God’s sovereign mercy on nations provides eternal opportunity for the Lord’s people.

Genesis 10-11 are the last 2 chapters in the “Degeneration” section. We have seen the effects of sin on individuals and the family; now we see what sin does to nations. These 2 chapters are not written chronologically but part of a simultaneous narrative. They layer over one another.

God’s Prevailing Promise and Man’s Frailty and Perseverance.

After Noah and his family exit the ark, they are granted a new beginning and an opportunity similar to Adam and Eve’s. They step out into a new world and a new era of time. God reaffirms his instructions for humanity and reestablishes his covenant.

Righteousness elevates true faith to new opportunities in a new world.

Genesis 8 continues the story of Noah, showing us what righteous people do and what God does to protect them. The whole chapter displays God’s faithfulness to His righteous people.

Living with Eternal Purpose in the Midst of Societal Degeneration.

Some readers of Genesis 7 may ask, “Why a worldwide flood? Was that level of judgment really necessary?” Remember what we learned about the society in that day – it was “exceedingly corrupt,” to the point that “every intent of the thoughts of [anyone’s] heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). God’s judgment is always proportionate to the sin He is judging. We will see again this week that He is a fair and just God who continually offers mercy even at the eleventh hour.

Theme: The enjoyment of unseen spiritual realities prepares our hearts for unified daily living in God’s glorious church.

This week, we finish up the doctrinal teaching portion of Ephesians. Paul’s main point can be summarized in 1 sentence: God desires to take every soul on the globe, from various cultures and backgrounds, and blend them into one family in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This pinnacle passage takes the form of a prayer, preparing us for the practical instructions to come in chapters 4-6. Last week we discussed God’s Enablement and Indwelling. Remember that these four aspects flow into one another as a natural Spirit-given progression. If we’re governed by the Spirit, Christ will feel at home in our hearts. As Christ is at home in our hearts, we will know the infinite measure of love God has given to us in His Son Jesus Christ. As we know that love, we will know increasing maturity over time.

Theme: The enjoyment of unseen spiritual realities prepares our hearts for unified daily living in God’s glorious church.

This week, we finish up the doctrinal teaching portion of Ephesians. Paul’s main point can be summarized in 1 sentence: God desires to take every soul on the globe, from various cultures and backgrounds, and blend them into one family in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This pinnacle passage takes the form of a prayer, preparing us for the practical instructions to come in chapters 4-6. Last week we discussed God’s Enablement and Indwelling. Remember that these four aspects flow into one another as a natural Spirit-given progression. If we’re governed by the Spirit, Christ will feel at home in our hearts. As Christ is at home in our hearts, we will know the infinite measure of love God has given to us in His Son Jesus Christ. As we know that love, we will know increasing maturity over time.

Theme: We have adequate, divine resources to fulfill Christ’s mission in a way that honors Him.

Paul continues discussing the resources available to Christians in service of the “mystery.” What was not formerly understood by everyone is now revealed: God offers the Gospel to all the world. Paul’s focus shifts back to his person for these verses – but he is also describing you! All members of the new, unified Christian family have a responsibility to carry out the mission.

Theme: We have adequate, divine resources to fulfill Christ’s mission in a way that honors Him.

Ephesians 3:1-13 is a “parenthesis” in Paul’s letter that redefines the content of 2:11-22. It clarifies what we’ve been given in the mystery of God. This mystery is essentially taking two separate entities, Jew and Gentile, and making one family out of all who own Jesus Christ as their Lord (1 Peter 2:9). The single purpose of this one family is to let the whole world know about Jesus (John 17:20-21).

Theme: We have adequate, divine resources to fulfill Christ’s mission in a way that honors Him.

Just as a soldier’s backpack contains everything they need for survival and execution of their mission, Christians have been given adequate resources by God Himself. As God’s soldiers, we are properly prepared to survive in the field of Christian service.

Theme: From Alienation to Restoration

In this passage, Paul applies the truths from verses 1-10 to a specific problem in the church he wrote to: disunity among those who were already made one in Christ.

Living Contrasts: From Death to Life in Christ
The Greek of this passage only contains 2 sentences, divided into three sections. Last week we looked a sober and fair assessment of lost people in verses 1-3 and introduced the jubilant initiative of God in verses 4-7. This week we will continue with the second section and look at the outworking of our response to God’s grace.

Living Contrasts: From Death to Life in Christ

Paul often describes our lost state to set up a contrast with our new life in Christ.

The structure of this passage reveals its main points. The Greek only contains 2 sentences (verses 1-7 and verses 8-10) but three sections. This week we will look at the first sentence, which outlines two different states of being: lost and saved, dead and living.

Paul continues to pray for believers’ understanding of who they are in Christ to increase. As we pray the same for each other, it will be answered because it is the revealed will of God! God is very proud of His Son. He loves and longs for people to know more about His Son, and to keep learning more of Him forever.

Theme: Our Eternal Foundation, Part 4 – Every Spiritual Blessing is In Christ

Paul continues his prayer that we started looking at in verses 15-16. In these verses, his prayer turns from thanksgiving to request for the Ephesian believers, that they would continually understand more of all they were given in Jesus Christ the moment they were saved.

This morning, we looked at 2 of the 3 things that Paul wanted the Ephesian believers to understand:

Theme: Our Eternal Foundation, Part 3 – Every Spiritual Blessing is in Christ

As the introduction to the last section of chapter 1, these verses mentions two practical ways that our riches in Christ are most vividly displayed. This passage is a prayer of praise offered personally by Paul in response to the testimony of the Ephesians.

Theme: Our Eternal Foundation, part 2 – Every Spiritual Blessing is in Christ.

You may not have a million dollars waiting to be claimed by you, but Christ has something of indescribable value with your name on it. Our passage today may be the most exhaustive description of the value of our salvation in Scripture. Though these spiritual blessings are outlined as experienced in the past, present, and future, they all came to us at the moment we believed.

Theme: Investigating our Eternal Foundation, part 1

Why is the church glorious? Because she has a glorious head, foundation, and shepherd – Jesus Christ. When the church is promoted as a marketing tool of social good and philanthropy, she is robbed of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and His power to save. God’s grace is what makes the church glorious.

Theme: The theme of the book of Ephesians is The Church Glorified.

At Grace Church of Mentor, you will primarily hear expositional preaching of a whole book in its parts and not many topical series. We preach this way because:

• It cultivates the discipline of starting and finishing.
• It helps God’s people sharpen their interpretation skills through learning context and hermeneutics in order to apply truth to the culture.
• It reveals each person’s spiritual strength and weakness
• It strengthens spiritual maturity.
• It protects the flock from wolves within and without.
• It helps us to systematically focus on truths mentioned in other places in the Bible.

Theme: Genuine spiritual growth comes only as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to people’s hearts.

This week concludes our detailed look at Grace Church of Mentor’s mission statement: “Grace Church of Mentor exists to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and equipping the saints with the goal of Christ-likeness.”

Church should not be about appealing to the greatest number of people through style and programs. The Spirit must draw souls to His church. Our promotions must not focus on what we do more than who we are. Church must first and foremost be about understanding and applying the Word of God.

Theme: Prioritizing the Gospel through prayer, planning, and purpose.

It seems everyone nowadays wants to influence those around them for the sake of a philanthropic platform. As Christians, we are to have similar influence in our immediate vicinity and globally for the Gospel.