EPHESIANS – WEEK 6

Pastor: Dave Brown
Series: Ephesians

Ephesians 3:1–13 | Administrators of Grace

What does it mean to receive God's grace—and then live it out?

In Ephesians 3, Paul shares his own story as an example of a life transformed by the Gospel. Once a persecutor of the Church, Paul became an administrator of God's grace, carrying the good news of Jesus to people who had previously been considered outsiders.

This message explores the mystery now revealed in Christ: that people from every nation, background, and culture are invited into one family of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are called not only to receive grace but to embody it, extending Christ's love, reconciliation, forgiveness, and hope to the world around them.

The Church is more than a gathering place—it is God's living witness to His Kingdom, a community where His wisdom becomes visible through transformed lives.

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1–13

Additional References:

Key Takeaway:

EPHESIANS – WEEK 5

Pastor: Daniel Bunn
Series: Ephesians

📖 Sermon Summary (Ephesians 2:19–22 with Scripture)

Main Idea: A Declaration of Identity

Ephesians 2:19

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.”

The core message is this:

✅ If you have believed in Christ, you already belong.

Paul is not:

Giving a command

Expressing a wish

Setting a future goal

He is making a present-tense declaration:

You are citizens. You are family. Right now.

1. We Struggle to Accept the Truth About Ourselves

We often:

Overestimate ourselves (pride)

Or underestimate ourselves (imposter syndrome)

Spiritually, this sounds like:

“I don’t really belong”

“That must be true for others, not me”

But Paul speaks truth over that doubt.

2. Who We Were vs. What Christ Has Done

Who We Were

Ephesians 2:11–12

“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ… excluded from citizenship in Israel… foreigners… without hope and without God in the world.”

We were:

Outsiders

Strangers

Without hope

What Christ Has Done

Ephesians 2:13–14

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace…”

Ephesians 2:18

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Because of Jesus:

We are brought near

We have peace

We now have access to God

When This Became True

Ephesians 1:13

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”

✅ This identity begins when you hear and believe the gospel.

3. Belonging Is Declared, Not Earned

Ephesians 2:19

“You are no longer foreigners and strangers…”

This is:

Not “you will be”

Not “you might be”

Not “if you improve enough”

👉 It is a finished reality based on Christ’s work, not yours.

4. The Building Metaphor: What We’ve Become

Paul expands our identity using a construction image:

Foundation = Truth

Ephesians 2:20

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…”

The church rests on truth revealed and proclaimed

This truth is preserved in Scripture

Cornerstone = Christ

Ephesians 2:20

“…with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

Jesus:

Aligns everything (cornerstone)

Supports everything (keystone idea)

Completes everything (capstone idea)

👉 Christ is central to the entire structure.

We Are the Building Material

Ephesians 2:21–22

“In him the whole building is joined together… And in him you too are being built together…”

We are:

The stones

Different in size, shape, and background

Stronger together than alone

👉 Unity is not sameness—it’s shared alignment to Christ.

5. A Living, Growing Temple

Ephesians 2:21–22

“…rises to become a holy temple in the Lord… a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

The church is:

Not static

Not finished

Alive and growing

👉 God is still building His people into His dwelling place.

✅ Big Takeaways

1. You Belong Right Now

“You are… fellow citizens… members of his household.” (Eph. 2:19)

Not based on performance

Based on Christ’s finished work

2. Faith Is Communal

“You too are being built together…” (Eph. 2:22)

You are not meant to follow Jesus alone

We are built together

3. Diversity Is Part of God’s Design

Different “stones” create a stronger, more beautiful whole

Unity comes through Christ, not uniformity

4. God Is Still Building

The structure is not complete yet

Growth is ongoing

Completion belongs to God

🧩 Final One-Sentence Summary

Because of what Christ has done, you already belong to God’s household—and together we are being built into a living, growing dwelling place for His presence.

