God's Truth, God's Grace - New Port Presbyterian Church

Pastor Darrell preaches on Ephesians 1:3-6. In this passage, the apostle Paul speaks to his readers about how they (and we) have been blessed with every spiritual blessing as a result of being brought into a saving relationship and union with His Son, Jesus. These blessings include God the Father choosing us for salvation before the foundation of the world. He predestined us for adoption to Himself as His sons and daughters. He did this because He loves us:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). If we ever doubt the Father’s love for us, we simply need to remember the cross of Jesus, for on the cross God the Father and God the Son show us their great love for us. Our right response to all of this is to worship and praise God for His glorious grace which He has poured out upon us in and through Jesus.

What does it mean to be a saint? Paul addresses the believers in Ephesus as “saints”—an identity rooted in belonging to Christ.

In this message from Ephesians 1, Pastor Darrell explores how God makes us new creations in Christ and how that identity shapes the way we live.

Listen and be encouraged by who you are in Christ.

Pastor Darrell begins our series on Ephesians by focusing on chapter 1, verses 1-2. Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by reminding believers who they are: saints in Christ Jesus. Before he gives a single instruction, he speaks grace and peace to them from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In this sermon, we begin Ephesians by considering how the truths about our identity in Christ shape everything that follows.

Our guest minister, David Barnes, preached on Christ’s Restoration of Peter, from John 21:15 – 19.

Our guest minister, Asafe Cristino, preached on The Destruction of Jericho, from Joshua 6:15 – 25.

Our guest minister, Mike McLaughlin, preached on Luke 1:26 - 38, Nothing is Impossible with God. 

Pastor Darrell introduces, and the elders read through the book of Ephesians, reflecting on its beautiful movement from who we are in Christ to how we live in Christ. Chapters 1–3 proclaim what is true of God and His people; chapters 4–6 call us to live in light of those truths. 

To be a Christian is to be in union with Christ. In today's sermon, Darrell introduced the book of Ephesians and the realities of being in union with Christ. 

Pastor Darrell explores how the Cross Chart from Serge intersects with the story of Jonah—and with our own walk with Christ. As we grow in grace, we become increasingly aware of both God’s holiness and our own sinfulness. Yet that growing awareness doesn’t drive God away. Instead, we see more clearly the greatness of His grace. Like Jonah, we are pursued and shepherded by a patient God who continues His work in us, enabling us to abide in Him through His power at work within us.

In our message today, Pastor Darrell lays the book of Jonah alongside Christ's invitation to us in John 15 to abide in Him.  What can we learn from Jonah about what it looks like to not abide in the Lord?