Having a vision for life helps us navigate times of difficulty and times of triumph, it also helps us understand the purpose of our existence. For some of us though, we’re unsure of what that vision is. This sermon will look at Ephesians chapter 1 to see what the Bible says about the vision we are to have for life, and how we might start integrating it into our lives.

Most of us live our lives with emotional caution. Editing our emotions and nervously navigating relationships with fear of rejection or other misguided motives. But real freedom in Christ ushers in a lightness of living that is marked with emotional openness.

Following Christ demands our life and our all. He calls us to be fully surrendered to Him, but we hesitate. We make our own plans and try to control our destinies. Today we will see how we can be open to God by releasing the grip on our lives.

In an increasingly intolerant and screaming world, the church has a great opportunity to be a refuge for those weary of the tension. By being teachable, we exhibit an awareness of who we are in Christ, able to take on new input and ideas without being threatened or diminished.

If we sense a lack in our lives, we are tempted to create alternate systems (idols) to fill in the gaps, but this never works. Living in our completeness is the only way to live a life without striving and insecurity.

Control is a chameleon idol. It’s sometimes hard to spot. It can be particularly deceptive when it comes to ministry or actions with a spiritual purpose. When we learn to be secure in Christ, we can let go and let God be in control.

Our lives are short. Many of us spend our whole lives seeking approval from the society or people around us, not knowing that we are already approved by God and ready to do great things. How can we live our lives so that when we look back, we will not regret?

Often the word power comes with negative connotations, and understandably so. However, a look at how God uses and intended power to be used will give us a hopeful framework to not miss the gift that it is.

The idol of comfort plagues all of us as it is a desire to be without pain. However is that the life that God has called us to live? If not, what is the calling that He has placed on us and how should we pursue it?

Few of us would say we struggle with idolatry: bowing down to another god isn’t likely your greatest temptation. But if you view idolatry as more subtle – as replacing God with other greater loves – then maybe idolatry is a temptation after all.