Recorded talks on Ephesians

These are Sunday talks on the apostle Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. For the very latest, see the "Latest Recorded Talks" page. Sermon series are available on churchExodus, selected PsalmsIsaiahLuke1 CorinthiansPhilippians1 Peter and James. Previous talks not in those series are on the Recorded Earlier page. You can download still older files, back to 2011, from the Sermon Archive. For some of our favourites from all these collections, see the panel at the lower right of this page. 

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Sermon series, May – September 2019:

 

Introduction: Ephesians 3:20-21 – The Glory of God in the Church

Introducing the book of Ephesians.  What does our generation particularly need to hear from the Bible? – the Church is missing as part of the gospel message.  (Erik Pattison, 12 May 2019)

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Ephesians 1:1-16 – The Secret Life of the Church

What is this "blessing" that the apostle mentions first of all?  Does it work, and is it permanent?  (Erik Pattison, 19 May 2019. Includes a long Q&A at the end)

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Ephesians 1:11-23 – I pray that you may know

The apostle prays for us to know God, know our hope, and know his power.  Knowing God's own plans and motives should give us great confidence.  (Neville Reid, 26 March 2019)

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Ephesians 2 – An End to Hostility

Societies are deeply divided by hostility and rage.  God's answer to this is the creation of a new humanity in Christ.  (Erik Pattison, 9 June 2019)

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Ephesians 2:1-10 – You were dead, then made alive

This is hard for us to take in, and hard to really believe.  What does Paul mean by these extraordinary things?  (Neville Reid, 9 June 2019)

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Ephesians 2:11–3:13 – Together in Christ

God has put us together.  So value what he has done, what he has given.  (Erik Pattison, 16 June 2019)

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Ephesians 3:14-23 – Knowing God's Love Completely

When Paul prays for us to know the length, breadth, height and depth of the love of Christ, he means something very real.  (Erik Pattison, 23 June 2019)

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Ephesians 4:1-16 – Live Worthy - In the Church

Called and changed by God, how should we live now?  Live worthy of our calling; first of all, in the church.  For the sake of unity, we treat each other in humble love.  For the sake of maturity, we must each play our part, according to the grace given to each one.  (Neville Reid, 30 June 2019}

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Ephesians 4:11-24 – Grown-Up Church

Although we often assume this, Christian maturity is NOT a gradual process.  Maturity is seen in the church rather than in individuals. A grown-up church is one that is full of genuine repentance.  (Erik Pattison, 7 July 2019)

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Ephesians 4:17-5:2 – Get changed

Paul urges us, having received a miraculous new life, to live as new people, putting off the old and putting on the new.  (Neville Reid, 14 July 2019)

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Ephesians 5:1-20 – Living as a Community of Saints

"Saints" is God's word for his children.  This is a challenge to live as a community of holy people.  (Erik Pattison, 14 July 2019)

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Ephesians 5:15-32 – Saints serve and submit

Saintly living is a matter of home life rather than public life.  As the church submits to Christ, so we all serve and submit to one another.  And as Christ gave himself for the church, so husbands in particular are called to sacrificial love for their wives.  (Erik Pattison, 28 July 2019. Includes a long Q&A at the end)

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Ephesians 6:1-4 – Live in the Lord

"Obey your parents in the Lord":  taking this command as a worked example of what it means for all of us to live in the Lord.  (Neville Reid, 4 August 2019)

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Ephesians 6:5-9 – Power relationships: How to behave in them 

The apostles' teaching on slavery gives us insights for living in any relationship where one person has power over another.  (Erik Pattison, 11 August 2019)

This message was not recorded, but click here for notes.  

Ephesians 6:10-12 – Saints at War 1 – Not against flesh and blood

How churches wage war and emerge victorious. Our fight is with evil and not primarily with other people.  (Erik Pattison, 25 August 2019)

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Ephesians 6 – Saints at War 2 – the Defensive Armour

The important thing is to stand. Being covered by Christ and His protective armour means it is possible to remain standing on the "evil day".  (Erik Pattison, 1 September 2019)

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Ephesians 6:10-12 – Saints at War 3 – Counter attack

Although we often have to stand firm in defence there are three ways we can positively act in our struggle with our opponents. We have the Gospel to allow good footwork, we have the Sword of the Spirit in our hands and access to our infinite God in prayer. (Erik Pattison, 8 September 2019) 

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Some other talks on this letter:

 

Ephesians 3:1-10 – Church is for Revealing God

(Erik Pattison, July 2012)

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Ephesians 4:1-16 – The Pyramid of Truth

People read this as a list of job titles, and think it's a power structure.  They have it upside down; it's a service structure.  (Erik Pattison, 9 November 2014)

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Ephesians 5:1 – Imitate God's love

Imitators must first study the ways of the person they are imitating.  God loves in two different ways: as Creator, and in an extreme way as Father.  We are to follow him in how we love our neighbours, and in how we express family love within the Church.  (Erik Pattison, 12 December 2021. Includes a long Q&A time) 

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Ephesians 5:12-33 – Church is more than a phase

To understand this passage, start from the end. It is written for all of us, and Paul's point is that marriage is something like Church.  "Here Comes the Church!"  In what ways do you see Jesus washing, cleansing and making his church spotless?  (John Day, 13 February 2022

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