Archive for June 2023

1 Kings 8, Psalm 119:33-40, Luke 1:67-80, Ephesians 3:1-13 Ephesians 3:1-13: When we think of the word “mystery,” we often think of something “mysterious,” perhaps a whodunit or a magic and sorcery movie or a strange ghostly apparition of some kind. But, for Paul and in the Bible generally, the word “mystery” tends to have a more precise…

1 Kings 6-7, Psalm 119:25-32, Luke 1:57-66, Ephesians 2:11-22 Ephesians 2:11-22: At the start of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul described the beauty and power of the gospel. But what are the practical implications of this gospel for how we live? The massive implication that Paul focuses on here is that in Christ, both…

1 Kings 4-5, Psalm 119:17-24, Luke 1:39-56, Ephesians 2:1-10 Ephesians 2:1-10: This is one of the most glorious summaries of the gospel in the New Testament. What are the 10 key components of this gospel? First, outside of Christ we are dead. How often is this message diluted! Around us, according to Paul, are the walking dead! A spiritual…

1 Kings 2-3, Psalm 119:9-16, Luke 1:26-38, Ephesians 1:15-23  Ephesians 1:15-23:  When we listen to godly men and women pray, it is worth observing exactly how they pray and what they pray. How much more so when we have the opportunity to overhear the apostle Paul pray, as he prays here in this second half of chapter 1…

1 Kings 1, Psalm 119:1-8, Luke 1:1-25, Ephesians 1:1-14 Ephesians 1:1-14: We often think of election—or the choice of God—as some negative or nefarious idea snuck in by conniving overly complicated theologians to the detriment of the simple truth of the Bible. But here as we come to Ephesians chapter 1 and the election of God, his choice…