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In Ephesians 5:15–21, Paul calls believers to walk in wisdom by living intentionally and making the most of every opportunity God provides. Rather than drifting through life carelessly, we are to understand and obey God's revealed will, continually yield to the Holy Spirit's direction, and demonstrate His work in our lives through heartfelt worship, genuine gratitude, and humble service to others. This service included an ordination and and commissioning of deacons for a ministry of service, further reminding us that true spiritual maturity is not measured by position or prestige, but by a life surrendered to Christ and devoted to serving others.

In Ephesians 5:1–14, Paul calls believers to live as God's dearly loved children by walking in love and light. Just as children imitate their parents, Christians should reflect the character of their Heavenly Father by following Christ's example of self-giving, sacrificial love. This means rejecting the world's counterfeit love expressed through sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and corrupt speech, replacing selfish desires with holiness and thanksgiving. Paul also calls us to walk as children of light, refusing to be deceived by empty arguments or to participate in the darkness of sin. Instead, our lives should bear the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth, revealing what pleases the Lord and exposing the works of darkness. We don't live this way to become God's children; we live this way because, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are God's children! As those transformed by His grace, we are called to reflect His love and shine His light into a darkened world.

In Ephesians 4:17–32, Paul challenges believers to walk in new life, living according to the new identity we have received in Jesus Christ. Salvation is more than an improvement of our old lives—it is a complete transformation! Though we have been justified and made new in Christ, we must continually cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification, putting off the sinful habits of our former lives and putting on Christlike character. Paul gives five practical examples of this transformation. As we examine our lives, we must ask whether our attitudes, words, and actions are pleasing to God or grieving the Holy Spirit. Because Christ has made us new, we must live like who we are!

In this message, Dr. Matt Ward continues Dr. Lambert's theme of Ephesians through some of Paul's other letters, helping us see that our faith in Jesus is more than mere belief, but a trust in Jesus that produces results--new behaviors, actions, and attitudes, that changes us from who we were to who we are in Christ.

Ephesians 4:1–16 marks the great turning point from what we believe to how we live, calling us to “walk worthy” of the grace we have received in Christ. That worthy walk is something we do together: protecting our unity through humility, gentleness, patience, and love; embracing our diversity as Christ gives different gifts and equips every believer for ministry; and moving together toward maturity, with Christ Himself as our standard. As each member does their part, standing firm in truth and speaking the truth in love, the whole body is strengthened and becomes increasingly like Jesus.

In Ephesians 3:14–21, Paul’s second prayer stands at a crucial turning point in the letter, between Growing Deep in the truth of who we are in Christ and Walking Worthy of our calling. Paul reminds us that it is not enough simply to know what is true; we need God to transform us so that we can live what is true. He prays that believers would be strengthened by the Spirit’s power in the inner person, rooted and established in Christ’s immeasurable love, and increasingly filled with the fullness of God as we become more like Christ. It is a transformation we could never accomplish in our own strength—but Paul concludes with the glorious assurance that God is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us.

At the halfway point of our three-year "For All Generations" campaign, we pause to celebrate God’s faithfulness and the generosity of His people, recognize the tremendous progress already made in renewing our campus for ministry, and honestly evaluate the work still ahead. Like a team at halftime, we will celebrate the wins, look at the scoreboard, make needed adjustments, and prepare for the second half with renewed commitment and momentum. Together, we are challenged to remain faithful, recommit where necessary, and invite new participants to join us as we Invest, Renew, and Grow for All Generations and finish strong. As part of this message, we hear an encouraging perspective from Jeff Benefield with Injoy Stewardship Solutions, and hear testimonies from some members of our church.

