Grace Church Teaching

Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 5:21-33 are often presented as a recipe for a good marriage, however, several parts of this passage can be easily misunderstood and/or misapplied. When this happens, many couples can find themselves disappointed and disillusioned with each other. A proper understanding of authority allows us to apply these verses to our relationships and live out married life the way God intended.

Imitators of God

Imitators of God

Grace Church en Español se reúne los domingos a las 11am en el centro de estudiantes de la sede de Pelham Rd. Aquí encuentran las grabaciones de la enseñanza semanal. Para más información visite a gracechurchenespanol.org o envíe un correo a rrichard@gracechurchsc.org.

Children inherently look to their fathers as an example of how to live life. Similarly, as Christians we must look to our heavenly Father and imitate the example He provides through Jesus. God loves us so abundantly that He sent His only Son to live out life and sacrifice Himself for our sins. We are called to display this same sacrificing love to those around us. As believers, we must learn to not be deceived by the false glory of the world and recognize that Christ is the only true source of satisfaction and truth for us. All of our worldly idols will eventually disappoint us. It is an everyday task to recognize the seriousness of sin and know that God will hold us accountable for the sin we choose not to turn away from.

As Christians, we are part of one body: the Church. We are all gifted in unique ways and have something to contribute. As we learn and grow together there is going to be conflict because of our sinful nature. In verses 25-31 of Chapter 4, Paul outlines several obstacles we will face as believers interacting with one another, but He also challenges us with a call to repentance. Repentance means we do not simply stop doing one thing, but that we stop doing something in order to start doing another.

The Mark of a Believer

In Christ a new humanity is formed. Those who live in the new humanity do not live disoriented, futile lives but instead have hope in Christ. God has the power to bring us from darkness into the light; however, we must make a willful decision to choose the light and to avoid living separate from God. A transformation of the heart takes place when our lives are given to Christ; living outside of Christ can cause hearts to harden and become calloused. It is our responsibility as Christians to choose to find our hope and happiness in God or we will seek pleasure in empty places.

Grace Church en Español se reúne los domingos a las 11am en el centro de estudiantes de la sede de Pelham Rd. Aquí encuentran las grabaciones de la enseñanza semanal. Para más información visite a gracechurchenespanol.org o envíe un correo a rrichard@gracechurchsc.org.

We all identify with something, and often it is something that is insignificant. We have been given the unique opportunity to build the body of Christ, to be a part of something truly meaningful. The world experiences Christ through the spiritual gifts lived out through believers. Spiritual gifts are bestowed on us at the moment of salvation, however, many believers are either unaware of their gifts or are underserving in their area of giftedness. Spiritual gifts are for the edification of the church, not for self-service.

The book of Ephesians can be divided into two parts, chapters one through three—the cause—followed by chapters four through six—the calling. The first part details all of the things that God has done for us and creates the basis of the Christian cause. Starting in Ephesians four, Paul explains that because Christ demonstrated eternal love by dying for our sins, we have a calling to share God’s love. We do this by being humble, gentle, and patient. We come from many different backgrounds and circumstances, but unity among believers is vital as we attempt to function together as one body. Paul explains that we must have humility and live in peace with others in order to live out God’s calling for our lives.

Love Infinite

Love Infinite

As limited and finite beings, we are helpless and in desperate need of God’s love. Like oxygen provides life to the blood, so also experiencing the love of God provides vitality to the soul. While we may know this to be true cognitively, practically we are easily deceived and try to find our fulfillment with worldly opportunity. Unfortunately, this pathway leads us into redefining Biblical love that is more about our performance than Christ’s finished work on the cross. Paul’s prayer is an encouragement to us and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ—that our top priority is to strengthen our soul and experience the love of God. We must remind ourselves that our unlimited capacity to need is superseded by God’s unlimited capacity to provide. As we let Him take care of our internal needs, our external concerns will also be taken care of. Why? Because God is able to do all we ask Him to do. He is even able to do all that we dare not ask but merely imagine. He can do more than this. Far more. Infinitely far more.

Grace Church en Español se reúne los domingos a las 11am en el centro de estudiantes de la sede de Pelham Rd. Aquí encuentran las grabaciones de la enseñanza semanal. Para más información visite a gracechurchenespanol.org o envíe un correo a rrichard@gracechurchsc.org.