This week we continue our Ephesians series. Ephesians 4 comes back to the topic of Christian unity, and both a call and reminder that part of our call from Jesus is that others will know we follow him by the way we love one another. One way that love is expressed is working hard at staying united in Christ, and working through things that try to divide us.
Jesus moves beyond outward behavior and speaks directly to the condition of our hearts. Anger, lust, resentment, and broken relationships reveal deeper spiritual struggles that God wants to heal and transform. Jesus shows us that the work in our hearts might be the most important work as those who follow Him.
Jesus calls His followers to live differently — like salt that preserves and light that shines. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are invited to influence the world around us while staying rooted in God’s truth. Jesus names what it means to surprise the world with grace, purpose, and faithfulness.
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with a surprising picture of who is truly blessed. In a world chasing power, success, and comfort, Jesus reminds those who are on the margins and struggling that God is still at work in their lives. Together, we’ll discover how God’s kingdom reshapes our expectations of the good life.