Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14 

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

1 John 1:5-9

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
 
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Footnotes
[a] 1 John 1:7 Or every

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Devotional: 
Before Christ, we were not simply people who walked in darkness. Paul says we were darkness itself. That is a striking distinction. But now, because of Christ, we are light in the Lord. Light does not have to announce itself or argue for its presence. It simply shines, and what was hidden becomes visible. This is the quiet, powerful work of a life surrendered to Jesus. We do not have to expose the darkness around us through our own effort or judgment. As we walk faithfully in the light, the contrast does the work. And when we stumble, as John reminds us we will, confession restores us. God is faithful to cleanse what we honestly bring to Him.

Is there anything in your life you have been keeping in the dark rather than bringing into God's light?

Practice confession today, not as a ritual, but as an honest conversation with God. Name what needs to be named. Receive the forgiveness He promises.

Reading: Ephesians 5:1-7

 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

Footnotes

[a] Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God

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Devotional: 
The call to imitate God can feel overwhelming at first. But Paul grounds it immediately in love, specifically the sacrificial love of Christ. We are not being asked to manufacture divine perfection on our own. We are being invited to follow the example of someone we know personally. Sexual immorality, greed, and impurity are not merely moral failures. Paul calls them idolatry, the worship of created things in place of the Creator. When we choose these things, we are choosing a different lord. The good news is that the same Christ who offered himself for us is alive and present, ready to lead us away from what destroys us and toward what gives life.

Are there areas of your life where something other than God has taken the place of first priority?

Spend time today in honest prayer, naming anything that has functioned as an idol. Ask God to reorder your desires and affections around Him.

Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Devotional:
Paul gets specific, and that is intentional. Honesty, controlled anger, honest labor, generous giving, wholesome speech, kindness, and forgiveness are not abstract virtues. They are the visible marks of a person actively walking in step with Jesus. These behaviors are not a checklist for earning God's approval. They are a description of what the Holy Spirit produces in a life that is genuinely surrendered to Him. Notice that Paul frames each correction within the context of community. We are parts of the same body. How we speak, how we handle anger, how we treat one another, these things either build the body of Christ or damage it.

Which of the specific behaviors Paul names do you find most difficult to live out consistently?

Choose one relationship in your life where you can practice kindness or forgiveness in a concrete way this week. Do not wait for the feeling. Take the step.

Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

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Devotional:
Paul's words carry the weight of divine authority. The old life, marked by confusion, darkness, and hardened hearts, is not simply a bad habit to manage. It is a way of death that must be thrown off entirely, like a shirt soaked through with grease and filth. Before Christ, we wandered far from the life God intended, following our own desires without shame. But that is not who we are anymore. The Spirit offers something entirely different: renewed thoughts, renewed attitudes, and a renewed identity rooted in truth. The invitation today is not to try harder, but to surrender more fully to the One who makes all things new.

What part of the old life are you still holding onto rather than throwing off?

Identify one specific habit or pattern that belongs to the old self. Bring it honestly before God in prayer today and ask the Holy Spirit to begin replacing it with something new.

Sermon Preview: “Walk Worthy”

This Sunday, we’ll continue in Ephesians 4–5, where Paul gives the church a strong and loving call: “Live no longer as the Gentiles do.”  In other words, God’s people are called to live differently from the world around them.

Paul reminds believers that following Jesus is not just a religious label or a set of good behaviors. It is a daily choice to walk in step with Jesus, to be led by the Holy Spirit, and to turn away from the old sinful ways that once shaped our lives.

We’ll talk about what it means to “walk worthy” of our calling as God’s holy people and how the Holy Spirit transforms our thoughts, attitudes, words, relationships, and desires. This passage addresses real-life issues like anger, dishonesty, bitterness, sexual immorality, greed, foolish talk, and drunkenness—but the goal is not mere behavior modification. The goal is a transformed life that reflects Jesus.

Main Scripture  
Ephesians 4:17–5:20

Big Idea  
Because we belong to Jesus, we are called to stop living like the world and choose, every day, to walk in step with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Families Can Prepare By Reading  
- Ephesians 4:17–32
- Ephesians 5:1–20
- 1 John 1:5–9

Questions to Discuss Before Sunday  
1. What does it mean to “walk in step with Jesus”?  
2. Why is it not enough to simply look like a “good Christian” on the outside?  
3. Are there areas of life where we are tempted to excuse sin instead of surrendering it to Jesus?  
4. How does the Holy Spirit help us live differently?  
5. What does it mean to live as “people of light”?

