Why do Christians often feel so defeated? Why does life many times seem like a war we are losing? When do we get a break from fighting? How is it possible to fight a crafty, invisible enemy? Also, how is that even fair? The odds are stacked against us, no doubt. However, we are not without defense. We know that The Lord is on our side; however, we must readily and regularly put on the armor of God or we will suffer loss. The enemy will come, so we must be ready.

Husbands and wives are the picture of Jesus and His church on earth. The Bible is strong on the concept of marriage because of this very reason. It is through the God-centered home that roots-level transparency and transformation happens and that the gospel is most genuinely seen and shared. God bless our homes and may our marriages thrive under the banner and order of Christ.

Sometimes at Hope Church Mill Creek, we tangle with difficult or complicated topics presented as such in Scripture (like last week). Other times, we are allowed a refreshing return trip back to the basics of life in Christ (like this week). Let us step back from the conflict for a moment, and remember how to act because of who we are in Jesus.

For those genuinely converted to Jesus Christ, a light has been switched on in their lives. Rather, the Light himself took over our lives shining in every dark, hidden, and inconvenient corner. For many of us who were rescued by God in our own desperation, this was a welcome change. However, as time goes on, the world, our own flesh, and the devil seeks to pull us back into old, God-forsaken patterns of sin. This is a constant fight that requires vigilance, conflict, and help from above.

People who believe in Jesus should act differently than people who do not believe in Jesus. People are actively following in the way of Jesus will, in fact, be different. However, the issue is, we all have a flesh and past that will be with us until we pass from this earthly life. In the text this week, the apostle Paul calls us to "put off" that way of life - almost like clothes, so that we can put on the "new man" that lives in us already.

Pastor Ethan Riddle from Hope Church Stokes County delivers a message on Ephesians 4: 7-16. As we continue reading through Ephesians, we find that Paul discusses the gifts God gave to the church and the importance of uniting as the body of Christ to work together for His good.

Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Church of God, Church of Christ... and that is just to name a few! So many denominations, and so many schools of thought - is it possible then to get along? How? Why should we even try? We'll discover this week that we may be many in number, preferences, and opinions, but we are also one in Jesus Christ.

Paul once again covers his beloved Ephesian brothers and sisters in prayer. And yet once more, he doesn't flutter about with fluff and non-particulars. Instead, he lovingly intercedes for them to the Father through the Spirit by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He writes this specific prayer down, so that now, we modern-day believers can gain much needed encouragement, insight, and helpful correction in our own lives. It's all about Jesus!

Last week, the Apostle Paul painted a structural metaphor for us made up of walls and houses. This week, it's all about the mystery of God. Specifically, how God mysteriously works behind the scenes, creating unexpected beauty with unsuspecting (and many times, undeserving) people. How did God bridge the unbridgeable divide between Jews and Gentiles? With this mysterious plan and beautiful body called, "the church."

This week in the book of Ephesians, Paul is involved with the tearing down of walls and the building of houses. Just as with the remodel of any structure, it must get worse before it gets better. Paul reveals just how bad it was for us outside of Christ, then he leads us into the beautiful body that now exists and continues to grow in Christ Jesus.