EPHESIANS – WEEK 4

Pastor: Dave Brown
Series: Ephesians

📖 Sermon Summary – Ephesians 2:11–18

1. Purpose of the Church

Primary Text Context: Ephesians 1–2

The church is not merely a gathering, but a people formed in Christ.

It exists to embody the kingdom of God—living out grace, peace, love, and unity together.

📖 Ephesians 1:22–23

“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body…”

📖 Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”

2. Jesus as “Lord” and “Christ”

Key Theme from Ephesians 1

Lord → Jesus is the ruling King over all creation

Christ (Messiah) → the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant

📖 Ephesians 1:20–21

“[God] raised Christ from the dead and seated him… far above all rule and authority…”

This means every identity and allegiance must submit to Him.

3. The Human Problem: Division

Primary Text: Ephesians 2:11–12

Division between Jews and Gentiles represents deep hostility: 

Jews: covenant people with promises

Gentiles: outsiders, excluded

📖 Ephesians 2:11–12

“Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles… were separate from Christ… without hope and without God in the world.”

4. What Christ Has Done

a. Brings the distant near

📖 Ephesians 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

b. Destroys division

📖 Ephesians 2:14

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”

c. Creates one new humanity

📖 Ephesians 2:15–16

“His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two… and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross…”

5. Unity is Already Accomplished

Unity is not something we create—it is something Christ has already established

📖 Ephesians 2:16

“...thus putting to death their hostility.”

The call is to live into this reality

6. Salvation is Communal (Not Individualistic)

Salvation is not just about individuals being saved

It is about God forming a new people together

📖 Ephesians 2:18

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

7. The Challenge of Individualism

Culture teaches:

Self-sufficiency

Personal success

Individual identity

But biblical formation requires community

📖 1 Corinthians 12:12

“Just as a body… has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

8. New Identity in Christ

Identity is no longer defined by:

Background

Status

Preferences

Instead:

📖 Ephesians 2:19 (implied next verse)

“You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people…”

9. The Church’s Calling

The church is to be a place where:

The outsider is welcomed

The divided are unified

Peace is practiced

📖 Ephesians 2:17

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”

10. How to Respond

Not:

“Try harder to be unified”

But:

Embrace your identity in Christ

Repent of competing allegiances

Live as one new humanity

📖 John 17:21 (supporting theme)

“That all of them may be one… just as you are in me and I am in you.”

11. Access to God is Equal

All believers share: 

One Spirit

One Father

One access

📖 Ephesians 2:18

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

12. Communion as the Expression of Unity

We do not come to God on our own merit

We are brought near through Christ alone

📖 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

“This is my body… This cup is the new covenant in my blood…”

Communion reminds us: 

We share one Savior

We belong to one body

We are one people

✅ KeyTakeaways

Jesus is Lord over every identity and allegiance

Christ has already destroyed division

Salvation creates a unified people, not isolated individuals

The church must live out the unity that already exists

True maturity requires deep, committed community

EPHESIANS – WEEK 3

Pastor: Dave Brown
Series: Ephesians

📖 Ephesians 2:1–10 | From Death to Life | Walking in Our True Identity

In this message from Ephesians 2:1–10, we explore the powerful transformation that takes place through God’s grace—and what it means for how we live every day.

Paul reminds us that we were once spiritually dead, walking in sin and shaped by the patterns of this world. This way of life ultimately flows from self-centeredness, which leads to brokenness, hostility, and separation from God. Left on our own, we follow a path that cannot produce life.

But everything changes with God’s intervention.

“But because of His great love…” (Ephesians 2:4)

God, rich in mercy, makes us alive with Christ. This transformation is not something we earn—it is a gift of grace. Salvation is not based on our efforts, achievements, or moral performance, but on the finished work of Jesus.

Through Christ:

This means our identity has completely changed.

We are no longer defined by our past or by sin—we are now children of God.

Paul emphasizes that this new identity leads to a new way of life. The Christian life is described as a “walk”—a daily pattern shaped by who we belong to. Instead of living in self-centeredness, we are called to walk in love, reflecting the character of our Father.