Key Reminder  
We do not change ourselves by willpower alone. Jesus invites us to walk with Him, and when we stumble, He calls us back with grace. The question before us is simple but deeply important:  Will we choose Jesus today?

Reading: Ephesians 4:15-16 — Paul describes how Christ causes the whole body to fit together, with each part doing its own special work so that the body grows and builds itself up in love.

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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Devotional: 
The church does not grow because of one gifted leader. It grows because every member does its own special work. This is not a suggestion — it is the design. When any part of the body stops functioning, the whole body is affected. But when every member walks in step with Jesus, utilizing the gifts the Spirit has given, something remarkable happens: the body grows, it strengthens, and it begins to look like the One who is its head. You are not a spectator in this process. You are a participant. God is not waiting for a perfect church before He works through it. He is working through willing, obedient, surrendered people right now. Be one of them.

Are you an active, functioning member of your church body, or have you drifted into the role of observer? What would it look like to take one step toward greater participation?

Identify one specific way you can contribute to your church community this week — whether through serving, encouraging, giving, or simply showing up consistently. Take that step without waiting until you feel fully ready.

Reading: John 15:1-8 — Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His Father as the gardener who prunes branches so they will bear more fruit.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Footnotes
[a] John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.

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Devotional:
Pruning does not look like growth. It looks like loss. It looks like bare branches and shortened stems. But the gardener prunes precisely because He sees what the plant is capable of producing. The cut is not punishment — it is preparation. Seasons of loss, transition, and discomfort within the church are often God's pruning at work. What appears to be dying may actually be the very process through which new life will emerge. The key is remaining attached to the vine. Apart from Jesus, no fruit is possible. In Him, even the most painful season becomes the soil for extraordinary growth. Do not mistake the pruning for abandonment.

What in your life or your church community looks like loss right now? How might God be using that season to prepare you for greater fruitfulness?

Read John 15:1-8 slowly and prayerfully a second time. Journal one specific way you sense God may be pruning something in your life to make room for new growth.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 — Paul describes the interdependence of the body's members, noting that when one suffers, all suffer, and when one is honored, all share in that joy.

 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

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Devotional: 
The body of Christ is not a collection of independent individuals who happen to meet in the same building. It is an organism. When one member hurts, the pain is shared. When one member is pruned, the whole plant feels it. Loss within a church community is real grief, and it is right to acknowledge it as such. But suffering within the body is not the end of the story. The same God who allows pruning is the One who promises growth. He is not absent in the hard seasons. He is working. Trust that the pain you are experiencing alongside your brothers and sisters is part of something He is building, not something He has abandoned.

Is there a loss or wound within your church community that you have not fully grieved or brought before the Lord?

Write down the names of people in your church who are hurting. Commit to praying for each of them by name this week, and where appropriate, let them know they are being prayed for.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 — Paul describes the body using the imagery of different physical members, emphasizing that God has placed each part exactly where He intends.

 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
 
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.


Devotional: 
God does not make mistakes in His placement of people within the body of Christ. The foot is not inferior to the hand. The ear is not lesser than the eye. Each part is exactly where the Designer intended it to be. Yet so many believers quietly convince themselves they are unnecessary — that if they stopped showing up, no one would notice. This is a lie that leads to isolation and spiritual drift. God's word declares plainly that He has placed each part just where He wants it. That includes you. Your presence in the body of Christ is not accidental. It is intentional, purposeful, and irreplaceable.

Have you ever felt invisible or unnecessary within your church community? How does God's intentional design of the body challenge that feeling?

Reach out to one person in your church this week who may be feeling disconnected. Your acknowledgment of their belonging could be the very thing God uses to draw them back.

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 - Paul urges believers to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they have received, maintaining unity through humility and love.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

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Devotional: 
God has not simply saved you from something. He has saved you for something. The call to walk worthy is not a burden — it is an invitation into the greatest purpose imaginable: becoming part of God's masterpiece. This calling was not earned and cannot be manufactured through self-effort or imitation of others. It flows from a relationship with Jesus. Today, consider how you are responding to this invitation. Are you treating your faith as a passive membership or as an active calling? Surrender precedes purpose. Before asking what God wants you to do, ask whether you are fully submitted to who He is.

In what area of your life are you striving in your own strength rather than surrendering to Christ?

Set aside ten minutes today to sit quietly before the Lord. Ask Him to reveal one area where He is calling you to greater surrender.

Sermon Preview: “His Body”

This Sunday we’ll continue in Ephesians, where Paul urges the church to “lead a life worthy of your calling.” We’ll connect that calling with 1 Corinthians 12, where Scripture describes the church as the Body of Christ—many unique members, each placed by God with purpose.

