Praise God! (Part 3)

Ephesians 1:11-14

Theme: Praise God for your spiritual blessings.

God values you.

1. The believer’s value is seen in the “inheritance.” (11-12, 14)
2. The basis, certainty and goal of the inheritance. (11-13)

God keeps you.

1. The Holy Spirit has sealed you for God. (13-14)
2. The Holy Spirit is the pledge of your inheritance. (13-14)

Praise God (Part 2)

Ephesians 1:6-10

Theme: Praise God for your spiritual blessings.

God has showered you with His grace.

1. God’s grace. (6-8)
2. God’s shower of grace. (6-8)

God’s grace redeemed you.

1. The picture of redemption. (7-8)
2. The grace of redemption. (7)

God’s grace revealed the mystery of His will.

1. The mystery of His will. (8-10)
2. The grace of God’s revelation. (6-10)

Mother's Day

Mothers To Be Praised

Theme: Praise women who fear the Lord!

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

1. Clarifying the phrase. (Proverbs 31:30; cf. Genesis 3:8-10; Job 28:28; Psalm 110:10; Proverbs 1:7; 8:3; 9:10; 14:27; Ecclesiastes 3:14; 12:13; Habakkuk 3:2, 3-16)
2. Clarifying the picture. (Proverbs 31:10-29)

How do we respond to women who fear the Lord?

1. Praise them! (Proverbs 31:30)
2. Praise them publically! (Proverbs 31:31)

The first sermon in a series on the book of Ephesians

Praise God! (Part 1)

Theme: Praise God for your spiritual blessings.

Setting the scene.

1. The city of Ephesus.
2. The church at Ephesus.
3. This letter to the church.

God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing.

1. “Who, Me?” (1, 3)
2. God’s spiritual blessings are in Christ. (3)
3. God’s spiritual blessings are complete for each believer. (3)

God has chosen each believer as His child.

1. The truth. (4-6, 11; see also Matthew 25:34; John 15:16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
2. Some practical implications.

Sermon #8, and final sermon, in this series on the book of Esther.

You Can Be Confident

Theme: God’s providence enables you to be confident.

The conclusion to faithful service.

1. Celebrating deliverance. (9:20–10:3)
2. Remembering Deliverance. (9:20–10:3)

The lessons to remember.

1. God’s providence directs human events. (chapters 1–10)
2. Failure is always serious but does not exclude forgiveness, future opportunities and meaningful service for God. (chapters 2–10)
3. Personal conflicts can cause public problems. (3:1-15)
4. Learn to lean on God. (4:1-17)
5. God brings deliverance through people who trust Him. (8:1–10:3)

Sermon # 7 in a series in the book of Esther.

Theme: God brings deliverance through trusting people.

God’s places His people where He can use them.

1. The example of Esther and Mordecai. (8:1-2)
2. The exceptions — No One! (cf. John 15:5, 16; Ephesians 2:10)

God uses His people when they trust Him.

1. When they trust Him continually. (8:3 ff.)
2. When they trust Him courageously. (8:3 ff., 9:13)

God rewards His people when they trust Him.

1. By making them instruments of deliverance. (8:8-14, 9:1-17)
2. By making them instruments of joy. (8:15-17, 9:17-19)

Sermon # 6 in a series on Esther

The Gavel Comes Down

Theme: God's providence restrains evil.

God’s actions to end Haman’s evil.

1. Insomnia is used to protect Mordecai. (6:1-3)
2. The early bird is gotten by the worm. (6:4-11)
3. Haman’s evil is exposed. (6:14 - 7:8)
4. Haman is “hanged.” (7:9-10)

God’s reasons for ending Haman’s evil.

1. The character of God. (cf. Isaiah 6:3; Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 John 4:8, 16)
2. The plan of God. (cf. Genesis 12:2-3; Psalm 135:6)
3. The prayers of God’s people. (cf. 4:16; John 15:7)

Easter 2026 ~ The Life Changer

Theme: Jesus changes people forever through His death and resurrection.

Why did Christ come?

1. Because we were separated from God. (Leviticus 11:45; Isaiah 43:15; 59:2; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:12, 15, 16, 19; Colossians 1:21; 2:14)
2. Because only He could save us.

What did Christ’s death and resurrection accomplish?

1. The agony and atonement of the cross. (Matthew 26:38, 56; 27:45-46, 50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 22:44, 54; John 19:25-27, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24-25)
2. The amazing result of the resurrection. (Matthew 25:46; Luke 24:46-47; John 17:13; Acts 4:24-25; 5:31; 17:30-31; Romans 4:24-25; 5:1; 6:4; 7:4; 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 15:17, 21-23, 42-43; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:6; 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:3)

How can we be changed?

1. The example and decision of the disciples. (Matthew 28:16-17; Mark 16:10-14; Luke 24:11-12, 13-53; John 20:3-9, 19-29)
2. The question and decision for us. (Luke 24:11-12; John 14:6; 20:31; Romans 10:9-10)

Palm Sunday 2026

Jesus the King

Various mistaken views of what Jesus meant when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

1. The Jews on the original Palm Sunday. (Matthew 21:1-10)
2. Some others down through church history.

Clarification of what Jesus meant when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

1. Jesus is the King. (John 18:36-37; 2 Samuel 7:16; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 1:31-33; Philippians 2:9-11; The Revelation 17:14; 19:16)
2. Jesus’ kingdom. (John 18:36-37; Psalm 10:16; 103:19; Jeremiah 10:10; The Revelation 11:15)

What does Jesus being king and His kingdom mean for us?

1. We can and are to bow before Him in worship. (1 Chronicles 16:8-36; Isaiah 43:21; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:10)
2. We can and are to trust Him and submit to Him. (Psalm 62:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:10, 16-17; The Revelation 3:13, 19:11, 16)
3. We can and are to be confident because we will be with our Him forever. (John 10:27-30; 14:1, 10, 16; 18; 16:16; Romans 5:17; 6:17-28; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 6:2; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians 5:22; The Revelation 5:9-10; 20:6.

It's Still In His Hands

Sermon #5 in a series in the book of Esther.

Theme: God’s providence directs human events.

The King: Moving the immovable object.

1. Making the impossible look easy. (1-2)
2. Breaking down the calloused heart. (3-5)

Haman: Giving the fool enough rope to hang himself.

1. Allowing honor to feed his pride. (4-5, 9, 11-12)
2. Opening his eyes to incite his anger. (9, 13)

Esther: Guiding the one walking by faith.

1. Granting courage to act. (1-2)
2. Giving sensitivity to God’s timing. (4, 5, 8)