Downtown Church: Memphis, TN Downtown Church

1. Chosen Unconditionally

2. Chosen to be blameless

3. Chosen to be holy

4. Chosen in Him

5. Chosen in His presence

1. Grace: Proof of God’s love.

2. Peace: Product of God’s Grace.

3. Praise: Bless God because, by His Grace, we have Peace.



Blessing:


#1 God chose you in him before the foundation of the world. Verse 4
#2 Adopted you to himself according to the purpose of his will. Verse 5
#3 Redemption and forgiveness of our trespasses, because of the riches of his grace. Verse 7
#4 Inheritance. Verse 11
#5 Sealed with the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of your inheritance. Verse 13

Main Idea: God's Word has the power to transform our lives, cities, and the world.



1. God uses SUBMITTED hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 8-12



Ways Paul Proclaimed:

1. Bold

2. Reasoned

3. Persuasive

4. Consistent



2. God uses COMPETING hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 13-17

Main Idea: Jesus being alive gives us reason to rejoice.



1. Jesus is Alive



Hymn: I serve a risen Savior

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near

Refrain:

He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know he lives?

He lives within my heart.



2. Jesus is Accessible

3. Jesus is more than an Acquaintance. He is our Brother.

Big Idea: Because of God’s infinite authority we are sent out to the nations to make disciples.



John 17:18 (ESV): “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”



John 17:20–21 (ESV): “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Central Idea: FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE.

Because God has forgiven us, we forgive others.



1. The What of Forgiveness



2. The Why of Forgiveness


Reason #1: Jesus commands us to.
"Forgiveness is not an emotional response but an act of obedience to God."
Reason #2: God is OUR Father



3. The How of Forgiveness.

Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."