We’ll talk about what it means to belong to the body, why every person matters, and how spiritual gifts are not given for individual recognition but for building up the church so that we reflect Jesus together.

Main Scripture Passages
-Ephesians 4:1
-1 Corinthians 12:14–27
-Ephesians 4:16

Big Idea
God places each believer in the Body of Christ with purpose. Our role is not to force our own significance or compare our gifts with others, but to surrender to Jesus, walk in obedience, and allow Him to shape His church.

What We’ll Be Talking About
- What it means to “walk worthy” of our calling  
- Why the church is described as the Body of Christ  
- How every member of the body is important  
- Why disconnection from the church can be spiritually unhealthy  
- How God reshapes, restores, and grows His people  
- Why purpose comes after surrender and obedience  

A Key Reminder
You are not just a spectator in the church. If you are part of the Body of Christ, you matter. You belong. God has placed you with purpose, and the church is healthier when every part is walking in step with Jesus.

Family Discussion Questions
Before Sunday, consider talking through these questions together:

1. What does it mean to live a life “worthy of your calling”?  
2. Why do you think Paul compares the church to a body?  
3. What happens when one part of a body stops functioning?  
4. How can our family better encourage and care for others in the church?  
5. What might it look like to surrender to Jesus before trying to “find our purpose”?  

For Kids
Ask your kids to think about how different parts of the body work together—hands, feet, eyes, ears, mouth, and heart. Then talk about how people in the church are different too, but God uses each person to help the whole church grow.

Prayer Focus
Pray that God would help each of us recognize our place in His body, walk in obedience, and trust Jesus as He shapes and strengthens His church.

Reading: Ephesians 4:14-16

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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Devotional: 
Spiritual maturity is not measured by how long you have attended church. It is measured by how closely your life resembles Christ. Paul warns that immature believers are easily tossed around by false teaching and clever deception. The antidote is not simply more information. It is a life rooted deeply in Christ, connected to the body, and committed to speaking truth in love. Growth happens when every part of the body does its work. That includes you. When you operate in your calling, exercising the gifts God has given you, the whole body benefits. You are not a spectator in God's masterpiece. You are a living stone placed there on purpose.

In what areas of your faith do you still feel spiritually immature, and what steps could you take to grow?

Commit to one spiritual discipline this month, whether Scripture reading, prayer, service, or community, that will help you grow in the specific area where you feel least mature.

Reading: Romans 12:6-8

 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
 
Footnotes
[a] Romans 12:6 Or the
[b] Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others

Reading: Ephesians 4:11-13

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

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Devotional: 
Spiritual gifts are never meant to elevate the individual. They are given to strengthen the entire church and to help every believer grow toward maturity in Christ. Whether your gift is teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or showing kindness, its purpose is always larger than yourself. Paul makes clear that these gifts will continue to be given until the church reaches the full measure of the standard of Christ. That goal has not yet been reached, which means the gifts are still being given and still urgently needed. Your gift is not optional. The body needs what God has placed in you.

How might the people around you in your church be affected if you chose not to use the gifts God has given you?

Ask a trusted fellow believer what strengths or gifts they observe in you. Compare their answer to where you feel God has been calling you to serve.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
 
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
 
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
2. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28

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Devotional:
God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called. This is one of the most freeing truths in all of Scripture. You do not need to arrive at your calling already equipped. You simply need to say yes. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts not based on talent assessments or personal strengths, but according to his own will and the needs of the church. Natural ability is not the same as a spiritual gift. A spiritual gift is God working through you in a way that exceeds what you could produce on your own. When you step out in obedience, you create the conditions for the Spirit to move.

Is there a calling you have been avoiding because you feel unqualified or unprepared?

Identify one area of service in your church that you have felt drawn to but have not yet pursued. Take one concrete step toward it this week.

Reading: Ephesians 4:7-10

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift[a] through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

 9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[c] 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Footnotes

[a] 4:7 Greek a grace.
[b] 4:8 Ps 68:18.
[c] 4:9 Some manuscripts read to the lower parts of the earth.

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Devotional:
Christ descended into our world, walked among us, and then ascended so that his Spirit could be present everywhere at once. This is not a small truth. It means that Jesus is not confined to a church building or a Sunday morning hour. He is with you at work, at home, in traffic, in grief, and in celebration. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is accessible to you at every moment of every day. Walking in step with Jesus is not a scheduled appointment. It is a continuous, living relationship available without interruption. You never have to walk alone.

Are there areas of your daily life where you have not been inviting Jesus to walk with you?

Choose one routine daily activity and use it as a deliberate moment to acknowledge the presence of Christ with you.

