Ephesians

One of the greatest mysteries of faith is that God loves us as is.

Let me cut to the chase, brothers and sisters. Is this what you think living in Christ looks like?

To speak words of grace, we must first name the powers and principalities that hold us captive.

The disciples remember every miracle that Jesus did, every truth that he proclaimed.

Ephesians makes a case for theological reflection on the mysteries of life.

Before judging individuals for their sin, we should try to understand the forces of evil influencing them.

We hope and pray that God will meet us, even if God feels absent to us.

“I look on my faith as a liberation.”

“I look on my faith as a liberation.”

We tend to think biology matters, and matters very much—except when we don’t.

Matthew 4:12–23

God "has put all things under his feet." This includes the NFL.

On Ascension Day, with the readings from Luke and Acts in danger of being embalmed by archaism, the reading from Ephesians is a gift.

I've always assumed that the revelation here is that Jews should let the gentiles into the community. But perhaps the revelation is at least as much the fact that the gentiles want to be included.

Frances Taylor Gench doesn't ignore difficult texts about women; she wrestles with them. That's because she is committed to the Bible as scripture.

When I was in my mid 20s, I came down with pneumonia bad enough that I had to spend two weeks in the hospital. I felt cut off from everything. I had no idea what things were like on the outside.

When Martin Luther wrote, "I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer," I don't imagine that he meant to squeeze another three hours of work and relationships into the hours that remained.

In my Bible, this week's reading from Ephesians bears the title, "Rules for the New Life." The text reads like a laundry list of more or less unrelated instructions. Put away falsehood. Speak the truth, be angry but don't sin, and do not make room for the devil. Give up stealing and work honestly. Speak only what is useful for building up; do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Put away bitterness, anger, slander, and malice.

In my Bible, this week's reading from Ephesians bears the title, "Rules for the New Life." The text reads like a laundry list of more or less unrelated instructions. Put away falsehood. Speak the truth, be angry but don't sin, and do not make room for the devil. Give up stealing and work honestly. Speak only what is useful for building up; do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Put away bitterness, anger, slander, and malice.

We are to work honestly, work with our hands, and work so that we can share with those in need.