By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Jerry Wierwille”]

“Self-awareness” (also known as self-knowledge) is the capacity to understand our personal desires, feelings, motivations, thought patterns, and tendencies. Being self-aware (i.e., knowing yourself) is critical for effective growth in life.

We will struggle to grow in areas of our lives when we fail to understand what is happening inside us and how we choose to act or behave in response to our thoughts and experiences.

Knowing yourself is about knowing your heart.

Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 26:2

God knows us more intimately than we even know ourselves. He searches our hearts and can help us understand them. And if we think we understand it, He can reveal new insights about ourselves and what is stirring

Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24

Ask God to reveal to you aspects of who you are that you may not fully understand regarding the inner working of your heart, so that you can better know yourself and therefore realize the ways you need to change. Then, you can also grow in honoring and glorifying Yahweh and the Lord Jesus in your life.

Proverbs 23:15-18

Hebrews 4:12-13

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Vince Finnegan”]

Luke 1:5-25   Zachariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1: 26-38   Gabriel and Mary

Matthew 1:18-25   Joseph and the angel

Luke 1:39-56   Mary visits Elizabeth.

Luke 1:57-80   John is born.

Luke 2:1-7   Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem

Luke 2:1-7   Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20   Jesus and Simeon

Luke 2:21-38   Jesus and Anna

Matthew 2:1-12   Magi

Matthew 2:13   Flight to Egypt

Revelation 1:12-20   Jesus now

Revelation 20-22   Jesus in the age to come

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Sean Finnegan”]

Ephesians 6:10-11   The devil has been a schemer right from the beginning when he deceived our first parents that they should doubt, then disobey God. We must be on guard so that we are not tricked by his wiles.

12   Who are the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil? The Old Testament provides further details on these powers (Daniel 10:11-14, 20-11:2; Deuteronomy 32:7-9; 4:19-20; Psalm 82).

13-17   Taking up the whole armor of God means resting in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and God’s word.  These spiritual qualities are powerful for waging in and winning spiritual battles, most of which take place in your mind.

18   Prayer is a great key to activating God’s help in our struggles. We dare not rest on our laurels and allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep. No! Let us keep alert with all perseverance, interceding for all the saints.

19-20   To think that the courageous Paul the Apostle requested prayer to proclaim the gospel boldly tells us that his greatness was due to God’s empowerment, not his own natural talents.

21-24   Tychichus probably carried the letter to the church and read it aloud. Paul closes by expressing his desire for the church to have peace, love, faith, and grace.

As God’s people we are in the battle, whether we like it or not, whether we want to ignore it or not, whether we fight well or not. Let me encourage you to fight the good fight. Stand strong in the Lord. Put on the whole armor of God. Be mighty in our time for His glory.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Vince Finnegan”]

1-3   One of the first verses you want your children to learn and memorize

Colossians 3:20   This is well-pleasing to the Lord.

6:1   “In the Lord” implies a believer family. Children, if you want your life to be well-pleasing to the Lord, if you want your life to go well and want to live long, then honor and obey your parents.

Proverbs 22:15   Children need help. They are born with a sinful nature.

Exodus 20:12   Honor and respect coincide with our relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9:11:19   Parents, every situation in life is an opportunity to teach your children.

Proverbs 6:20-23; 13:24; 22:6, 15; 23:13, 14; 29:15   People who fail to learn honor, obedience, and discipline have a difficult and often an unhappy life as adults.

2 Timothy 3:16   Doctrine, reproof, and correction

Matthew 15:3-6; 1 Timothy 5:1-5   When parents are in the sunset years of life, their children are to continue to provide honor and help as the parents did when you were young.

Ephesians 6:4 – Colossians 3:21

Ephesians 6:5   Fear and trembling – 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Phil. 2:12   This is an expression that means humility and respect.

1 Peter 2:18

Ephesians 6:6-7   Colossians 3:22   We work for Christ, not for people. Matthew 6:1ff – Not hypocrites

8   When we live godly, we get godly results.

9   If you are the boss, be so as a Christian.

She may be your mother, but she is my wife, and no one talks to her like that.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Sean Finnegan”]

Ephesians 5:22-24   Although in certain exceptional circumstances when they should do otherwise, wives are to be in subjection to their husbands as the church submits to Christ. Such a posture is radically countercultural in our present culture, but this may just be the missing key to a godly and mutually rewarding marriage.

25   The bar for husbands is also set extremely high: they are to love self-sacrificially, even to the point of death, if necessary, since that is what Christ did for the church.

26-30   As Christ cares for the church, so should the husband his wife. In fact, he should care for her as if she is his own body.

31   Quoted from Genesis 2:24, this commandment tells husbands to leave their parents and hold fast to their wives. Don’t let your parents, in-laws, or others control your marriage. Advice is great, but in the end, it’s

32-33   What an awesome opportunity married couples have to represent Christ and the church! If your marriage is not reflecting the healthy, functional, and loving relationship between Christ and the church, then it’s time to make some changes.

