Sermon Notes Title: Agents of Grace Text: Ephesians 2:1–10 Confession Anchor: Article 5 – Salvation "We believe that God is at work to deliver, heal, redeem, and restore. God reconciled the world to Himself by the atoning blood of Jesus. As people place their trust in Christ, they are saved by grace through faith. Through Christ’s obedient life, his death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection, he triumphed over Satan and the powers of sin and death, opening the way for all people to follow." — CCMB Confession of Faith, Art. 5 Introduction: Anchored in Who We Are A healthy church does everything with purpose, anchored in God’s Word rather than habits, routines, or comfort zones. Whatever changes lie ahead for Gracepoint, grace must remain at the core of our identity and mission. I. Why We Need Grace (Ephesians 2:1–3) To understand how amazing grace is, we first have to understand how dead we are without it. Spiritual Deadness: To be dead in sin means being completely unable to save ourselves or fix our relationship with God. Three Factors Keeping Us Captive: The : Culture forms us to celebrate some things that are evil and suppress things that are good. The : An active enemy using deception, intimidation, and accusation to drive a wedge between God and humanity. The : Our internal, sinful instinct toward self-sovereignty—wanting to be our own god. God’s wrath is not a temper tantrum; it is His holy, righteous opposition to evil and injustice. II. How God Gives Grace (Ephesians 2:4–9) "BUT GOD…" – Salvation turns entirely on God’s initiative, driven by His rich mercy and great love. Resurrection: Christ’s victory over physical and spiritual death gives us new hearts and new life. Ascension: Being “seated in the heavenly places” means we are liberated from Satan's dominion and welcomed into God’s family. Kindness: God substituted Himself for us at the cross, satisfying perfect justice with perfect love. The Instrument: Salvation is a free gift received through faith, not earned by works, so that no one can boast. III. How We Live in Grace (Ephesians 2:10) God’s (Poiema): We are His artistry—created in Christ Jesus to reflect His beauty in a broken world. Prepared Good Works: Your situation is never a to God. He is never anxious, and we can rest in His sovereign care. Whatever happens to us, God intends to do good things through us. My Personal Takeaways & Prayer Commitments This Week: Where is God calling me to be an agent of grace in my daily routine? Morning Prayer: “Lord, today I’m going to face things bigger than me. I know you're with me and for me. I look forward to seeing you in my helplessness.” Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions Reflecting on the Intro: Why is it vital for a church in a season of transition to anchor itself in core convictions rather than comfort zones or habits? Understanding Deadness: How does Paul’s definition of being “spiritually dead” challenge our culture’s view that humans are basically good people who just make mistakes? The Enslaving Forces: Which of the three factors—the World, the Devil, or the Flesh—do you find most subtly influences your daily posture or decision-making? Re-framing Wrath: How does understanding God's wrath as His holy opposition to injustice (Thumos and Orge) change the way you view His judgment? The Turning Point: Read Ephesians 2:4. Why are the words “But God” so foundational to the entire Christian gospel? Seated with Christ: What does it practically mean for your day-to-day anxiety and identity to know that God already views you as “seated in the heavenly realms” in Christ? Grace vs. Performance: In what ways do Christians still fall into the trap of trying to earn God's favor, even after coming to faith? How do verses 8–9 guard against that? God’s Poiema: Verse 10 calls us God’s “workmanship” or "masterpiece." How does seeing yourself as God’s artistry change how you view your flaws, your past, or your purpose? Agents of Grace in the Daily Grind: Think about your upcoming week (your job site, dinner table, classroom, or errands). What would it look like to view interruptions in those spaces as “prepared good works” rather than annoyances? Trusting the Future: As a church family, how does knowing that God is “never anxious” give us confidence as we step into this next fall season and look toward calling a new lead pastor?