Ephesians 4:1-10 FIRST THOUGHTS It does not take one long to look at our culture and realize that we live in a very divided culture. Left vs right, liberal vs conservative, rich vs poor, and Islam vs Christianity.  It seems that the nation is about to come apart at the seams. There is even division… Continue reading

Ephesians 3:14-21 FIRST THOUGHTS ‌What reveals a person’s priorities? ‌Credit card statements, calendars, interactions, and interruptions all provide a glimpse into what’s important to people. Prayers reveal priorities. The content, frequency, and intensity of prayers indicate what matters most to us. We learn a great deal about Paul’s priorities, and consequently God’s priorities, from his… Continue reading

Ephesians 3:1–13 FIRST THOUGHTS Who doesn’t like a good mystery.  Hollywood spends millions if not billions each year producing mystery movies and shows.  Americans spend millions on mystery books.  Everyone likes a good mystery.  We cannot wait until the end when the mystery is revealed. The religions of the ancient world were cloaked in mystery. … Continue reading

Ephesians 2:11-22 FIRST THOUGHTS Being the Son of an Air Force Sergeant, we moved around a lot. When I was 16 my father retired from the Air Force. We move back home to Florida. It was a big adjustment for me. I had grown up in a community that moved every 3 to 4 years.… Continue reading

Ephesians 2:1-10 FIRST THOUGHTS ‌A case can be made that virtually every advertisement and marketing message comes to us in a form of the “before and after” approach. At the very least it can be said that most cosmetic and fitness ads use this approach in which they show a person prior to using the… Continue reading

Ephesians 1:15-23 FIRST THOUGHTS How often do we not take advantage of the resources that we have in Christ? I heard a story not too long ago about an elderly couple who died of starvation.  When the authorities entered the home, they found a large sum of money hidden under the mattress in the couples… Continue reading

Ephesians 1:1-14 Introduction What are you more likely to do each morning: list everything you’ve got to do, review your problems, or count your blessings? Why? We should stop and count our blessings each morning.  As believers we are the most blessed individuals on the planet. Paul wrote to the Ephesians to give them specific… Continue reading