Ephesians – Grace Evangelical Society

A Prayer for 2021 (Ephesians 1:18-19a)

January 18, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, power, Prayer

At the beginning of last year, you probably heard a sermon series that punned on 2020. There were titles such as “20/20 Vision,” or “God’s Vision for 2020,” “2020: Clear Vision for your Life,” or “Give us 20/20 in 2020.” And whatever vision or plan was presented in that sermon series was probably completely wrong!

You Must Grow Up (Ephesians 4:11-24), Part 2

November 30, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, spiritual maturity, spirituality

You must grow up. That’s what Paul told the Ephesians. They should not remain as spiritual children. The question is, how does that growth happen? As I explored in the last blog, Paul said that growth takes equipping. For example, that’s what pastor-teachers are for—not to do all the ministry themselves, but to equip the

You Must Grow Up (Ephesians 4:11-24), Part 1

November 27, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Discipleship, Ephesians, Local Church, spiritual disciples, spiritual theology, spirituality

Those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s will remember one of the most famous jingles in retail history: I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid; they got a million toys at Toys R us that I can play with We have idolized childhood, haven’t we? How often

A Church Can Be Doctrinally Sound, But Unloving (Revelation 2:1-7)

July 23, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - doctrine, Ephesians, Ephesus, love, Revelation

Did you know that a church can be doctrinally sound and yet be without love? That’s not an idea I find easy to entertain, because I care so much about doctrine. But that is what Jesus said to the Ephesians: To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds

2019 National Conference Report

May 27, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Bible exposition, Ephesians, GES national conference

The conference ended two and a half hours ago. I’m sitting at my desk in the office, reflecting. Here are some of the highlights as I remember them: We covered every verse in Ephesians over the four days. The plenary messages and the workshops were very well received. J. B. got a free Christian mug

Christians Living Differently (Ephesians 4:18-19)

May 16, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, holiness, separation

I’ve been thinking a great deal about the doctrine of “separation.” It was, and may still be, a defining feature of the Fundamentalist movement. Sadly, I think that doctrine often took a legalistic form. It became part of what you needed to do to be saved or to prove you “really” believed. That doesn’t mean

What Is Love? (Ephesians 5:1-3)

May 10, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, love

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. And do not let sexual immorality, or any impurity, or greed be named among you, as these are not proper among saints (MEV). The Ephesians were

God Is Rich (Eph 2:4, 7)

March 4, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, Grace, Mercy

Tax refund season is coming up. Are you hoping for a nice return from the government? It makes you feel rich, doesn’t it? What will you spend it on? Did you know that God is rich? And more importantly, He likes to spend! By contrast, the Ephesians were poor. In fact, in a manner of

Why Must Salvation Be Apart from Works? (Ephesians 2:1-3)

February 28, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - dead, Ephesians, Works

Everyone knows Eph 2:8-9, that we are saved by grace through faith, apart from works. But do you know why that is? Paul explained why in Eph 2:1-3. The Ephesians had been in a bad way. Really bad. Hopeless, really. Here’s how Paul described them: And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses

The Rose Bowl Queens of Ephesus?

January 1, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:1-2). Ephesus was a city of idolatry and filth. Or was it? Our 2019 National