Pastor Joel Leyrer

Text: Ephesians 5:21-31

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Dear Friends in Christ, In line with Paul, today we’re going to talk about something very specific. Something often misunderstood. Something that affects every one of us regardless of how we personally fit into it. And something we desperately need to hear addressed and clarified by nothing less than a Word from God so that everyone of us can proclaim Spiritual truth. The subject is marriage. The institution of marriage has long been understood and commonly stated to be the foundation of society. This is the reason why societies have laws that encourage and protect marriage. Strong marriages make strong families; strong families make a strong society. This understanding of marriage is historically true regardless of whether it is considered a religious belief or simply a social custom.

Pastor Eric Schroeder

Text: Ephesians 5:15-20

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If you have ever stubbed your toe, or turned your ankle, or stumbled over uneven concrete, or slipped on ice, or stepped on a lego . . . then you know that sometimes something as simple as walking can hurt you. Sometimes walking results in momentary pain; sometimes it is a minor injury that takes a week or two to heal; in extreme cases—like when a fall results in a broken hip or a head injury, it can have long-term consequences. We learned to walk in our first year of life, and it becomes a daily part of our life to take our bodies where we want them to go. In Ephesians chapter 5, however, walking isn’t just a big part of our life; walking is our life. Now, I know that when you heard these words earlier, you probably didn’t notice any reference at all to walking. But in this chapter, where we read, “Be very careful, then, how you live . . . ”, the original language most literally says, “Watch carefully how you are walking around.” You see, walking is a synonym, or at least an illustration, for your life. So, we’ll go with that picture today, as God’s word holds a big caution sign before our eyes. In big bold letters, God through the Apostle Paul says, “Watch Your Step.”

Pastor Joel Leyrer

Text: Ephesians 4:30-5:2

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Dear Friends in Christ, the divinely inspired letters of the Apostle Paul generally take on a predictable form. The first part is devoted to teaching and developing what God has to say on the eternally important subjects that pertain to our spiritual life (doctrine). The second part of his letters then focus on how Christians live out these teachings in their everyday life (practice). Another way of putting it: In the first part of his letters Paul tells us what God has done for us – that is, who we are as God’s people saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The second part of his letter provides instruction and encouragement on the Christian’s response – that is, what we will increasingly look like and desire to be as God’s people, because we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, the Christian life is not one of forced compulsion. Rather, it is one of grateful response. It is with this in mind that we approach the Word of God we have before us today. 

Pastor Kyle Bittter

Text: Ephesians 4:17-25

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Jesus Changes the Pattern. Grandfather: Heart disease, Parkinson’s disease. Grandmother: Alzheimer’s. Aunt: Cancer. Father: this set of risk factors. Mother: that set of risk factors. I was recently scheduling my annual physical and it can be kind of sobering to read through the family history that you can see in your medical records and the various ailments that can be passed along from one generation to the next. Maybe some of you find yourselves strangely curious about the medical side of family history. Maybe others of you try your best to avoid thinking about it because you don’t need another thing to stress about. Whatever the case, you know as well as I do why doctors track such things. Patterns of diseases can sometimes run in families, and knowing what your parents and grandparents struggle with can sometimes be helpful in preventing or treating similar issues in your life.