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity in the Body

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
 
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

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Devotional: 
The church is not a building. It is a living structure made of people, each one shaped and placed by God with intention. Paul reminds us that there is one Spirit, one Lord, one faith binding us together. Yet within that unity, each person brings something distinct. You are not interchangeable with anyone else in God's design. Your presence in the church matters. Your absence leaves a gap. Before you can understand your individual role, you must first settle into the truth that you belong to something larger than yourself. Rest today in the reality that you have been called and included.

In what ways do you actively contribute to the unity of your local church community?

 Reach out to one person in your church this week simply to encourage them and affirm their value to the body.

Sermon Preview: “His Gifts”

This Sunday, we’ll continue our series on discovering and embracing our God-given life mission. We’ll be in Ephesians 4, looking at how God designed the church to be His masterpiece—and how each of us has a meaningful part to play.

Last week, we focused on the kind of people God calls the church to be: humble, gentle, patient, loving, united, and rooted in Jesus. This week, we’ll look at how God equips His people to serve through **spiritual gifts**.

We’ll talk about gifts like apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, and we’ll also look at other passages that describe gifts such as serving, encouraging, leading, giving, healing, wisdom, discernment, and faith. The focus will not be on taking a test to “find our gift,” but on responding obediently to God’s call and trusting Him to equip us for the work He gives us.

Main Scripture  
Ephesians 4:4–16

Additional passages may include:  
1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12:6–8

Big Idea  
God gives spiritual gifts to His people so that the church can be built up, strengthened, and grow to become more like Christ.

Key Themes  
- The church is one body with one Lord, one Spirit, and one mission.  
- Each believer is uniquely shaped to serve in God’s house.  
- Spiritual gifts are given by God, not for personal status, but to strengthen the church.  
- God doesn’t just call the qualified—He qualifies the called.  
- Discovering our gifts begins with obedience to God’s call.

A Question to Prepare Your Heart  
How is God calling me to serve His church, and am I willing to trust Him to equip me?

Family Discussion Before Sunday  
Consider talking together about these questions:
1. What does it mean that the church is like a body or a building made of “living stones”?  
2. Why do you think God gives different gifts to different people?  
3. What are some ways our family can serve the church and help others follow Jesus?  
4. Is there something God may be asking us to do that feels bigger than our own ability?

Come ready to hear how God equips ordinary people to do His work and build up His church.

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity in the Body

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

***

Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-5

Living Stones for God’s House

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

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Devotional:
You are not meant to reflect God alone. You are one living stone among many, being fitted together into a dwelling place where the world can encounter the living God. The church is not a building or a Sunday morning event. It is a community of transformed people whose collective life bears witness to the reality of Jesus Christ. Humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace are not just personal virtues. They are the mortar that holds the stones together. When each member is being genuinely transformed from the inside out, the house becomes what God designed it to be: a place where the world sees and recognizes the God who loves them.

How are your attitudes and behaviors currently contributing to or working against the unity and witness of your local church community?

Identify one person in your church community with whom you need to practice patience, gentleness, or forgiveness this week. Take one concrete step toward that today.

Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,[a] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.[b] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 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. 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.

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Devotional:
Paul does not pray that the Ephesians would behave better. He prays that Christ would make His home in their hearts. He prays for the source, not the symptoms. This is a rebuke to the way many of us approach God in prayer. We bring Him our fruit problems when He is waiting to address our root condition. When Christ truly makes His home in your heart, when you are rooted and grounded in His love, the behaviors that you have been straining to produce begin to grow naturally. The prayer that changes everything is not "God, help me be better." It is "God, give me more of You."

What does your prayer life reveal about where you believe transformation actually comes from?

Rewrite one of your recurring prayer requests today. Instead of asking God to fix a behavior or circumstance, ask Him to fill you more deeply with His Spirit and presence.

Reading: John 15:1-8

Jesus, the True Vine

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
 
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

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Devotional: 
Jesus does not ask you to produce fruit. He asks you to remain. There is a profound difference between striving and abiding. Striving is exhausting, self-reliant, and ultimately fruitless. Abiding is restful, relational, and remarkably productive. A branch does not labor to grow grapes. It simply stays connected to the vine and receives what it needs to bear what it was created to bear. Jesus is the vine. You are the branch. Apart from Him, He says plainly, you can do nothing. The renovation God wants to do in your life begins not with effort but with proximity. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

What does your daily rhythm reveal about how much time you are actually spending in the presence of Jesus?

Set aside fifteen intentional minutes today with no agenda other than to be in the presence of Jesus through prayer and Scripture. Simply remain.