Recommended marriage books:

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy & Kathy Keller

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Vince Finnegan”]

1   “Therefore” relates to 4:32. God wants us to be like Him. Matthew 5:43-48

2   Jesus is our great example of how to imitate God.

3   “Immorality” is Greek porneia, also translated fornication, which is explained in OT; “impurity” is uncleanness; “greed” is also translated covetousness; “saints” is holy ones.

4   Ephesians 4:29 – Giving thanks is one of the great keys to joyful living.

5   1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Galatians 5:17-21; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 4:1-2

6   Great deception regarding salvation is prevalent today.

8   Walk – 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15

13   Light dispels darkness. We cannot get rid of darkness by dwelling on darkness; rather, we are to focus on light which illuminates.

14   Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9

18   Proverbs 20:1; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:7

19   Colossians is a companion Epistle to Ephesians; many of the same topics are covered. Col. 3:16

20   Again, be thankful.

21   We are to be humble, meek, and in subjection to one another.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Jerry Wierwille”]

Eph 4:17-29

Without Christ, things go very wrong in life. Paul lists 4 problems for those who do not know Christ.

Eph 4:20-24

Christ followers are called to change. Paul commands 3 changes that we are called to make after having learned the truth that is in Jesus.

Eph 4:25-28

Verses 25-32 begin the ethical instruction for living Christ-like according to the new self.

Eph 4:29-32

Out of all the godly behaviors Paul lists, he ends with the need to show forgiveness. Forgiveness is to be a defining characteristic of Christ’s followers.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Sean Finnegan”]

The book of Ephesians breaks evenly into two halves: chapters 1-3 are theological, and 4-6 are practical. Today begins our focus on the practical.

4:1-3   We are to walk in a way that is worthy of our calling, yet with humility, gentleness, patience, and love for one another. The best example of what this looks like is Jesus himself.

4:4-6   Although the church is a diverse community, including people with different nationalities, skin colors, political views, careers, and passions, we are still unified in that we are part of the same body with the same spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God.

4:7-10   The NRSV translates v8 “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive.” Paul is not talking about freeing souls from the underworld here but the abstract idea of captivity, which he himself captured in his death, resurrection, and ascension. At his death, Christ descended into the earth, and at his exaltation, he ascended far above the heavens. (See Eph 1:20-21.)

4:7-13   The role of pastors, teachers, evangelists is to equip you for the work of ministry.  Together we are a team who seeks to mature over time until we are like Christ.

4:14   As Christ-followers, we are to be careful to detect fraudulent beliefs and practices. Probably the number one way to strengthen yourself against counterfeits is to spend time in the Scriptures every day.

4:15-16   I love the phrase “speaking the truth in love!” It’s such a foreign concept in our time when truth is a weapon with which we can beat others, and love means we must compromise what we believe is right. Both are critical for us in this time.  We must have truth and love.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Vince Finnegan”]

Acts 20:25 – 38   The final time they saw Paul, he was kneeling in prayer. Now again he is kneeling, usually a posture for prayer. Luke 18:10-13

Ephesians 3:14 – “for this reason – 3:1 relates for all the perceived

Matthew 7:11   We pray to our Father.

Ephesians 3:15 – We are God’s family.

3:16 – “riches of His glory”   Ephesians 1:18: Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 6:3; Exodus 34:6-7; Philippians 4:19   The extensiveness of His glory is incomprehensible to our finite human minds and imaginations.

“Inner man” – 1 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:22-24

Ephesians 3:17 – Proverbs 4:23   The heart determines everything about our lives.

“Rooted and grounded in love” – Ephesians 1:5; 2:5; 4:15-16

Ephesians 3:18 – Job 11:7-9   The comprehension of love and all spiritual blessings; it is impossible to comprehend love without interaction with others. We must share love to know love.

Ephesians 3:19 – Philippians 1:9   Knowledge and application are essential but not enough to know the love of Christ. God must reveal it to us.

Ephesians 3:20 – When we pray, God can do “exceeding abundantly beyond….”

21 – The prayer ends with praise for God.

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Sean Finnegan”]

3:1   Paul wrote Ephesians later in his life when he was in prison.

3:2   Stewardship is a BIG word here. Christ had commissioned Paul to declare what God had done to

3:3-6   In the ancient world, gods tended to go with ethnicities. The Canaanites worshipped Baal and Asherah; the Egyptians worshipped Isis and Osiris; the Greeks worshipped Zeus and Ares; the Romans worshipped Jupiter and Mars; and the Jews worshipped Yahweh. The idea of a single God pursuing worshippers from all nations probably would have been unusual. In fact, the revelation of this mystery is why Christianity is all over the world, rather than secluded on a people group. Furthermore, this inheritance and these promises are nothing short of receiving the world (Rom 4:13).

3:7-8a   God let Paul in on His big plan and commissioned him to tell the world. He doesn’t deserve this job since he persecuted Christians. Perhaps God delights to work with the unqualified?

3:8b-9   Paul’s twofold mission is (1) to preach Messiah to Gentiles and (2) to share God’s hidden plan

3:10   The end result is that God’s wisdom be made known to heavenly authorities. Within Christian communities, ethnic diversity is something of which we should be proud.

3:11-13   God’s multiethnic family has equal access to Him. You are part of something bigger than yourself, something awesome.