28d • Sunday Sermon Discussion
Sermon Outline Ephesians 1:15-18
This sermon, delivered by Andy Langden, an elder at Covenant Church of Perrysburg, explores Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-18 for the Ephesian church. Preached in a context of cultural challenges like idol worship and persecution, it urges believers to cultivate deep confidence in the spiritual blessings already bestowed in Christ. The message emphasizes that true assurance comes from the Spirit's enlightenment, leading to unshakable hope, awareness of God's inheritance in His people, and recognition of His resurrecting power. Langden uses illustrations like Han Solo's confident "I know" from The Empire Strikes Back to contrast worldly bravado with humble, Spirit-given certainty. The sermon calls listeners to possess these blessings by faith, intercede for others, and, for non-believers, repent and trust in Jesus for immediate access to God's gifts.
Detailed Outline
- Introduction and Paul's Prayer for Confidence Paul expresses gratitude for the Ephesians' faith in Jesus and love for the saints (Eph. 1:15), grounding his prayer in their existing spiritual fruit. He recalls the lavish blessings in Christ from Ephesians 1:3-14 (e.g., election, redemption, adoption, sealing by the Spirit). Core petition: That God, the Father of glory, would grant the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for deeper knowledge of Him, enlightening "the eyes of your hearts" (Eph. 1:17-18). Focus: To know (a settled, assured "I know") the hope of our calling, the riches of God's glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable power toward believers (Eph. 1:18). Illustration: Biblical confidence isn't arrogant but humbly rooted in God's prior work, like scales falling from eyes (cf. 2 Cor. 4:6).
- Source of This Confidence Blessings Already Possessed: Believers have "every spiritual blessing" in Christ—everything needed for life and godliness (Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Pet. 1:3-4). From the Generous Giver: The Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit) provides all good things (Eph. 1:17; Matt. 7:11; John 16:13-15). Evident in Fruitful Lives: Observed faith and love confirm partial enlightenment, prompting prayer for more (Eph. 1:15-18). Illustrations: Like Israelites claiming the promised land by stepping forward (Josh. 1:3) or possessing what God has already allotted (Obad. 1:17). Application: Faith activates possession of these gifts.
- Substance of This Confidence Unshakable Hope: Not vague optimism, but certainty in Christ's return, resurrection, renewal of creation, healing, and restoration—anchored in His blood and righteousness, not circumstances (Rom. 5:1-5; 1 Pet. 1:3-4). Glorious Inheritance: God treasures His saints as His prized possession, valuing them despite flaws through redemptive love (Deut. 32:9; Deut. 9:29; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). We are secure and beloved from eternity. Application: In doubt, anxiety, or pain, affirm God's love; reject lesser hopes (e.g., in achievements or relationships); pray similarly for others (Isa. 1:18 for grace's cleansing).
- Conclusion and Call to Action Model Paul's intercession: Pray for others' enlightenment to these truths. Challenge: Walk securely in Christ's love; for unbelievers, turn to Jesus for these blessings now. Benediction: Echoes Ephesians 3:17—rooted and grounded in love, filled with God's fullness.
ESV Bible Verses Referenced
- Ephesians 1:15-18: "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."
- Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
- Romans 5:1-5: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
- 2 Peter 1:3-4: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
- Joshua 1:3: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses."
- Obadiah 1:17: "But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions."
- Matthew 7:11: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
- John 16:13-15: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. Therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
- Deuteronomy 32:9: "But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage."
- Deuteronomy 9:29: "For they are your people and your heritage, which you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm."
- 1 Peter 1:18-19: "Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
- 1 Peter 1:3-4 (partial): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
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Sermon Outline Ephesians 1:15-18
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