The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father's only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Are you ready to get back to the “real world?” The holidays are officially over. Now it’s time, says our world, to get back to work, or…
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 This is the last in my sermon series on Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I have been looking at…
Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 Live wisely, Paul reminds us in this passage from Ephesians. In challenging times – and aren’t all times challenging? – it is important to make the most of the…
Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. Ephesians 5:1 What a challenging statement from Paul! “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” But also a great reminder of the good news of the gospel. We are God’s beloved children, loved by…
I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. Ephesians 4:1 Today, as I continue my sermon series on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, my focus turns to Chapter 4, and especially to its opening words, quoted above. That is…
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit. Ephesians 3:16 “What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words!,” Mark Twain wrote. “His real life is led in his head,…
For [Christ] is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. Ephesians 2:14 Last week, I began a sermon series on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians: "For the Praise of God's Glory." I looked at the beginning of this…
So that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:12 Today I am beginning a new sermon series on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, which is going to be featured in the second reading of our lectionary for the next six weeks.…
As I read through the Bible this year, I am writing a nonet poem for each of its sixty-six books. Here are my nonets for the thirteen canonical letters of Paul.
We have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Whoever we are, then, we are God's. Here is my sermon on Ephesians 1:3-14.
My Pastoral Ponderings 