard and overshadow and threaten us in such a way that we may think and feel that the Lord has left us in the dark valley on our own, and fear can become overwhelming. But the good Shepherd purposefully leads his sheep through dark and dangerous places in order to bring them to greener pastures, and His protecting presence means we need not fear. Join us as we continue our series in Psalm 23 and consider Jesus' promise to be with us through life’s dark valleys and including death itself.

Psalm 23:3; Luke 15:1-7

In today's world of GPS and mapping apps on our phones and cars, we've gotten used to a voice quickly correcting us when we get off course and guiding us back to the right route to our intended destination. But such guidance is often not so quick or so clear when it comes to being on the right path in life and we are not always so quick to follow. That is unless you know the right voice to listen to and the right directions to trust.  Such is the promise of the Lord, our Shepherd, who goes after his lost or straying sheep and leads them back to the right path, the path of righteousness that leads to life.