I don't know about you, but I have never thought about the origin of the word "minister?"  What does it really mean? Now you would think that I would know this useful information since I "are one." But there is more going on here than just a mere title.

The word minister comes from the Greek word "diakoneo," meaning to serve. Paul uses a form of this word in Ephesians 3:7-8 where he says, "I became a servant [diakonos, a minister] of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ." And while not everyone is called to be a full-time minister, all of us are called to minister and "serve" one another. Join us Sunday as we unpack what it means to be a . . . Ministering Church.

I'm reminded of what Jesus says to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3. He says, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God."

Ouch!

Those are some harsh words of truth! So how do we continue to be a living church? Well, Paul gives us the formula in Ephesians 4, and it has to do with "Living our lives worthy of the calling" that we have received. What we will discover is that our lives are a testimony for others to what Christ has done for us . . . a testimony of the truth of Jesus. Join us Sunday as we unpack what it means to be a Living Church.

Oscar Wilde once said, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” The question is what or whom are we imitating as a church?

Some churches, seeking to be relevant, have sought to imitate the world.  But we are not called to imitate the world or anything in the world.

We are called, as Paul says in Ephesians 5, to emulate Jesus. Paul says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Join us Sunday as we investigate what it looks like for the church to imitate Jesus

This Sunday, we will close out our sermon series in Ephesians by looking at how we can be fully equipped and prepared as we serve the Lord. Paul declares it plainly and simply by saying in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

We will discover that our strength is NOT in ourselves, NOT in our skills, and NOT found in our talents. Our strength is found in the Lord. In Him, we are fully equipped for every good work for which we are called. So join us Sunday as we unpack how we can stand in the strength of the Lord.

I love the end of those HGTV shows or "This Old House," where they show the before and after pictures of a project. The transformation from old to new is exciting to see. In Ephesians 2, Paul gives the church the before and after picture by reminding them of what God has done in their lives and how they are a new creation in Christ Jesus. This Sunday, we will remember what God has done for us and how He has called us to be a Church that helps others walk one step closer to Jesus, so that they might be transformed and made new.

In this letter, Paul discusses the design and strategy of what it means to "Be the Church." We will begin in chapter 1 where Paul says, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

Oh, that we might be a praying Church! Join us Sunday as we examine what it really looks like to be a Praying Church.