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THE POWER OF LOVE

THE POWER OF LOVE. Ephesians 3:14-21 Building a Firm Foundation. Introduction: Paul’s Prayer (v14). v14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father” (NIV) Reason 1: God’s gift of salvation by grace through faith

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THE POWER OF LOVE

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  1. THE POWER OF LOVE Ephesians 3:14-21 Building a Firm Foundation

  2. Introduction: Paul’s Prayer (v14) • v14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father” (NIV) • Reason 1: God’s gift of salvation by grace through faith • Reason 2: Non-Jews (Gentiles) can now be part of the promise of salvation as joint heirs with Jews. • Paul prays for the church in Ephesus and (v21) everywhere

  3. Family of God (v15) Church GOD Father Son Spirit Heaven they may be one as we are one… complete unity John 17:21 Earth

  4. Foundation Failure • Broken relationships • Conflict in the church

  5. Foundation Failure

  6. Building on a Firm Foundation • Founded on hard ground • Founded on Love

  7. A Community Founded on Love • 16 I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit.17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. (NCV)

  8. Building a Strong Church Church Reflecting God’s LOVE to the world Reflecting God’s LOVE to the world LOVE Reconciliation LOVE Reconciliation LOVE Reconciliation GOD is LOVE Father Son Spirit Whoever does not love does not know God, because Godislove. 1 Jn 4:8

  9. Loving God : In Community with GodBuilding a Firm Foundation Church Response of Worship Reconciled to God GOD Father Son Spirit Whoever does not love does not know God, because Godislove. 1 Jn 4:8

  10. Loving God = Reconciled to GodA Firm Foundation • Rom 5:8 And God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. • Restored to God through the free gift of salvation by grace through faith (Ch1) • Reconciled through the work of Christ on the cross, opening the free gift of salvation to all – both Jew and non Jew (Ch2) • Christ the mediator between God and humanity

  11. John Stott writes “the love of Christ is ‘broad’ enough to encompass all mankind (both Jews and Gentiles), ‘long’ enough to last for eternity, ‘deep’ enough to reach the most degraded sinner, and ‘high’ enough to exalt him to heaven.”

  12. Loving God = Worship to God A Firm Foundation • Response of Worship • Ps 105 “Give praise to the Lord, make known to all the nations, tell of his wonderful deeds”. • Rom 12:1 “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God. For this is your spiritual act of worship” • Love = sacrifice

  13. “Love and sacrifice are inseparable strands, woven together in the fabric of our lives” Michael Reid Sacrificial love, costs us something: • The financial cost of forgiving a thief • The cost to our pride to forgive insults • The time cost in helping others • The financial cost of giving to those in need

  14. Loving Each Other: A Community of Peace Church LOVE Reconciliation You / Jew Me / Gentile GOD is LOVE Father Son Spirit

  15. Loving Each OtherReconciliation • A divided world – tribalism, socio economic, gender • A community of peace (shalom) Eph 2:13 • Reconciled with God and with each other • Celebrating diversity • “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”John 4:18 • What are the dividing lines for you? • Are there individuals you need to be reconciled with?

  16. Loving the World: Reflecting God’s Love Church Reflecting God’s LOVE to the world Reflecting God’s LOVE to the world GOD is LOVE Father Son Spirit

  17. Loving the World In Community With The World : Reflecting God’s Love • The church is people – not a building • The church is the mediator between God and the world (a priesthood) 1Peter 2:9 • Discipleship = transformed to reflect the character of Christ • Individual and community reflecting the love and unity of the family of God • Integral Mission • Sharing the gospel (evangelism) • Showing the gospel (social justice) • Speak out against injustice - affirm identity and dignity (Is 58:6, Is 61:8, Mch 6:8) • Work to reduce poverty and build resilience (Lv25:35) • What image are your reflecting to the world around you?

  18. Love at Work = Power = Life in All its Fullness = True Worship • V19: This is what it means to “know the love that surpasses knowledge” and to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. • V20 With God’s power working in us, God can do much more than anything we ask or imagine. • V21 To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen (NCV)

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