About this Sunday: Our third Sunday of the "Selfie" is one that encourages us to look around at the way

that the world operates, and separate ourselves from that picture. We are encouraged to be different

and to live in a way that separates who we are from the background of the pictures that we are a part

of.

About this Sunday: Our third Sunday of the "Selfie" is one that encourages us to look around at the way

that the world operates, and separate ourselves from that picture. We are encouraged to be different

and to live in a way that separates who we are from the background of the pictures that we are a part

of.

About this Sunday: Our second Sunday of the "Selfie" sermon series is about seeing ourselves in the lens of possibility. All of the readings point to the realm of possibility, even including the father of the mute boy who says "I believe, help my unbelief". During this Sunday we will be talking about the gift that God gives us to be able to do things in His power and with His Word.

About this Sunday: Our second Sunday of the "Selfie" sermon series is about seeing ourselves in the lens of possibility. All of the readings point to the realm of possibility, even including the father of the mute boy who says "I believe, help my unbelief". During this Sunday we will be talking about the gift that God gives us to be able to do things in His power and with His Word.

There is something emboldening and celebratory about the gathering of a sports team or even a military unit that knows that it is going to win a contest. It is this sense of celebration that we are invited to take into "the lockerroom" of our faith as we don the armor of God to fight in a contest that He has already won in Jesus Christ. We are invited not to take on abstract pieces of armor, or abstract rules from Deuteronomy, but rather, these pieces of armor point to the totality of what Paul has been talking about our taking on from the very beginning of this book - the person of Jesus Christ who is given to us as a Gift, so that we might celebrate by Being this Gift for others.

There is something emboldening and celebratory about the gathering of a sports team or even a military unit that knows that it is going to win a contest. It is this sense of celebration that we are invited to take into "the lockerroom" of our faith as we don the armor of God to fight in a contest that He has already won in Jesus Christ. We are invited not to take on abstract pieces of armor, or abstract rules from Deuteronomy, but rather, these pieces of armor point to the totality of what Paul has been talking about our taking on from the very beginning of this book - the person of Jesus Christ who is given to us as a Gift, so that we might celebrate by Being this Gift for others.

This section of Ephesians 5 is wildly unpopular among many brides. The notion of submission in a marriage is a stumbling block that it is very hard for us to overcome, the clear reason for this is that like in Mark 7, "submission" is so often couched in the external "law" of submission that has nothing to do with this verse. Instead, this verse seeks to show a wonderful relationship between two lovers: Christ and His Bride the Church. We transition to talking about how we "Celebrate Gifts Given" in this sermon and discuss how we can celebrate those who submit to us, and those who sacrifice for us - and how we can see a picture of Christ and His Church through these actions of others.

This section of Ephesians 5 is wildly unpopular among many brides. The notion of submission in a marriage is a stumbling block that it is very hard for us to overcome, the clear reason for this is that like in Mark 7, "submission" is so often couched in the external "law" of submission that has nothing to do with this verse. Instead, this verse seeks to show a wonderful relationship between two lovers: Christ and His Bride the Church. We transition to talking about how we "Celebrate Gifts Given" in this sermon and discuss how we can celebrate those who submit to us, and those who sacrifice for us - and how we can see a picture of Christ and His Church through these actions of others.

It can be hard to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. This was no less true when Paul was writing to the Ephesians than it is today. Paul's letter here shifts the focus of how we live in community with one another (gifting one another with community) as the Church to how we live in the community of our everyday lives which are mixed with believers and non-believers. As we consider Paul's words, we consider their wisdom and how we might use them to "walk not as unwise, but as wise" in order to bring light from Christ to "arise the sleeper from the dead".

It can be hard to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. This was no less true when Paul was writing to the Ephesians than it is today. Paul's letter here shifts the focus of how we live in community with one another (gifting one another with community) as the Church to how we live in the community of our everyday lives which are mixed with believers and non-believers. As we consider Paul's words, we consider their wisdom and how we might use them to "walk not as unwise, but as wise" in order to bring light from Christ to "arise the sleeper from the dead".