First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
This week, we stepped into one of the richest
passages in all of Scripture. Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long, beautiful sentence.
Paul erupts in praise, reminding us that God has already blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in Christ. In a world that constantly tells us we need more;
Paul redirects our attention. The Christian life is not about chasing
blessings. It’s about recognizing the blessing we’ve been given in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places, 4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He
predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of His will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He
has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which
He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery
of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ 10 as a
plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven
and things on earth in Him. 11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having
been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according
to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ
might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until
we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
When you hear the word “blessing,” what do
you usually think of?
How does Paul redefine blessing in this
passage?
Which trust stands out to you about the
identity Christians have: being chosen, adopted, redeemed, or sealed? Why?
What does it mean that you are “sealed with
the Holy Spirit”?
Paul repeats, “to the praise of His glory”
three times. What does that tell us about the purpose of our lives?
Closing Thoughts
This identity should propel us outward. Three
times, Paul says our salvation is “to the praise of His glory,” which means our
lives are meant to point beyond ourselves. As we live in community (loving one
another, forgiving one another, walking in unity) we become a testimony to the
world of what God has done in Christ. Mission is not just something we do; it
is something we are together. When we live as people who are secure, forgiven,
and adopted, we invite others into that same reality. A gospel-centered
community becomes a living display of God’s glory, drawing others to see and
savor Jesus.
The book of Ephesians reveals the
breathtaking scope of God’s grace and the new identity believers have in Jesus.
In this series, we’ll discover how the gospel transforms everything — from who
we are, to how we live to how we relate to others. Paul reminds us that we are
chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit,
invited into a new life marked by hope, unity, purpose, and love.
As we walk through Ephesians together, we’ll
see that the gospel is not just something we believe — it’s a new reality we
live. From being made alive in Christ to learning how the Spirit shapes our
relationships, families, church, and everyday lives, this series calls us to
step fully into the life God designed for His people.
Sermon Recap
In the opening verses of Paul’s epistle to
the Ephesians, he reminds believers of a foundational truth: our identity is
rooted in Christ and secured by God’s grace. Before addressing practical
living, Paul reminds the church who they are. Their identity does not come from
culture, performance, or personal achievement — it comes from being in Christ.
Because we belong to Christ, we live as blessed people, united together in a
new identity given by God’s grace.
Who is Paul?
Paul’s authority is not self-made but
God-given. His apostleship is rooted in grace, not his own merit or
achievements (Acts 9 conversion). Paul was a Jewish Pharisee before his
conversion, trained in the law of God. After his conversion, Paul became the
Apostle to the gentiles. The Ephesians first met Paul in Acts 19, where his
Spirit-filled preaching disrupted idol worship and shook the city’s economy.
Paul writes Ephesians from prison as he is awaiting trial. Paul’s authority and
message were tested in a culture hostile to Christ.
Who Are the Ephesians?
Ephesus was one of the largest and most
prominent cities in the 1st century. It was also the center of
worship for the goddess Artemis, marking the city with idolatry, occultic
magic, and power. Paul spent two years with the Ephesian church; Christians
were a small minority to the growing population, and were often met with
opposition, reviling, and persecution. During such cultural chaos, Revelation
tells us of the believer’s endurance in the midst of such trials.
What Does God Offer?
In Acts 19, Ephesus was a city of chaos —
economic unrest, spiritual warfare, riots, and hostility. Into that mess, Paul
proclaims grace (God’s unearned favor) and peace (shalom, reconciliation with
God and one another). Grace and peace aren’t just polite greetings; they are
the gospel in summary form. What the world cannot manufacture and what we cannot
earn are freely given in Christ.
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the
will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why do you think Paul starts his letter by
reminding believers of who they are in Christ?
How does understanding that you are “in
Christ” reshape the way you see yourself?
What are some identities people often build
their lives around (career, success, reputation, relationships)? Why are those
identities ultimately unstable?
Paul addresses believers as “saints.” What do
you think this word means, and how is it different from how the world typically
uses the term?
How might forgetting God’s grace affect the
way someone approaches their faith or relationship with God?
Closing Thoughts
Because we are in Christ, we share a new
identity and a new way of living. This new identity is not individualistic;
rather, we share this identity as a collective whole. We are all connected with
one another as the family of God, called to live unified in a world of sin and
chaos.
Culture Wars - Living Hope(Last lesson in series.)
Sermon Recap
Peter wrote this letter to Christians
scattered throughout the Roman world who were facing increasing pressure and
persecution for their faith. Instead of beginning with commands about how to
live, Peter starts with praise to God and reminds believers who they are and
what they possess in Christ.
He tells them that because of Jesus’
resurrection, believers have been born again into a “living hope.” This is a
hope that is secure and eternal because of Jesus. Christian hope is not wishful
thinking or positive vibes. It is a confident expectation rooted in the
finished work of Jesus. Peter describes our hope using three powerful words:
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an
inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in
heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the
coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven
genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even
though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even
though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
Why do you think Peter reminds believers of
their hope before addressing their suffering?
Which description of Christian hope
(imperishable, undefiled, unfading) speaks most to you right now? Why?
How does the resurrection of Jesus give us
confidence in our future?
Peter says believers can experience joy even
while facing trials. How have you seen God strengthen your faith through
difficulty?
What are some temporary things people often
place their hope in instead of Jesus?
Closing Thoughts
Speak Truth with Grace
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be
both clear and compassionate. This means holding firmly to God’s design while
loving people who are confused, hurting, or struggling with identity.
