Fusion: week of 6/30

FAMILY THEME: THE ARMOR OF GOD

Ephesians 6:10-20

We do not have a flesh and blood enemy; Christians instead are at war with

rulers of darkness and the deception of the Devil. Because of the spiritual

armor God has provided for us, we can stand in strength.

1.  We Are Involved in a Spiritual Warfare and Need to Arm Ourselves With

     the Power and Armor of God

     (Ephesians 6:10-13)

    We must realize that we are at war on a spiritual level, against Satan

    and sin.

 
2.  We Can Stand Against Satan's Attacks, Clothed in the Spiritual Armor

     God Has Given Us

     (Ephesians :14-17)

     God has given us the tools we need to fight the fight He has called us to.

     

3.  Prayer Should Be a Regular and Faithful Practice for Christian Soldiers

     (Ephesians 6:18-20)

     Prayer is one of the strongest weapons the Christian has to use in

     spiritual warfare.

Fusion: week of 6/23

FAMILY THEME: THE BELIEVER'S WALK

Ephesians 5:1-21

The apostle Paul continued the metaphor of "walking" to remind the

Ephesians (and us) to walk in love, walk as children of light, and walk

wisely in a dark world.

1.  Our Attitude and Actions Should Be Distinct From Those of the World

     (Ephesians 5:1-6)

    Being followers of Jesus means that we have a different hope and

    different values from the world around us.

 
2.  Expose the Works of Darkness With the Light of the Gospel

     (Ephesians 5:7-14)

     When Christians live in light of the gospel, they will automatically

     shine a light on sin.

     

3.  Submit to the Guiding and Controlling Influence of the Holy Spirit

     (Ephesians 5:15-21)

     The Spirit guides us in understanding what God would have us to do.

Fusion: week of 6/16

FAMILY THEME: UNITY IN THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:1-32

We are to practice unity in the body of Christ. God has given us gifts and

responsibilities as His followers; the way we treat one another should

reflect that we belong to Him.

1.  We Are to Pursue and Maintain Unity, Growing Together as We Use

     Our Gifts in Ministry

     (Ephesians 4:1-16)

     The Church demonstrates God's power by showing unity in diversity.

 
2.  God's Truth Equips Us to Live Distinct and Holy Lives

     (Ephesians 4:17-24)

     When we walk with God, our lives look different from the world

     around us.

     

3.  Our Beliefs and Behaviors Should Reflect Our New Life in Christ

     (Ephesians 4:25-32)

     As a Christian, your new heart orients what you believe and

     what you do.

Fusion: week of 6/9

FAMILY THEME: RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE

Ephesians 2:1-22

The second chapter of Ephesians is full of before and after snapshots

of the significant differences between being "in Christ" or being without

Him. These comparisons or contrasts make a compelling case for the

universal need to trust Christ as Savior and Lord.

1.  Before Christ We Were Spiritually Dead in Our Sins

     (Ephesians 2:1-3)

     Every human being is dead in sin, guilty on two counts. We are 

     dead both in our positional standing, because of Adam's original

     sin, and in our experiential standing, because of our own sins.

 
2.  God Saves Us by Grace Through Faith and Gives Us Divine Purpose

     (Ephesians 2:4-10)

     Thankfully, God completely and graciously reverses our hopeless

     condition through Christ. The domination of depravity is replaced

     with restored purpose in life.

     

3.  We Are United Together as One Into the Family of God

     (Ephesians 2:11-22)

     The gospel events (the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ)

     inaugurated a new covenant in Christ. All are now placed into one 

     family in the same way - by faith in Jesus Christ.

Fusion: week of 6/2

FAMILY THEME: SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:3-23

Being "in Christ" opens the floodgates of spiritual blessings into

the lives of those who choose to believe in Christ.

1.  In Christ, We Have Been Adopted into the Family of God

     (Ephesians 1:3-6)

     God places new believers into His family through adoption,

     and all of the rights and privileges of family, through Jesus

     Christ, are immediately transferred to each believer.

 
2.  In Christ, We Have Been Freely and Graciously Forgiven of Sin

     (Ephesians 1:7-10)

     A broken family relationship with God is restored when God

     graciously forgives an individual's guilt through belief in the

     gospel.

     

3.  In Christ, We Have the Guarantee of an Eternal Inheritance

     (Ephesians 1:11-14)

     Growth in grace, knowledge, understanding, and fruitfulness

     are not possible apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

4.  God's Rich Blessings Include the Opportunity to Know God

     More Fully and Deeply

     (Ephesians 1:15-23)

     Paul made requests in his prayers for the church.