Wednesday Night Worship

Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:1 to 10 set the difference between the life shaped by sin and the life made alive in Christ. The text names sin as more than the big, obvious failures. Sin is missing the target of life, putting self in the center, and slowly believing that nothing better is possible. That spiral gets easier when the world’s standards keep telling people to build a resume, chase accolades, make connections, and prove that they are worthy. The world’s standard sets self in the sinner, but Christ’s standard sets Christ and others there instead. Paul refuses the idea that good works, spiritual activity, or an impressive life can make anybody right with God. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, including church people, pastors, students, and everybody else trying to make life look better than it really is. God’s grace does not come because somebody has done enough. God’s grace comes as a gift, received through faith. God enters the deadness of trespasses with mercy and great love. The words “but God” change everything. God makes people alive together with Christ, raises them with Christ, and seats them in the heavenly places in Christ. Grace is not a prize at the end of a good résumé. Grace is the beginning of a new life, a life that can turn around from selfish glory seeking and begin noticing the grandeur of God all around. The beauty of trees, birds, creation, worship, music, food, and simple human kindness points beyond self to God’s creative glory. The choice each day is not merely between good and bad behavior. The choice is whether to resign to the disorder around the world or proactively live in the creative glory God has placed right here and right now. God’s presence gives people the freedom to see that life is not about manufacturing importance for themselves. Paul’s final word gives good works their proper place. God creates believers in Christ Jesus for good works, but those works do not earn salvation. Good works flow out of salvation already received. Works of piety, such as worship, prayer, Scripture, communion, meditation, and fasting, help faith grow. Works of mercy, such as feeding people, clothing people, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick, giving generously, seeking justice, and resisting oppression, become outward signs of grace alive within. Christ’s saving love frees people to say, “It wasn’t about me.” God’s goodness can be received without shame, honored in the world, and shared with another person through simple words and actions that may change the course of a day. Youtube Chapters • [00:00] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Welcome • [27:13] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Sensing God in Everyday Life • [28:29] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Missing the Glory Around Us • [30:07] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Ephesians 2: Grace and New Life • [32:28] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Choosing God’s Creative Glory • [34:13] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Sin as Missing the Target • [35:35] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Self at the Center • [39:32] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Grace Cannot Be Earned • [40:47] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Receiving Grace and Turning Around • [42:30] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Salvation That Produces Good Works • [43:59] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Works of Piety • [45:16] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Works of Mercy • [47:19] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Seeing and Honoring God’s Glory • [49:09] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Prayer • [55:18] (   • Wednesday Night Worship  ) - Sharing Grace Through Simple Actions