Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene

One of the trite phrases we Christians need to remove from our vocabulary is "Don't look at me, look at Christ", because this is exactly the opposite of what we should be saying! Where is the world going to see Jesus if not in us Christians, we who have been called by God to reflect his light to a world that desperately needs it.

While we believe it to be right, the often-invoked answer, "Because the Bible says so" is not enough to reach our culture and society. We as Christians must be able to say the "why", like Paul does in Ephesians 4. And the biggest and best response a doubting world needs is to see us live out God's truth in our actions and lives, not just our words.

While we believe it to be right, the often-invoked answer, "Because the Bible says so" is not enough to reach our culture and society. We as Christians must be able to say the "why", like Paul does in Ephesians 4. And the biggest and best response a doubting world needs is to see us live out God's truth in our actions and lives, not just our words.

Continuing with chapter 4 of Ephesians, we see Paul encourage the church to leave behind their old way of life and put on their new selves, characterized by righteousness and holiness. How often, though, do we try to live an "in-between" Christianity, where we add just enough of God to make our lives better, but not so much that we are transformed?

Continuing with chapter 4 of Ephesians, we see Paul encourage the church to leave behind their old way of life and put on their new selves, characterized by righteousness and holiness. How often, though, do we try to live an "in-between" Christianity, where we add just enough of God to make our lives better, but not so much that we are transformed?

Here in chapter 4 of Ephesians Paul makes a shift from writing about who we are in Christ to how we are to live as Christ followers. Is the church necessary in this? For Paul the answer is unequivocal. How else can we learn to live as Christians if we are not practicing the virtues of humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace within the Body of Christ?

Here in chapter 4 of Ephesians Paul makes a shift from writing about who we are in Christ to how we are to live as Christ followers. Is the church necessary in this? For Paul the answer is unequivocal. How else can we learn to live as Christians if we are not practicing the virtues of humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace within the Body of Christ?

Ephesians 3 contains one of the most audacious prayers in the Bible, as Paul desires that the church be filled with the Spirit not just to capacity, not just to the church's limitations, but filled with the fullness of God. That was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, and that is God's desire for every believer.

Ephesians 3 contains one of the most audacious prayers in the Bible, as Paul desires that the church be filled with the Spirit not just to capacity, not just to the church's limitations, but filled with the fullness of God. That was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, and that is God's desire for every believer.

Is it better to start with the good news or the bad news? Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with good news, the good work God was doing for them and the good things the church was doing for God and others. But Paul still talks about the "bad news", about the sin we were mired in before we knew Christ. Paul wants us to remember where we came from, what we were saved from, because remembering our rescue is what creates compassion in us for those in need of rescue.