Good Works
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 2:1-10 (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. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Sermon Outline
Good works are the way of life for those joined with the God who works good in them.
1. Ruinous Work of People
v1 “you were dead in the trespasses and sins...” (v10 “we are”)
v3 “among whom we all once lived”, v8 “this is not your own doing… no one may boast”
2. Creative Work of God
v5 “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ”
v7 “the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ”
3. Beautiful Work of God Through People
v10 “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”
v10 “that we should walk in them”
Prayer of Confession
Our God, you are rich in mercy. We confess our trespasses and sins. Were it not for the immeasurable riches of your grace we could not bear to look at our failings. It is true: we have broken commands, rebelled, and been unfaithful. All of us have failed. All of us fall short. We ask for forgiveness. We turn to you because of the kindness you have shown us in Christ Jesus. We bring nothing for which we can boast, but through faith we take hold of the grace you have extended to us. May the Holy Spirit cleanse us of all sin and produce the fruit of good works in us. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you do good things?
Why do you do bad things?
How does a critical spirit effect your choices and behaviors?
How does entitlement effect your choices and behaviors?
What are some ways the riches of God’s grace are displayed? How does God’s grace connect with the story of your life?
Why is kindness an important component of God’s grace?
What are some ways being joined to Christ changes a person?
Why are good works a worthy goal?
What gospel points are useful to remember when you are provoked to action? How does your identity, goals, and beliefs shape your choices? How can growing faith help change some of your patterns?