Main idea: If you're in Jesus, your new self is your true self.

I. The Tragedy of the Old Life, v17-19

II. The Truth of the New Life, v20-24

Jesus gives gifted leaders to equip gifted members to build up his body.

I. Know your part - Jesus gives gifted leaders to equip gifted members. v11-12

II. Mature your part - Adulting is for all of us. v13-14

III. Exercise your part - To grow up in Christ you must be active in growing up others in Christ. v 15-16

Main Idea: Gospel ministry is all of the spiritual gifts, used by all the people of the body, for all of life.

1. All of the gifts--Christ gives ALL OF the diverse gifts of ministry (v11)

2. All the people of the body--Christ gives each individual Christian the task of organic ministry (v12)

3. All of life--Christ gives us a high calling that will take all of our lives (v13)

I. What is Christian unity? v3-6

II. How can we maintain Christian unity? v1-2

III. What are the challenges to Christian unity? v7-10

Ask the Father to increase your capacity to feel and be filled with certainty of His love.

I. Prayer is asking our glorious and rich Father, v14-16

II. The Spirit helps us feel and be full of God's love, v16-19

III. Pray with expectation because God's ability exceeds our imagination's capacity, v20-21

Main Idea: Love the real church and trust the Spirit to build the ideal church.

I. The church is God's spiritual family and the living temple where His Spirit dwells! 2:18-22II. The church is the revelation of a mystery God kept hidden for thousands of years! 3:1-6 III. The church is God's plan A to make known His multi-faceted wisdom to all creatures! 3:7-13

If we belong to God, we belong to each other.

I. Remember We Didn't Always Belong, v11-12

II. We belong to the people of God because Jesus made peace and is our peace., v13-17

Why can we belong to God's people?

1. The blood of Jesus brings us near, v13

2. Jesus himself is our peace, v14

3. Jesus destroyed the wall of hostility between Jew and gentile, v14

4. Jesus did away with the ethnic boundary markers of the Mosaic law, v15

5. The cross creates a new humanity, v15-16

God made us in Christ not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

I. What does God do in our Salvation?

a. He makes us alive

b. He seats us with Christ in Heavenly places!

II. Why does He do it?

a. To display His character

b. To display His glory

c. To display His workmanship

I. Who we were by nature, v1-3

1. We were dead. v1

2. We were enslaved. To What?

The world, the devil, the flesh

3. We were condemned, 3b

II. Who we are by grace, v4-6

There is no end to exploring the depths of the gospel, if you pray.

I. Pray gratefully, in light of the gospel, v15-16

II. Pray for illumination, to see the depths of the gospel, 17-20

III. Pray confidently, in light of Jesus' supremacy, 20-23