Bible Text: Ephesians 3:14-21 | Preacher: Davis Lacey | Series: From Death to Life: Lessons from Ephesians

In addition to being a faithful leader within the Autumn Ridge family, Matt Henderson serves as a teacher and STEM Director for North Georgia Christian Academy in Ellijay, GA. He and his wife Alicia have three children: Natalie, Noah, and Ava.

Bible Text: Ephesians 2:19-22 | Preacher: Davis Lacey | Series: Ephesians | Ephesians 2:19-22 offers us three breathtaking pictures of the church:

#1: "Heaven's Household" (verses 19-20)

C.H. Spurgeon: "[Christian], you stand before God as if you were Christ,

because Christ stood before God as if he were you."

#2: "A Global Movement" (verse 21)

#3: "A Close-Knit, Local Community" (verse 22)

Ordinary life in a local church is a rehearsal for the extraordinarily glorious

life we will enjoy in eternity, when the universal church is brought

together.

[Please Note: This sermon was recorded with a backup system, which explains why the quality is not consistent].

 

Insights from This Passage

 

"What we are trying to do for ourselves has already been done for us in Christ."

Verse 3: The Trinity and Our Salvation:

The Father appoints His people to be blessed in Christ.

The Son accomplishes everything necessary to win these blessings for His people.

The Spirit applies these blessings to the lives of Christ-followers.

Verses 4-6: "We try to cover-up our pasts; Christ changes our pasts."

Verses 7-8: "We try to fight our desires; Christ transforms our desires."

Verses 9-10: "We try to cope with our broken world; Christ heals our broken world."

Bible Text: Romans 15:1-7 | Preacher: Davis Lacey | Series: Stand Alone Sermons | Insights from This Passage

I. "What Divides Us" (verses 1-2 - we don't all have the same level of maturity...)

II. "Who Unites Us" (verse 3 - we all need the same Savior...)

III. "What do We do About It?" (verses 4-7)

A. Verse 4: We Read and Submit To the Scriptures

B. Verses 5-6: We Live and Worship in Commitment to a Local Church

C. Verse 7: We Play an ACTIVE Role in Maintaining Unity in the Body of Christ

Bible Text: Matthew 16:13-20 | Preacher: Davis Lacey | Series: Stand Alone Sermons | Insights from This Passage

 

Based on the two "keys of the Kingdom" passages in Matthew 16 and Matthew 18, two things can be concluded about the local church. It is the community which makes a right confession of faith ("You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!") And, it is the community which lives out that confession of faith in tangible ways - not only as individuals, but also in "life together."

"Jesus doesn’t just save his church FROM something – namely death and hell. He also saves them TO something – his community, and his mission"

Based on the account of Genesis 3, this sermon explores the origins of the world's evil and brokenness - as well as the sure hope that we have from Scripture that everything broken will one day be made new!

Pastoral Prayer for 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Holy Father, how I thank you for the good gift of your word: that you love us enough to speak directly to us in a way that we can understand through the power of your Spirit. Be pleased, I pray, to lift high the name of your Son Jesus – our Savior – as we sit beneath the teaching of your Word. As we discover just what it is that he has done for us…I pray that those who hear who do not yet follow him as Lord will be transformed and saved. I pray that those of us who have grown comfortable with our wrongdoing will be afflicted into repentance…but also that those of us who are afflicted with shame and guilt will be comforted by your tender love for us in Christ. As we view him as the only source of salvation, I pray that we will see ourselves for who we are: broken, sinful people who are in desperate need of your forgiveness, and yet loved and cherished on account of your Son standing in our place – receiving your punishment – and giving to us freely a new identity as those who are saved and secure in you. Accomplish these things through this passage I pray, O Father: to the glory of your Son through the Power of your Spirit. Amen.

Insights from This Passage

A. When we talk about our sin and ourselves, let's be honest. ("Do not be deceived...")

B. When we talk about our sin and ourselves, let's be open. ("Washed... sanctified... justified...")

C. When we talk about our sin and ourselves, let's be consistent. ("And such were some of you...")

D. When we talk about our sin and ourselves, let's be "on mission." (For Jesus is the only hope - the only good news - for a world that's filled with folks like us...)