The Strength ofthe Church

The Benefitsof “in”

How Do I Get “in”

The Mystery of “in”

The Strength of “in”

Strength “in” Walking

Strength “in” Marriage

Strength “in” Battle

The Benefits of Being “in” Christ

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places...”

(Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

What Being “in” Christ Means

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...”

(Ephesians 2:19, ESV; emphasis mine)

The Mystery of Christ

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

(Ephesians 3:6, ESV; emphasis mine)

The Strength of “in”

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

(Ephesians 4.15-16; ESV)

The Strength in Walking

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

(Ephesians 5.1, 2, NKJV)

Walk in Love

• Paul encourages them to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5.1).

• Paul motivates them to walk in love by reminding them of the greatest sacrifice (Ephesians 5.2).

Walk in Love

• To become an imitator of God, the Ephesians must put away the things of the flesh (Ephesians 5.3-6).

– Ephesus was the home of the temple to the Greek god, Diana (See Acts 19.23-31).

Walk as Children of Light

• Paul discourages the Christians from being partakers, joining in with them (Ephesians 5.7).

• Since their lives have been changed (Ephesians 2.1-6), they are to walk as children of light.

Walk as Children of Light

• The Christians were to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5.11).

• The works of darkness are to shameful to even mention (Ephesians 5.12).

• The light, Christian’s life, will make manifest the darkness contained within the unfruitful (Ephesians 5.13, 14)

Walk Circumspectly

• To walk circumspectly means to walk carefully.

• Paul wants them to walk carefully in wisdom making the most of their time (Ephesians 5.15, 16).

– Wisdom is the principle thing (Proverbs 4.7).

– Wisdom is more valuable than gold (Proverbs 16.16).

Walk Circumspectly

• Their walk of wisdom will bring them into a entirely different life.

– Not drunk, but filled with the Spirit; speaking to one another through song; giving thanks to God always through Christ; submitting to one another (Ephesians 5.18-21).

The Strength in Walking

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

(Ephesians 5.1, 2, NKJV)

The Strength ofthe Church