Reading: Galatians 5:16-25

Living by the Spirit’s Power

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
 
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
 
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

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Devotional: Most of us spend our spiritual lives trying to fix the fruit without tending to the root. We resolve to be more patient, more loving, more kind, and we fail repeatedly because we are approaching transformation from the outside in. Paul makes it clear that the fruit of the Spirit is produced, not performed. It is the natural result of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your life. The sinful nature and the Spirit are in constant opposition, and every day you choose which one leads. You cannot manufacture genuine holiness through willpower. You can only receive it through surrender.

Which fruit listed in Galatians 5 is most noticeably absent in your life right now, and what might that reveal about what is driving your daily decisions?

Throughout the day, pause before each significant decision and ask, "Is this being led by the Spirit or by my flesh?"

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
 
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

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Devotional: 
God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Paul writes from prison, urging ordinary church members, not spiritual elites, to live worthy of their calling. This is a word for every believer sitting in every pew. The calling is not about performing religious duties or maintaining appearances. It is about recognizing that God has personally chosen you for a purpose that is larger than yourself. Before you can walk worthy, you must first believe you are called. Sit with that truth today. You are not an accident. You are summoned by a living God who has a plan for your life.

Do you truly believe God has called you personally, or does that feel like a title reserved for someone more qualified?

Write down one area of your life where you have not yet surrendered to God's calling. Bring it to Him in prayer today.

Sermon Preview: His Fruit
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1–6  
Additional passages: Galatians 5:16–25; John 15:1–5; Ephesians 3:16–17  

This Sunday, we’ll continue in Ephesians and begin looking at chapter 4, where Paul describes what a life “worthy of your calling” looks like. God’s plan for His people is not just better outward behavior—it is deep transformation from the inside out.

Paul points us toward humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace. These are not simply items on a spiritual checklist. They are fruit produced by the Holy Spirit as we remain connected to Jesus.

We’ll talk about the difference between trying to “act holy” and allowing Jesus to make us holy. On our own, we may be able to look the part for a while, but we cannot truly transform our hearts. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Real change comes as we abide in Him and invite the Holy Spirit to lead every part of our lives.

We’ll also see that God’s renovation plan is not just for individuals—it is for the church. As each of us is transformed by Christ, we are joined together into God’s masterpiece: a church marked by love, unity, and peace, where the world can see the living God.

Big Idea  
God doesn’t call us to fake holiness through better behavior; He invites us to abide in Jesus so the Holy Spirit can produce His fruit in us and unite us as His church.

Questions to Reflect on Before Sunday  
- Does my life reflect humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace?  
- Am I trying to change myself from the outside in, or am I inviting Jesus to transform me from the inside out?  
- In my daily decisions, am I being led by my flesh or by the Holy Spirit?  
- How does my relationship with Jesus affect the way I treat others in the church?  
- Is Jesus truly Lord in every part of my life?

For Families  
Parents, this is a great week to talk with your kids about fruit. You might ask:  
- What kind of fruit does a healthy tree produce?  
- What kind of “fruit” does Jesus want to grow in our lives?  
- Can a branch grow fruit if it is disconnected from the vine?  

Help them understand that love, patience, kindness, and gentleness are not things we create by trying harder. They grow in us as we stay close to Jesus.

Prayer for the Week  
Lord, show me where I have been trying to look good instead of letting You change my heart. Fill me with Your Spirit, lead every part of my life, and grow Your fruit in me. Make our church a place of humility, love, unity, and peace. Amen.

Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21

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.

Reading: Isaiah 55:8-9

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

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Devotional:
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours by an immeasurable distance. Ephesians 3:20-21 builds on that truth with staggering confidence: God is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or think, through His power working within us. We tend to bring God small prayers shaped by small expectations. But God is not limited by what we can envision. His plans for His church and for your life exceed your imagination. The call is not to figure out how He will do it. The call is simply to trust that He will. Lead a life worthy of that calling.

Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,[a] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.[b] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 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. 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.
 
Footnotes

[a] 3:14 Some manuscripts read the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. [b] Or from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.

Romans 8:38-39

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Footnotes

1. [a] 8:38 Greek nor rulers.

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Devotional: 
Paul did not pray for the Ephesians to have more knowledge or more comfort. He prayed that they would be rooted in love. Everything else flows from there. Romans 8:38-39 declares that nothing in all creation has the power to separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus. When your roots go down into that love, circumstances lose their power to define you. Suffering cannot uproot you. Failure cannot disqualify you. Doubt cannot drive you out. Today, stop and ask yourself honestly: Is my life rooted in God's love, or is it rooted in my own performance and understanding?