Ephesians 2:1-10 Today’s lesson from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians is filled with contrasts. A good way to know the precise meaning and application of a point that Paul expresses in this text is to view that point in light of the contrasting point that Paul also sets forth. So, for example, he tells…
There are great benefits to using our wonderful Lutheran chorales in worship. They do not entertain us, and are not intended to entertain us. But, they do edify us and build us up spiritually. The classic chorales are of a high devotional quality, in view of their Christ-centered biblical content and their good literary form.…
Ephesians 4:17-5:2 Nobody likes conflict and warfare. When we hear news reports about the suffering of those who are caught in the middle of conflict in various parts of the world, or when we see images of the death and destruction brought about by war, we cringe. We desire peace – for ourselves, and for…
Ephesians 4:1-16 Many years ago, in another time and place, I visited a delinquent member of the congregation I was then serving and tried to encourage this person to come to church. The response was pretty bizarre. “I already know all that. I learned the catechism when I was confirmed, and I still remember what…
Ephesians 3:13-21 In New Testament Greek, the word for “father” is “patera,” and the word for “family” is “patria.” You can see, then, that a family is conceptualized, and defined, on the basis of its relationship to the father of that family, whether literal or figurative. Some translations of today’s text from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians are…
Ephesians 2:1-10 The TV show “The Walking Dead” was in production for twelve years, from 2010 to 2022. I personally never watched an entire episode, and couldn’t really get interested in the storyline, but this was a popular show, and remains so in syndication. This series told the tale of what the world was like…
Ephesians 1:15-22 – Ascension In his Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul prays “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope…
Sermon Text: Ephesians 5:15-21 The image of someone drinking alcohol alone – often drinking to excess – is not a happy picture. But the moderate use of wine or alcohol in a group, on social occasions, can often contribute in a positive way to the cheerful atmosphere of such a gathering. Psalm 104 declares that…
Ephesians 4:1-16 Christians are supposed to be confident. But as they are confident, they are also supposed to be humble. Is that a contradiction? Well, it might seem to be, if you equate confidence with arrogance, and if you equate being humble with being demeaned. From that perspective, people, in their pride, would want to…
Sermon Text: Ephesians 2:11-22 One of the unique features of the worldview of the ancient Hebrews was their belief in the unity of the human race. In contrast to the myths and legends of other ancient peoples, which seldom acknowledged a common humanity with rival nations, the Hebrews believed that all human beings, from all…