LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Power to the People”
Ephesians 1:15-23
1/19/20
Marvel Comics seems to have cornered market on superheroes & movies
over 1,000 superheroes: according to one fan website, 179 different superhero powers
everything from acid generation to zoopathy (summon & control animals)
if could have superpower, which one?
here to tell you that you have superpowers: don’t need cape or tights to use them
learn about in passage looking at today, as continue through Ephesians
Apparently one of Paul’s superpowers was ability to write really long sentences
last week 1:3-14, one sentence
today, 15-23, another single sentence, 9 verses long
description of prayer that Paul lifts up for Ephesians
1st part: I have not stopped giving thanks for you
when we pray for someone, how often is it to give thanks? or to ask for help?
Paul does go on to ask for something for them, but begins w/ thanks
qualities of the Ephs for which Paul gave thanks: faith & love
faith in Lord Jesus, love for God’s people
Xnity about relationship both w/ X & w/ other Xns
2nd part much longer: what Paul asks for on behalf of Eph: not what might expect
when we ask God to help someone, what is it usually? [health or life circumstance]
when we focus on such things, remain only at surface
life circumstances are only expressions of real issue which lies deeper
as if response to misbehaving child is only discipline for bad behavior
also consider what’s going on in child’s life that leads to misbehavior: why doing it?
or car belching smoke, take to mechanic, puts on filter on tailpipe instead of repair
Paul goes to deeper level in prayer: ultimate source of blessing he desires for them
that may receive HS
and in receiving HS, receive knowledge/awareness/enlightenment
open the “eyes of your heart:” the original “third eye,” spiritual insight
Praying to know & understand three things: related to each other
hope of your calling
riches of the glory of the inheritance we have received
power of God in us: what got Paul really excited: “hyperbolic” power
ran out of synonyms in Gr to express this power: beyond words & imagination
δύναμις, ἐνέργεια, κράτος, ἰσχύς
We have no clue how much power we have! how capable! what able to accomplish
more specific: how much of God’s power is present in and among us
enables us to do what characters in Marvel’s superhero stable could only dream of
power of the rez: raised X from the dead, destroyed death, lifted to highest place
God’s power that brought Jesus from depths of hell to heights of heaven
from worst place in all creation to most glorious
surpasses every other authority & power
what’s the greatest, most powerful thing/person/force you can think of? X is greater
what demands allegiance? holds you back? imprisons you in fear or anger or pain?
X greater than them all
Ready for mind to be blown? God puts that same great power into all who believe
v 22 literally: God gave X, who is head over everything, to the church
X is God’s gift to us
v23 church, which is body of X, is fullness of X, who has been filled in every way by God
do you know what this means? full power of X is present in us, his church
X, who makes superheroes look like wimps, shares is power w/ us
we are his body: integrally part of him: who he is is who we are
communion today: receive body of X in order to become body of X
Once we realize that have superpowers, time to understand them
1st, it’s a positive, constructive power: not one that tears down or destroys
world full of negative power: from name-calling bullies to missile-launching nations
if ever did home demo & construction, know it’s easier to tear down than build up
To understand exactly what our powers are, consider purpose for power God gives us
“encourage & build up:” moving in right direction
particular way our congre works to achieve real purpose
like auto manufacturers that have niche: Volvos are safe, Cadillacs are luxurious
but what is our ultimate aim?
Back to 1:3-14: “to the praise of his glory:” to bring praise to God
way to measure how well we’re doing as church: how much praise we offer to God
1. increase praise he receives
eg dynamic worship, bringing in more people to help us lift up praise
deepen our own devotion & discipleship
2. work against what detracts from his praise & glory
want & need, hatred & violence, injustice & immorality, disease & illness
That’s a lot for us to try to do: how can we possibly hope to accomplish it?
if eyes of our hearts are opened, realize indescribable power of God at work in us
he hasn’t given us a mission, then left us to our own devices
he is at work in us, filling us w/ ability to do it
more aware we are of his presence in our lives, more motivated to do the work
X’s superpower at work in us looks different in each person
because we each have different role to play in great plan
like parts of engine, like singers/players in band/choir, like spices & herbs in cooking
don’t look at other: wish had, think not important
use your superhero power, so together can bring praise to God
Ephesians 1:15-23
1/19/20
Marvel Comics seems to have cornered market on superheroes & movies
over 1,000 superheroes: according to one fan website, 179 different superhero powers
everything from acid generation to zoopathy (summon & control animals)
if could have superpower, which one?