Ephesians 2:10 declares that we are God’s handiwork (His masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works. These works are not how we earn salvation—they are the natural outflow of a life transformed by grace.

Key truths from this passage:

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live differently—not to prove ourselves, but to display the reality of God’s kingdom here and now.

We don’t walk differently to earn God’s love—
we walk differently because we already have it.

🙏 Let your life reflect the love, grace, and truth of the One who made you new.

EPHESIANS – WEEK 2

Pastor: Leanne Benton
Series: Ephesians

Sermon Summary: “Open Eyes” (Ephesians 1:15–23)

 Main Message

Paul’s prayer is that believers would move beyond knowledge and experience spiritual revelation—having the“eyes of their hearts enlightened” to truly know God.(Ephesians 1:17–18)

Transformation comes not from information alone, but from a heart awakened to God.

Supporting scriptures:

Supporting scriptures:

Supporting insight:

The central prayer of the sermon:

“God, open the eyes of our hearts.”(Ephesians 1:18)

Believers are called to:

EPHESIANS – WEEK 1

Sermon Notes Summary: Ephesians 1:1–14”

Pastor: Dave Brown
Series: Ephesians

Series context: Beginning a 14-week journey through Ephesians. This opening message sets the stage for the letter’s big themes and asks what kind of people—and what kind of church—God is forming us to be.

Why Ephesians matters: Ephesians gives a sweeping vision of the gospel, the church, and God’s purpose from creation to new creation. It helps answer: Why did God call this church into existence? Why bring different people into one body? Why does our community need a church like this? Why does God care not only about what we believe, but who we are becoming?

Genre: A letter (epistle), so context matters for interpretation.

Author: Traditionally Paul. Though scholars debate this because of vocabulary and church language, the sermon argues Paul likely wrote it late in life, possibly from prison, as a final pastoral vision for multiple churches.

Audience: Not just Ephesus, but likely a wider circle of churches.

About Ephesians 1:3–14: In Greek, this is one long sentence overflowing with praise. Paul packs it with major themes and echoes from Israel’s story to show continuity between God’s work in the Old Testament and God’s work in Christ now.

Adoption/sonship: Echoes Israel as God’s firstborn son.

Chosen/predestined: Echoes God’s choosing of Abraham and Israel to form a people for His purposes.

Redemption/freedom: Echoes the Exodus—God delivering His people from slavery.

Blood of the Lamb: Echoes Passover and God’s saving power.

Forgiveness: Echoes God’s mercy after Israel’s failure.

Wisdom, understanding, mystery: Echoes God giving His people instruction for covenant life.

Unity: Echoes the hope of God reuniting His people under the Messiah.

Main idea: The opening of Ephesians is about identity. Paul confronts the identities the world tries to give us and reminds us who we are in Christ.

We are a people of praise — our lives are centered on God’s glory, not ourselves.

We are blessed — in Christ, heaven has broken into our story.

We are loved — God pursued us before we pursued Him.

We are chosen — our identity begins with God’s initiative.

We are adopted — wanted, welcomed, and claimed as God’s own.

We are holy — set apart for God’s purposes, not perfect but called.

We are saved by grace — forgiven through the blood of Christ.

We are free — released from sin, shame, and old masters to belong to Christ.

We are one — a new humanity under Jesus, beyond all lesser divisions and allegiances.

We are sealed — marked and empowered by the Holy Spirit as God’s possession.

Application: Before asking, “What should we do?” Ephesians first asks, “Who are we becoming?” A church that knows its identity stops chasing relevance, fearing the future, and imitating culture, and instead lives as the people of God.

Prayer focus: Lord, teach us to live as Your holy, forgiven, loved, unified, Spirit-filled people, and empower us to help others experience the freedom and life found in Christ.

