For God to pardon our sin would have been enough. To then adopt us into his family? Unbelievable! In this study of Ephesians 1:5-6, you will learn about…
God’s legal declaration to adopt you
When God chose to adopt you
Three benefits you receive as an adopted child of God
Questions to help you reflect and delight in your adoption
You can listen using the media player at the top of this page, or click here to read my full sermon notes on Faithlife Sermons.
Here are ten ways I shared on Sunday we can make peace in our relationships — including at home and in the church.
1) Pray for unity from the one who produces it (Jn. 17:21)
2) Give people the benefit of the doubt – believing the best rather than assuming the worst (1 Cor. 13:7)
3) When there is a problem, go to the source (Mt. 18:15)
4) Ask questions to clarify rather than making accusations. “It sounds like you’re saying such and such. Is that correct?” (Jam. 1:19)
5) Take time to see things from their perspective. Really try to put yourself in their shoes. whether you agree with it or not, they probably have a reason for what they are doing. (Matt. 7:12)
6) Listen to yourself. Do you hear how you’re talking, not only what you say, but how you say it? Some of us would be embarrassed if we heard how we sound, how negative and critical we are. (Eph. 4:29)
7) Focus on what is praiseworthy, not what is imperfect. For every one thing you notice that is wrong, try to find at least two more things for which you are thankful and can encourage. (Phil. 4:8)
8) Be specific with your concerns. Avoid generalities and always/never statements. (Col. 3:12-17)
9) Pick your battles. Not everything is worth fighting over. Give plenty of grace and time to grow. Is this thing really worth damaging a relationship or even parting company? (Prov. 19:11)
10) Remember that no matter what has been done against you, you owe an infinitely larger debt to God. (Matt. 18:21-35)
Are there any principles of peacemaking you would add to the list? Which one do you find is hardest to put into practice?
“Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 25:17)
Oppressor and oppressed. These are words that have taken center stage in our modern world. What does God have to say about justice? It’s clear that he cares deeply about it. He placed many laws, provisions, and safeguards into the Mosaic Law to care for the outcast and the worthy poor. Thus we have a Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 that would keep prices stable, minimize debt, and watch out for the little guy.
The current expression of the kingdom of God is the local church, where Christ rules in the heart of his people and serves as our head. So justice, equity, and impartiality must obviously begin with the church. But should we not also try to promote fairness and justice in broader society?
Within evangelicalism, there seem to be two basic viewpoints. One side — perhaps we could use Tim Keller as an example — speaks of redeeming the culture. Living out our Christian principles and helping make life better for all people. People in this camp could point to the compassion and miracles of Christ, and great acts of mercy done throughout history in Jesus’ name. The danger here is to try to usher in a kind of postmillennial kingdom that only Christ can obtain. Or to expend our limited resources and form partnerships that will damage our witness and have only temporal value.
The other side, perhaps best represented by John MacArthur, point out that it is the human heart — not culture — that needs redeeming, and that nowhere does the NT speak of us being responsible to build or usher in the kingdom. MacArthur said back on August 13, 2020, “We do not advance God’s kingdom by trying to improve human society. Many good and worthy causes deserve the support of Christians, but in supporting those causes we neither build the earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ or bring it closer. Even the best of such things are but holding actions that help retard the corruption that will always and inevitably characterize human societies and human kingdoms – until the Lord returns to establish his own perfect kingdom.”
I agree wholeheartedly. But the danger here is that one could easily grow callous, blind, ignorant, and indolent toward human suffering and injustice – when we actually do have the power and responsibility to do something about it. Hence the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The one who proved to be a neighbor was the one who showed him mercy.
O Lord, give us wisdom! Help us to avoid the error of focusing primarily on this world’s social and political problems. Meanwhile, guard us from apathy and idleness. It is more challenging than I imagined to live as a citizen of heaven in this present broken world, seeking to fulfill the creation mandate, but more importantly, staying focused on the Great Commission.
Last Tuesday, I had the opportunity to lead the opening invocation at our Town Council meeting. Here’s the prayer I wrote. Would you join me in praying for our community leaders?
High King of Heaven, we come humbly before you tonight and give you thanks.
We thank you for the ways you remind us of your presence and your power – a colorful sunrise, a starry night, the song of a quail, the smell of fresh rain. Wonderful are your works O Lord; our soul knows it very well!
We thank you for a town that values freedom – the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to freely exercise our religion. We know these freedoms come at great cost, so we pause to pray for our military and first responders who sacrifice so much so we can be here.
Dear God, you see all things. You know the COVID pandemic has occupied our thoughts and prayers for almost a year. It has taken many lives, destroyed many businesses, and disrupted all our routines. We pray for a merciful end to the pandemic. Please comfort those who have lost loved ones, and give us a collective patience, humility, and kindness as we move forward.
As these leaders gather tonight to make heavy and far-reaching decisions, grant them wisdom I pray.
Pinch Of Clay 