Text Messages: When a Good Plan Comes Together • 8.7.22

Perris Valley Church

Sermon Notes: Ephesians 1:7-14

Series: Text Messages

Title: When a Good Plan Comes Together

Date: 8.7.22

Location: Perris Valley Church

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Ephesians 1:8 (NLT)

He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:20-23 (NLT)

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

Ephesians 1:9 (NLT)

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.

Point number 1 in your notes:

God has always had a plan but only revealed his plan to who He wanted to when He wanted to. Still, not everyone knows God's plan.

Colossians 1:27 (NASB)

to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)

And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 1:10 (NIV)

to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Point number 2 in your notes:

God’s plan is to bring His entire family home through Christ.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)

For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 1:16 (NASB)

for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Romans 11:25 (NLT)

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Point number 3 in your notes:

Part of God’s plan is to give an inheritance to ALL members of the family.

Titus 2:14 (NLT)

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Ephesians 1:12 (NLT)

God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

John 1:12 (NJKV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Ephesians 1:14 (NLT)

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Point number 4 in your notes:

Christians have already received the first payment of their inheritance.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (CSB)

Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.