Thesis- God's victory in Christ serves to draw you near to God------Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her------God draws us near and assures us by His goodness, grace, favor.----1. Jesus Saves His Church - Ephesians 5-25---- --Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her-.---- -We have been reconciled it God in Christ.---- --who represents me------ -Christianity is by faith alone in Christ alone.----2. Jesus Sanctifies His Church - Ephesians 5-26-27---- -God chose us that we would be holy and blameless before Him.---- -How does Christ sanctify us- Verse 26---- -the Bible is the true, perfect, inerrant, all-sufficient, word of God.---- -Christ loves you and is sanctifying you.---- -Christ does not, and cannot, fail.----3. Jesus Satisfies His Church - Ephesians 5-28-30---- -God has chosen to relate to us based on grace.---- -God seeks to cover, love, and nourish us as we are adopted by God.---- -Behavior is the byproduct, not the basis of our relationship with God.---- -The basis of our relationship with God is grace-this is the gospel.---- -God comes to us with grace so that we can come to Him with joy.---- - You are, in Christ, the recipient of God's love, mercy, grace, and benevolence.

Thesis- We should give thanks to God for who he is and what he has done----SCRIPTURAL THANKSGIVING--- WHO HE IS--- - James 1-17-- ALL things are from Him-- - Psalm 33-1-5-- Love and praise him thankfully-- - Psalm 100-1-5-- For his goodness, love, faithfulness---- WHAT HE HAS DONE--- - Psalm 9-1-12-- Protection for those who trust him-- - Psalm 95-- Because he is sovereign creator----Paul always thanked God for other believers--- Romans 1-8-- 1 Corinthians 1-4-- Ephesians 1-15-- Philippians 1-3-5-- Colossians 1-3-4-- 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3-- 2 Thessalonians 1-3-- 2 Timothy 1-3-- Philemon 4-5

1. Lack of Unity - Hinders the Gospel-a- Paul urges-entreat-b- The request is not news to the Philippians-c- Paul does not put up with division--2. Reconciliation and Unity advances the Gospel-a- True companions assist each other - - yokefellow- -b- A help of a brother - mediator-c- Our unity to Christ and one another is not negotiable.-d- Truth and Unity

Thesis- Who is Jesus of Nazareth . . . . .to you -----Was Jesus a wisdom teacher, revolutionary, illuminated one, great prophet, incarnated logos, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist risen from dead-----I. IMAGE OF INVISIBLE GOD.-- - -image of invisible---- - 2nd Commandment bans images of God-- - -exact representation of His nature-, not-- a man-made conjecture-- - Jesus said, -I and Father are one-.-- - Worshipping a man -Jesus- was idolatry.-- Was Jesus more than just a man--- - Was Jesus a liar, lunatic or truth-----II. FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION-- - -Firstborn- - most important, not first one-- -created-. -The main one-. Supreme one-- - -Jesus- - Name above all names----III. CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF EVERYTHING-- - Couldn't be created if he created everything-- - World is not pantheistic and God is not deistic--- Jesus actively maintains his creation-- - Universe doesn't explode, run into chaos, or-- randomly react because Jesus holds all together----CONCLUSION- What will you do with Jesus- He is not relative or optional. You are either for him or against him - for all eternity. Jesus is the exact representation of the eternal God.

I. THE GLORY OF GOD TO JACOB-- - The High Priest-- - Does Steven speak truth-- - Steven's defense - apologetic-- - audience - believers and leaders-- - -Glory of God- - well-known to-- audience Steven is addressing-- - -father Abraham- - founder of history-- - Steven reiterating known history to-- demonstrate God's sovereign plan-- - Steven builds case by recalling fore--- telling of enslavement, judgement,-- covenant, twelve tribes

Thesis- Paul exhorts believers to follow the example of those who follow Christ because there are others who live as enemies of Christ, walking against those who are.----1. IMITATING-EXAMPLING TRUE CHRISTIANS -v.17--- - True believers are a family, related by adoption-- - We are to imitate the thoughts and actions of-- mature and experienced true believers-- - We are to be involved in -church- community so-- we can observe, -see- conduct of true believers----2. SOBER WARNING TO BELIEVERS -v.18-19--- - There are those in circle of believers that are-- actually enemies of Christ - beware or them and-- pray for their repentance-- - Do we care that there are those whose eternity-- is destruction--- - -Their god is their belly- - If not worshipping-- God, you are worshipping self-- - -They glory in their shame- - sin doesn't bother-- them-- - -with minds set on earthly things- - end ogal of-- all activity is earthly gain - don't have an-- eternal focus----3. CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP -v. 20-21--- - We must live and labor with eternal mindset-- - What we think leads us to what we do-- - We can live with an everlasting assured hope-- - We have an eternally perfect body awaiting us

- Stephen full of Holy Spirit--- Those opposed to Christ are always active to-- stir up false controversies against his followers--- Blasphemy charge - anything against sacred - which-- Jews saw Stephen attacking - law and temple.-- But Jesus talked of himself as Temple and fulfiller-- of law, which Stephen echoed.--- To accept an apostle and his teaching, meant to-- accept Christ. Jews had to attack that.--- -face of an angel- - demonstrates peace, faith,-- total assurety of following Christ no matter what

1. The Importance of Maturity V15-a. Why- to be in Christ is to actively grow in your faith.-2 Peter 3-18--b. Grow and Serve--2. How does a christian mature- V12-14-a. establishing and believing gospel truth that leads to gospel action-b. Forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead, the higher calling-c. Luke 9-62--3. How is stagnation countered--a. God will reveal to you thruth in--i. Prayer-ii. Confession-iii Apply Gospel truth--b. Christ is working in you and your hope is in Christ

Thesis- Do you know what spiritual maturity is and God's will for you in it- Spiritual maturity is ultimately Christlikeness leading to being in tuned to God's will.----God's will is not some mysterious, cryptic thing that we need to find out or that we get a warm fuzzy -feeling- about. It is spiritual wisdom and understanding that Paul prays for the Colossians to have. It is merely spiritual knowledge and discerning that leads to living for Christ and his kingdom.----Paul lists 3 things in verse 10 he then unpacks that show us if and how we grow in this spiritual maturity-----1. GODLINESS -v.10--- - cinsistency in faith and life lived-- - seeking to be God-like-- - seeking to please him-- - fruitful life - good works -not to earn anything-,-- but to seek after God-likeness - reflect Him-- - not stagnant - -increasing in knowledge of God- --- an evergrowing faith - we become what we know----2. SPIRITUAL FORTITUDE -v.11--- - consistent moving power to live for God-- - perseverance - unwavering pursuit of God-- - resilient, enduring joy despite constant burdens----3. GRATITUDE -v.12-14--- - gratitude - humility.-- - not - pride, entitlement, complainer, demanding-- - gratitude - maturity - assurance of salvation-- - understand deliverance from darkness-- - leads to hating sin-- - - forgiveness - dont need to seek validation-- - you have been adopted as His child -