HOLY SPIRIT – WEEK 4

Sermon Notes Summary: The Holy Spirit & Our “Why”

Pastor: Dave Brown
Series: Holy Spirit (Final Week)
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 (with references to ch. 13–14, Acts 1:8)

Main Theme

The Holy Spirit empowers believers with power (dunamis)—not for personal gain or spiritual moments, but to advance God’s kingdom on earth. To rightly use this power, we must align with God’s “why”—His purpose of bringing heaven to earth through love and truth.

Key Ideas

1. Don’t “Box Up” the Holy Spirit

2. The Importance of “Why”

Key Quote:

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

4. A Bigger Gospel

Key Truth:

Anchor Prayer:

5. Why We Need the Spirit’s Power

“Some things need to be blown up.”

6. Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12)

Examples of gifts:

7. Alignment Matters

8. The Greater Gifts: Love & Prophecy (Ch. 13–14)

9. Truth + Love = Spiritual Maturity

Maturity = living both together

10. Our Calling: Witness & Prophet

Reflection Questions

Application

Closing Challenge

Closing Prayer Focus

HOLY SPIRIT – WEEK 3

Sermon Notes — “You Will Receive Power, You Will Be My Witnesses”

Pastor Daniel Bunn — May 3, 2026

Text: Acts 2:1–21

1. Scripture Reading — Acts 2:1–21

Pastor Daniel begins by reading the Pentecost narrative:

Acts 2:1 — “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”

Acts 2:2–4 — Violent wind, tongues of fire, filling of the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues.

Acts 2:5–12 — Jews from every nation hear the wonders of God in their own languages.

Acts 2:13 — Some mock: “They’ve had too much wine.”

Acts 2:14–21 — Peter explains this fulfills Joel 2:28–32:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people…”

“Your sons and daughters will prophesy…”

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2. A Disorienting Reality

Pastor Daniel uses the viral “dress” phenomenon to illustrate how disorienting it is when what you see doesn’t match what is true.

Quote: “What you think is real may not be real after all.”

This sets up the disciples’ own disorientation after the resurrection.

3. The Disciples’ Reality Is Overturned (Luke → Acts)

A. Their old reality

Power wins.

Empires rule.

Death is final.

Jesus’ crucifixion seemed to confirm this: “Rome wins, Jesus loses, end of story.”

B. The resurrection shatters that reality

Jesus appears alive in a locked room (Luke 24).

This reveals two truths:

True power is found on the cross, not in Roman might.

Death does not get the last word — God does.

The disciples now know the truth, but they are disoriented—just like the dress analogy.

4. Jesus’ Final Instruction — Acts 1

Before ascending, Jesus tells them:

Acts 1:4 — “Wait in Jerusalem until the gift of the Spirit comes.”

Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.”

This taps into centuries of Jewish expectation for the promised Spirit (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel).

5. Pentecost — Acts 2

A. The disciples obey

They “waited and prayed for 10 days.”

B. The Spirit arrives

Violent wind

Fire

Languages

Galileans speaking global languages — the most shocking part to the crowd.

Quote: “This should not be possible… These people probably barely know their own language.” (Acts 2:7)

C. The crowd’s confusion

Their best explanation: “They must be drunk.” Pastor Daniel notes humorously that drunkenness does not improve language skills.

D. Peter’s explanation

Peter quotes Joel 2:28–32 to show this is God’s promised outpouring.

6. The Spirit Empowers Witnesses (Acts 2–7)

Pastor Daniel traces several scenes in Acts showing the Spirit fulfilling Jesus’ words:

A. Peter’s bold sermon — Acts 2

The same Peter who denied Jesus now preaches boldly. Result: “Some 3,000 people embraced this reality.” (Acts 2:41)

B. The Spirit-formed community — Acts 2:42–47

They:

Devoted themselves to teaching, prayer, fellowship

Sold possessions

Ensured no one lacked anything

This contradicts the world’s reality of scarcity, competition, and accumulation.

Quote: “What I have is God’s, not mine… With God there is plenty, not scarcity.”

