In this text we see four images that help us develop God’s perspective on life and death. The first image is an offering, and we learn we are called to live our lives as a sacrifice. The second image is a departure, and we are encouraged that there is life after death. The third image is a race, and we are called to keep running and endure to the end. The final image is a reward, and we are reminded that following Christ to the end is worth it!

 

In this passage and sermon we are called to endure. We have all started new projects or hobbies that we have eventually quit. We often have a similar temptation in our faith to slow down or even quit. We learn from this text several keys for enduring the race set before us.

 

 

 

Book Recommendations:

This year we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.  The greatest contribution of this movement was that God’s people returned to God’s Word and therefore the gospel.  In this sermon from Ephesians 2:1-10, we focus on the material issue of the Reformation: how a person becomes right with God.  We are reminded that we are saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

One of the major themes of this letter is suffering. We are exposed to many unhealthy perspectives of suffering. Some say suffering is just an illusion. Some say if we are righteous and faithful then God won’t allow us to suffer. Some say God can’t be good since there is so much suffering. Some try to ignore suffering by self-medicating. We discover from God’s Word how we should think about suffering and why our present suffering shouldn’t drive us to despair.