Live from Your Identity in Christ
When our identity is anchored in God’s Word
and redeemed by Christ, we are freed from the pressure to define ourselves or
seek validation from culture.
END
Teacher Notes:
Steve Harvey shares his "Don't Quit" moment in his life and how God is always coming and He is never too late.
Everybody has a turnback moment, you can go
forward or you can give up.
Don’t Quit
Because God is always coming – He’s never too
late!
Peter tells us this morning that these
trials, these difficult, disappointing moments in our life, prove the
genuineness of our faith and that they are more precious than gold.
1 Peter 1:7
1 Peter 1:3-9
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for
you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the
salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your
faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire
— may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though
you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for
you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
When was there a season in your life when
your faith was truly tested?
As you look back, how did that season
strengthen your faith or deepen your hope in Christ?
What gives you the most hope today when you
look at the future?
After all the years you’ve lived, what have
you learned about the difference between things that fade and things that truly
last?
Cut Flower vs Living Flower illustration
At first, they look almost identical. Both
are colorful, appear healthy, and seem full of life. But there is a major
difference. The cut flower is already dying.
Why?
Because it has been cut off from its source
of life.
This flower continues to live because its
roots remain connected to the source.
What are hopes people chase in life that look
beautiful at first but eventually fade like a cut flower?
How is the hope we have in Christ different
from those things?
Peter tells believers we have been “born
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Our hope is not like a cut flower that fades
when life gets difficult.
It is a living hope because it is connected to a
living Savior.
Imagine someone telling you that a large sum
of money has been deposited into your account at a bank.
First you are excited. But then you begin to
worry.
What if the bank fails?
What if someone steals it?
What if the market crashes and it disappears?
Now, we know these fears are realistic. Banks
fail. Investments disappear. Wealth fades. But Peter says our future is nothing
like that. He tells us our inheritance is: imperishable - it cannot
be destroyed,undefiled - it cannot be corrupted, and unfading
- it cannot lose value.
And then he says something even more
comforting: Our inheritance is “kept in heaven for us.”
It is not held in a fragile earthly
institution – it’s held in a bank that cannot fail.
And it is secured by God Himself.
If you could sit down with a young believer
who is just beginning their walk with Christ, what would you tell them about
trusting Jesus through the ups and downs of life?
When you reach the end of your life and look
back, what do you believe will matter most about the way you lived your faith?
Conclusion
If someone asked you today why you still have
hope in the middle of all the cultural chaos and trials that come with life, what
would you say?
In Matthew 19:1-11, Jesus addresses the
question of divorce, pointing people back to God’s original plan for marriage.
He reminds us that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman, meant
to last a lifetime. While human sin has led to brokenness and the allowance of
divorce, God’s ideal design is a lifelong covenant marked by love, unity, and
faithfulness to reflect His relationship with us.
God’s Design for Marriage
God designed marriage as a divine
institution, a covenant between one man and one woman. Marriage is not a legal
contract, but a lifelong, sacrificial relationship (Ephesians 5), meant to
reflect our relationship with Christ. Divorce is a result of fallen humanity,
as the marriage covenant was never meant to be broken.
Our Sin’s Impact on Marriage
The greatest threat to marriage is the sin of
fallen man. Because of the fall, every marriage involves two broken sinners;
God uses marriage to sanctify us into the image of Christ. Our sin ultimately
destroys the divine union in which God has given, no matter if this happens
gradually or in a moment.
Our Responsibility in Marriage
Our call is clear: we must follow Christ with
our whole hearts. Only when we follow Jesus can we love our spouse well. Wives,
as the church submits to Christ, your call is to submit to your husband.
Husbands, as Christ gave his life for the Church, so give your life for your
wife: to love, lead, protect, and provide for her.
Matthew 19:1-11
1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings,
he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And
large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to
him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any
cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the
beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave
his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one
flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has
joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses
command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said
to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your
wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever
divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits
adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his
wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can
receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
What does
being “one flesh” communicate about the depth of marriage?
Where does
culture pressure us to view marriage differently than Scripture does?
What are
subtle ways we can treat marriage as conditional instead of covenantal?
What does it
look like to reflect God’s covenant love in daily life?
How does the
hardness of our hearts damage marriage?
Closing Thoughts
Strong marriages strengthen the community of
God’s people; in a world full of broken marriages and sin, the church must be a
beacon for something better and deeper. Only when the church is living in
faithful community together can marriages truly thrive; while a married couple
is one flesh with each other, we are also all individually members of one
another as the Church.
END
Teacher Notes:
Matthew 19:1-11
1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings,
he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And
large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to
him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any
cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the
beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave
his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has
joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses
command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said
to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your
wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever
divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits
adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his
wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can
receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
The Pharisees asked,
When can I end a marriage?
Jesus answered,
“Let’s talk about why it exists.”
For companionship, unity, and family but ultimately
to reflect His covenant love to the world.
Why do we instinctively look for exceptions
instead of design?
What does “one flesh” communicate about
the
depth of marriage?
So, what are we to surrender
each day
for a Godly marriage?
Where does culture pressure us to view
marriage differently than Scripture does?
Contract / Covenant
Cultural view: Marriage lasts if it meets my
needs.
Biblical view: Marriage is a covenant
commitment before God, not simply a mutual agreement.
How do we see the “contract mindset” show up
in everyday conversations about marriage?
“I deserve to be happy.”
“You’ve changed.”
“We’ve just grown apart.”
What again is “Covenant Love”?
It’s a chosen, binding commitment to stay
regardless
