Knowing the Love of Christ - Nathan Rages

Eph 3:18-19 “That you … may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge...”

1 The SOURCE of this love: "the love of Christ"

2 The KNOWLEDGE of this love: "comprehend ... know ... knowledge"

3 The DIMENSIONS of this love: "breadth and length and height and depth"

4 The SHARING of this love: "with all the saints"

Midweek Encouragement: Celebrating God's Sameness - Nathan Rages

"... but You are the SAME and your years will not come to an end."  (Heb. 1:12b) and "Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8).

Rooted and Grounded in Love - Nathan Rages

"... that you, being rooted and grounded in love" Eph. 3:17b   A Christian's love for God and others is pictured like the roots of a tree or the foundation of a building.  These pictures reveal certain insights about love:

1. It gives us long-term stability.

2. It's hard to see (initially).

3. It takes time to form.

4. It's what everything else grows *from*.



Applications:

1. Love is the foundation for relating to God.

2. Love is the foundation for our holiness.

3. Love is the foundation of marriage and parenting.

4. Love is the foundation of church life.

5. Love is the foundation of ministry work.

Midweek encouragement: Three Things You Can't Do Too Much - Nathan Rages

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  1Thess 5:16-18.

Christ Dwelling in Your Heart - Nathan Rages

Ephesians 3:17 begins "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".  We'll approach these simple-sounding words by asking these two simple questions:



1 What does it mean for Christ to dwell in your heart?



2. How can this happen to you? 

A. Through prayer.

B. Through the Spirit's ministry.

C. Through your faith.

Midweek Encouragement: God Keeps ALL His Promises - Nathan Rages

Josh 21:45 "Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."

Strengthened by the Spirit in the Inner Man - Nathan Rages

In Eph. 3:16, Paul prayed to God that the Ephesian Christians would be "strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man". This sermon breaks this down into three simple concepts:
1. Our NEED for strengthening. 2. The PLACE where strengthening is needed: "in the inner man". 3. The PERSON who does the strengthening: "through His Spirit".