STRONGER-Part 8-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: INFINITELY MORE
Main Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-17
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
Ephesians 3:14–21 is a prayer from Paul on behalf of the Christians of Ephesus. This prayer begins a transition from the first half of his letter, focused on doctrinal ideas, to the second half, where those ideas are put into practice. The natural theme for this transition is an appeal for spiritual strength from God and to grasp God’s love for them. We learned today that God is infinitely more in every way. In Him there is infinite strength, infinite power, infinite love and no request too big for our infinite God!
Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes:
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
To stand and pray with hands up to the sky was the usual way that people prayed at that time. Paul’s posture on his knees is a deep and emotional plea to God for the church.
What Paul wrote prompted this powerful prayer. This prayer is inspired by the good news of Jesus.
May our prayers be prompted and inspired by the Word of God and the gospel!
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
God has unlimited resources and what does Paul pray for? Inner strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT
17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
When we trust in Jesus, He makes himself at home in our hearts. Jesus doesn’t come and go, He’s there to stay.
There’s a challenge for us to KEEP Him at the center of our hearts to reign, teach, love, feed, and guide us. This relationship produces God’s love and strength.
Does Jesus reside in your life? Is he your source of Strength?
What dwells in our hearts is what we become.
I want more of Jesus in me
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
It’s important to Paul that the church grasps what they can of God’s vast and endless love.
We can experience the love of God through Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
"In a word, to know the love of Christ - it is might in weakness; it is patience in tribulation; it is strength for living; it is hope in dying; it is heaven brought down to earth; it is heaven dwelling within the soul." -Unknown
THE GRAND PURPOSE AND RESULT OF KNOWING THE LOVE OF CHRIST: you and I will be complete with the life, power, and love of God.
ILLUSTRATION: The cross is an example of God’s love in four directions: compassion, provision, His presence, and His mercy.
Luke 7:36-50
Romans 8:35-39
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
This is a doxology. A short song of praise to glorify God.
The word Paul uses in Greek for “infinitely” or “immeasurably more” is hyperekperissou which means superabundance.
“It is impossible to ask God for too much. His capacity for giving far exceeds his people’s capacity for asking--or even imagining.” FF Bruce
Now, why would Paul pray this? Because Paul's next 3 chapters will require more than human strength, it will take the strength of God which He gives us through the Spirit.
TAKEAWAYS:
Our strength comes from God. His strength is infinitely greater than every struggle we face on this earth.
When we’re in situations that stretch our human capabilities God’s strength gets us through.
The love and completion we long for are found in Jesus, not feelings. Feelings fade, Jesus doesn’t.
I don’t have to prove my worth or work to be loved because God’s love for me is immeasurably greater than any love on this earth.
God is limitless, boundless, and capable of infinitely more than we ask or think.
Let’s stretch our prayers.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
Have you been in a situation where you’ve experienced the strength of God working in you or a situation? It may come in the form of patience, self-control or to love someone…
Pastor Ryan shared how he has experienced God’s love with the picture of the cross, how about you?
Stretch your prayer life. God can do infinitely more than we ask or imagine in us so what do you want God to do IN YOU that is outside of your limitations?
Did you know God wants you to be in His family no matter your background? Jesus made it possible…
If you are ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see who I am without Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray:
Heavenly Father, our hearts, our trust and our prayers are stretched today. We are learning to see you as infinitely more than we do now. Thank you for offering more than we can even grasp! We look to you for all things, especially for our needs of strength, love and power. We pray you will do God sized work in our lives. We give you our hearts for Jesus to dwell and shape us into your infinite plans and purposes. In Jesus name, amen!
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!