C. Healing the lame man — Acts 3

Peter: “What I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus, stand up and walk.” The man walks; the crowd is amazed.

D. Peter and John before the authorities — Acts 4

Religious leaders demand they stop speaking in Jesus’ name.

Peter replies (Acts 4:19–20): “Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to you or to him? … We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

E. Stephen — Acts 6–7

Stephen, “empowered by the Holy Spirit,” gives the longest speech in Acts. He becomes the first martyr.

Pastor Daniel notes: “The Greek word martyr means witness.”

7. What the Spirit Empowers Us For

Not to become:

Saviors

Judges

But to become:

Witnesses

A witness simply says: “This is what I’ve seen and heard.”

8. The Invitation to Us

Acts extends a question to modern believers:

Will we receive the Spirit’s power?

Will we bear witness to God’s alternative reality?

Will we allow this reality to take root in our homes, marriages, friendships, neighborhoods, and church?

9. The Proper Order of Operations (Acts Pattern)

Pastor Daniel emphasizes:

Wait and pray

Receive the Holy Spirit

Witness

Quote: “The Holy Spirit must be received. The Holy Spirit is not grasped.”

Rushing into witnessing without empowerment leads to failure.

10. A Final Warning and Call

Receiving the Spirit is beautiful—but dangerous:

It overturns false realities.

It reveals that peace, not might, wins.

It reveals that God, not death, is eternal.

Once you see this reality, “you can’t unsee it.”

The call:

Be bold enough to receive the Spirit.

Be bold enough to witness.

Proclaim the kingdom of God.

Love neighbors as ourselves.

This is a powerful and beautiful witness.

Amen.

HOLY SPIRIT – WEEK 2

April 26, 2026

Pastor Dave Brown

Moving from simply understanding the Holy Spirit to actively living in relationship with Him daily.

KEY IDEA

The Holy Spirit is meant to be experienced, not just studied.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT JUST A CONCEPT

The Spirit lives in us and is active in our lives

We are meant to understand and experience what God has given

Scripture: John 14:16–17; 1 Corinthians 2:12–14

2. FROM KNOWLEDGE TO RELATIONSHIP

The Holy Spirit guides, speaks, and leads

Christianity is not just belief—it’s relationship

Scripture: John 16:13; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 13:14

3. LEARNING TO LISTEN

God often speaks in subtle ways

We must slow down and pay attention

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11–12; John 10:27

4. OBEDIENCE BRINGS CLARITY

Spiritual sensitivity grows through action

Obedience strengthens our ability to hear

Scripture: James 1:22; Acts 5:32; Galatians 5:25

5. EMBRACING DISCOMFORT

The Spirit often leads beyond comfort zones

Growth happens when we trust God’s leading

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:16; Isaiah 55:8–9

6. DAILY DEPENDENCE

The Holy Spirit is for everyday life—not just church

We are called to live continually filled and led

Scripture: Luke 11:13; Romans 8:5–6; Ephesians 5:18

APPLICATION (THIS WEEK)

Ask the Holy Spirit to speak (Luke 11:13)

Pause and listen (Psalm 46:10)

Act on one prompting (James 1:22)

Reflect on what happens (Psalm 119:15)

CLOSING

“This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being available.”
Philippians 2:13

Holy Spirit

April 12 2026

Teacher: Pastor Doug McHenry

The Holy Spirit is the life-giving presence of God.

“Now the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” – Genesis 2:7

The Trinity is One Being, Three Persons; one essence, three personalities; Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the life-giving presence of God and breathes into our lives, makes us new and we’re born again.

It’s not something we achieve; it’s something we receive. We are not self-generated.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm…” – Eph. 1:18-20

“Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’”

“Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘My people, I am going to bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.”

“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it,’ declares the Lord.” – Ezekiel 37:11-14

The Breath of God, the Holy Spirit, alone can bring dead things back to life.

The Holy Spirit is the life-giving presence of God from the first breath in Eden to the new life of resurrection.