In Ephesians 3:1–13, Paul pauses to marvel at the mystery once hidden but now revealed: through Jesus Christ, God has brought Jews and Gentiles together as equal members of one body—the Church. Paul, who considered himself “less than the least” of the saints, was entrusted by grace with proclaiming the incalculable riches of Christ and making this mystery known. Now God displays His multi-faceted wisdom through His Church—not only to the watching world, but even to the spiritual realm. We are part of something far bigger than ourselves, called to proclaim the riches of Christ, live out the mystery of Christ, and display the wisdom of Christ.

In this message, we are invited to remember how far we once stood from God—cut off from His people, His promises, and any real hope—so that we can more deeply rejoice that Jesus has brought us near by His own blood and made Himself our peace. Through the cross He tore down the walls that divided us from God and from one another, creating one new family in Himself. Now we are no longer outsiders but fellow citizens of His Kingdom, brothers and sisters in His household, and living stones being built together into the place where God dwells. The call is simple: come to Christ if you are still far off, belong to His people if you have been trying to live the Christian life alone, and let Him keep tearing down any walls of pride or resentment that remain.

Ephesians 2:1–10 reveals the dramatic transformation God’s grace brings to our lives. Apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead—enslaved by the world around us, the devil against us, and the flesh within us—and unable to save ourselves. But God, rich in mercy and great in love, makes us alive with Christ, raises us to a new position, and displays His grace through us. This salvation cannot be earned by good works; it is God’s gift, received through faith in Jesus. Yet while we are not saved by good works, we are saved to do good works as God’s workmanship, living out the purpose He prepared for us.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15–23 is that believers would have their spiritual eyes opened to see more clearly what God has already given them in Christ. Thankful for their faith in Jesus and love for one another, Paul prays that they would know God more deeply and understand the blessings that are already theirs: the hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe. That power is dramatically displayed in Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead, seated at His right hand, exalted above every authority, and made Head over the church. Our great need is not simply for God to give us more, but for Him to open our eyes to know Him better, see what we have in Christ, and live in light of it.

Ephesians 1:1–14 reminds us that before God calls us to do anything for Him, He wants us to understand all He has already done for us in Christ. In one sweeping song of praise, Paul celebrates the work of the Triune God in our salvation: the Father chose us, the Son redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit sealed us, guaranteeing the inheritance still to come. Every one of these blessings is ours “in Christ,” given according to the riches of God’s grace and ultimately “to the praise of His glory.” Rather than living as though we are spiritually poor, believers can rejoice that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.

As we conclude our Major Truths from the Minor Prophets series, Malachi leaves us with one final, searching question: How will we respond to God's faithful love? Though the people of Judah had returned from exile and resumed worship, their hearts had grown complacent. They honored God with their lips while giving Him their leftovers in worship and obedience. In response, God reminds them, "I have loved you," calling them back to a faith that is rooted in remembering His grace. This message challenges us to move beyond routine religion and cultivate a faith that is full—one that honors God above everything else, gives Him our best, worships Him with joy, and ultimately finds its source in Jesus Christ, who alone can transform hard hearts into hearts that love Him wholeheartedly.

As the people of Judah returned from exile, God used the prophet Zechariah to remind them that rebuilding the Temple was not enough—they first needed to return to the Lord. That same invitation remains for us today. In this message from Zechariah 1–4, we'll discover that when we return to God, He restores our relationship with Him through His gracious forgiveness, renews our purpose by calling us into His service, and empowers us by His Spirit to shine His light in the world. God's invitation is as timely now as it was then: "Return to Me, and I will return to you."

In the book of Haggai, God confronts His people for allowing their own priorities to overshadow His. Sixteen years after returning from exile, the Temple still lay unfinished while the people had become consumed with building comfortable lives for themselves. Through Haggai, God calls them—and us—to "Thank carefully about our ways" and to put Him first in every area of life. Whether in our walk with Christ, our marriages, families, work, or service to His church and His mission, God deserves first place. The encouraging message of Haggai is that when we faithfully pursue God's purposes, He promises His presence, His peace, and His provision, giving us everything we need to accomplish the work He has called us to do.