here to tell you that you have superpowers: don’t need cape or tights to use them
learn about in passage looking at today, as continue through Ephesians
Apparently one of Paul’s superpowers was ability to write really long sentences
last week 1:3-14, one sentence
today, 15-23, another single sentence, 9 verses long
description of prayer that Paul lifts up for Ephesians
1st part: I have not stopped giving thanks for you
when we pray for someone, how often is it to give thanks? or to ask for help?
Paul does go on to ask for something for them, but begins w/ thanks
qualities of the Ephs for which Paul gave thanks: faith & love
faith in Lord Jesus, love for God’s people
Xnity about relationship both w/ X & w/ other Xns
2nd part much longer: what Paul asks for on behalf of Eph: not what might expect
when we ask God to help someone, what is it usually? [health or life circumstance]
when we focus on such things, remain only at surface
life circumstances are only expressions of real issue which lies deeper
as if response to misbehaving child is only discipline for bad behavior
also consider what’s going on in child’s life that leads to misbehavior: why doing it?
or car belching smoke, take to mechanic, puts on filter on tailpipe instead of repair
Paul goes to deeper level in prayer: ultimate source of blessing he desires for them
that may receive HS
and in receiving HS, receive knowledge/awareness/enlightenment
open the “eyes of your heart:” the original “third eye,” spiritual insight
Praying to know & understand three things: related to each other
hope of your calling
riches of the glory of the inheritance we have received
power of God in us: what got Paul really excited: “hyperbolic” power
ran out of synonyms in Gr to express this power: beyond words & imagination
δύναμις, ἐνέργεια, κράτος, ἰσχύς
We have no clue how much power we have! how capable! what able to accomplish
more specific: how much of God’s power is present in and among us
enables us to do what characters in Marvel’s superhero stable could only dream of
power of the rez: raised X from the dead, destroyed death, lifted to highest place
God’s power that brought Jesus from depths of hell to heights of heaven
from worst place in all creation to most glorious
surpasses every other authority & power
what’s the greatest, most powerful thing/person/force you can think of? X is greater
what demands allegiance? holds you back? imprisons you in fear or anger or pain?
X greater than them all
Ready for mind to be blown? God puts that same great power into all who believe
v 22 literally: God gave X, who is head over everything, to the church
X is God’s gift to us
v23 church, which is body of X, is fullness of X, who has been filled in every way by God
do you know what this means? full power of X is present in us, his church
X, who makes superheroes look like wimps, shares is power w/ us
we are his body: integrally part of him: who he is is who we are
communion today: receive body of X in order to become body of X
Once we realize that have superpowers, time to understand them
1st, it’s a positive, constructive power: not one that tears down or destroys
world full of negative power: from name-calling bullies to missile-launching nations
if ever did home demo & construction, know it’s easier to tear down than build up
To understand exactly what our powers are, consider purpose for power God gives us
“encourage & build up:” moving in right direction
particular way our congre works to achieve real purpose
like auto manufacturers that have niche: Volvos are safe, Cadillacs are luxurious
but what is our ultimate aim?
Back to 1:3-14: “to the praise of his glory:” to bring praise to God
way to measure how well we’re doing as church: how much praise we offer to God
1. increase praise he receives
eg dynamic worship, bringing in more people to help us lift up praise
deepen our own devotion & discipleship
2. work against what detracts from his praise & glory
want & need, hatred & violence, injustice & immorality, disease & illness
That’s a lot for us to try to do: how can we possibly hope to accomplish it?
if eyes of our hearts are opened, realize indescribable power of God at work in us
he hasn’t given us a mission, then left us to our own devices
he is at work in us, filling us w/ ability to do it
more aware we are of his presence in our lives, more motivated to do the work
X’s superpower at work in us looks different in each person
because we each have different role to play in great plan
like parts of engine, like singers/players in band/choir, like spices & herbs in cooking
don’t look at other: wish had, think not important
use your superhero power, so together can bring praise to God
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com