A loved church, saved by grace
Pray: for God’s help as you look and think on his word now.
Read: Ephesians 2:1–10
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Think: here are some questions to help you think about the passage.
- Read back over these verses thinking about what made the difference between where we were before (dead) and where we are now (alive)?
- What sort of words are used to describe how the change happened?
- How do those words leave you feeling?
- How should this passage shape our view of the church?
- How easy do you find it to remember the church is God’s loved people? Push yourself to consider what difference it would make if you did remember this more.
Pray: spend some time giving thanks for God for his incredible loving grace. Thank him for his grace in saving you. Then spend some time thanking him for his grace towards others in your church family.
Today: make a playlist of songs and hymns which help you remember the grace of God towards you and your church family.
