In this message from Ephesians 2:11-12, we pause to remember who we were before Christ. Just as we saw in verses 1-3 that we were dead, disobedient, and doomed as individuals, here we see that as Gentiles we were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. Tracing the story from the Tower of Babel to God's choosing of Israel out of love, we saw that the promises to Abraham, Moses, and David were not yet ours to know. Without them, we had no hope and were without God in the world, chasing idols that could not speak, save, or defeat death.
It's easy to forget that we were the ones outside, and just as easy to look down on Israel's failures as though we would have done better. Yet from the very beginning, God's plan was to bless all the families of the earth, and our inclusion was never a Plan B. This week, we encourage you to dwell on what it meant to be cut off from God, so that when we return next Sunday to hear who we are in Christ and how He has torn down the dividing wall of hostility, that good news would ring even truer in your heart.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 2:11-12
Date: October 4, 2026
Preacher: Blake Theiss
29 Sept 2026
God's Masterpiece Created with Purpose
In this message on Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Blake uses Hokusai's "Great Wave" painting to illustrate that a painting should point back to its painter. He explains that the Greek word for "workmanship" (poema) means a masterpiece or work of art, and that, as in Romans 1, God's creation exists to display his eternal power and divine nature. As believers, we are not broken pieces glued back together but new creations in Christ, and we often struggle to embrace that identity because we keep drifting back toward our old life and old master. We are saved by grace, not by works, but we are saved to works, which are the fruit and not the root of our salvation.
The second half looks at what those good works can look like in everyday life: in our relationships, at work and school, and in serving through our church and community. Even small acts, like handing someone an invitation or helping a stranded driver with gas, can be used mightily by God. Pastor Blake closes with practical encouragement: deflect praise back to God, do good work quietly "like a ninja," and simply walk in the works God has already prepared for us. He leaves us with the question of whether we see ourselves as the Master Painter's masterpiece, created to bring him glory.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 2:10
Date: September 29, 2026
Preacher: Blake Theiss
22 Sept 2026
But God
In Ephesians 2:4–9, Paul reminds us of the dramatic change God brings through His grace. Though we were once dead in our sin, disobedient, and deserving of God’s wrath, God moved toward us in mercy and love. Through our union with Christ, He has made us alive, raised us up, and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places. These are the completed works of God, accomplished not because of anything we have done, but because of His immeasurable grace.
This message explores the nature of God’s grace as His unmerited favor, love, kindness, and mercy. Salvation cannot be earned through good works, self-improvement, or religious effort; it is God’s gift, received through faith. Because our salvation is entirely dependent upon God’s grace, there is no room for boasting—only gratitude and worship. We are encouraged to continually remember the grace God has shown us in Christ, who lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again so that we might share in His life and enjoy His grace forever.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 2:4-9
Date: September 20, 2026
Preacher: Blake Theiss
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