The Power of Grace

Audio Recording

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together

Ephesians 2:1-9  (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Sermon Outline

1. Why we need grace (v. 1-3)

2. What grace does (v. 4-7)

3. How grace works (v. 8-9)

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we do not always acknowledge our true spiritual state apart from you.  We fail to see that much of our world and ourselves is marred by the stain of sin.  There are so many unseen forces around us that bring ruin on ourselves and those around us.  Too often we have lived in the passions of our flesh and carried out the desires of our body and mind.  We are more spiritually dead than we like to admit.  But while our sins are many, your mercy is more.  Even when we were dead in our trespasses you made us alive together with Christ.  By grace we have been saved.  You have joined us to Christ and we are now truly alive.  Jesus, thank you for saving us by your works.  Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. How do you respond to Paul saying that we were dead in the trespasses and sins? Is this offensive to you? What are we to think of this?

2. In what ways do we “follow” the culture, or the devil, or our passions?

3. How have you experienced the mercy of God?

4. Paul describes how we are in union with Christ in his resurrection, ascension, and session. What difference does this make in your life?

5. Why is grace so powerful? What examples in your own life can you point to?

6. What about God’s grace do you find wonderful? Why might it be difficult to receive? Why do we find the need to boast in our own works?