Ephesians 2:8–9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Focused Thinking:
How are we saved?
I am saved by GRACE through faith.
- I am saved by the undeserved kindness of God.
- I am saved by the undeserved goodness of God.
I am saved by grace through FAITH.
- I am saved by grace through confi dent trust that God is who says He is.
- I am saved by grace through confi dent trust that God does what He says He can do.
Grace isn’t from me; it is from God.
Ephesians 2:8b-9
8 …it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Faith isn’t from me; it is from God.
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.
What is the significance of it being a gift?
Ephesians 2:8b-9
8 …it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
No one can boast.
- We know we can’t boast about salvation, but we try to boast about sanctifi cation.
Personal Application:
- I must quit assuming people know the basics.
- We must become experts at presenting the basics.
- We must communicate the basics in a relevant way.
- We must communicate the basics in a way that is memorable, understandable and doable.
- Andy and I must focus on developing content for Worship, Equip and Media.
- We need a team of people who turn our content into curriculum and classes.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for the extreme grace You’ve given me. Thank you for the grace that saved me and sanctifies me. Thank you for saving my wife and children. Thank you for the privilege of being an ambassador of Christ. Thank you for the ministry of reconciliation. Thank you for the blessing of being used by You to give grace and faith to others. Everything about Your plan and purpose is perfect.
Father, I pray that You continue to equip us and bless us as a church that reaches people for Christ. I pray that our people will be obedient to invest and invite. I pray that they will love people to Christ. I pray that our
people will pray for their family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. I pray by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
I pray that our church will not become satisfied or spoiled by this year’s results in the area of salvation. I pray that our people will pray for hundreds more to be saved and baptized. Father, I hesitate to pray numbers because I don’t want to ask for too little. I don’t want to be small in my faith, but I will pray a minimum number for the sake of setting goals and designing strategies. Father, I pray that we could see 200 people baptized next year. We baptized over 100 people in 2009, and I want to see more come to know You. Father, please give us the privilege of reaping a harvest in the world of salvation and baptisms. Give us the ability to be good stewards of all the lives that are currently being changed and that will be changed.
Father, give us wisdom about the classes that need to be created. Father, You have entrusted us with spiritual babies. Show us how to feed them and care for them. Show us the most effective ways to follow up with them. Show us how to protect them from the lies of the devil and his attempts to steal the seeds of the Word of God. Show us how to plow the soil, prepare the seedbed, plant the seed and pray for rain. Father, help us build a strong family in order for us to adopt these children. Help us to truly help people worship, connect, equip and serve so they don’t become like the average Christian two years from now. Help us write and create twelve lessons for new believers in year one and ninety lessons for mature believers in year two.
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