Ephesians | Week 23 | In part 2 of Darrell’s preaching on a revolutionary text, Ephesians 5:15-6:9, Darrell seeks to explore a theme that no culture in history has ever got right. Darrell explains how the command to “be filled with the Spirit” works itself out in all of our human relationships. Referencing different relational models - husbands and wives, Christ and the Church - Darrell shows how the text invites us into the high calling of standing under and serving all people with whom we have relationship. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | October 16, 2011 | Ephesians 5:15-6:9

Ephesians | Week 22 | Darrell expands on the commands laid out in Ephesians 5:15-6:9. These verses give us a more rounded understanding of how God entering our lives changes not only us, but also our relationship dynamics. Darrell explains what it means for us to become subject to one another out of a deep reverence for Christ - moving from an un-kingdomized, un-spirit-filled humanity, to one that is filled with God and His presence. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | October 2, 2011 | Ephesians 5:15 - 6:9

Ephesians | Week 21 | At the heart of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is a bold directive to “be filled”-- not with what the world can offer with its pleasures and temptations, but to “be filled with the Spirit.” In this sermon, Darrell illuminates that life-giving command and explores how its lived-out obedience is essential for anyone who desires to follow Christ. Though God is the only One who can fill us with His Spirit, we play an active role in asking to be filled and in opening ourselves up this dynamic, ongoing reality by which we are marked by Jesus and empowered to live lives worthy of our Divine calling. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | September 25, 2011 | Ephesians 5:15-21

Ephesians | Week 20 | Despite what seem to be challenging verses to accept, Darrell shows us in this message that this text is in fact very liberating. In this section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he is showing us what happens when Jesus Christ, the light of the world, shines on us. If we are to be “children of the light”, that means we will walk in dark places where Jesus wants to expose deeds, attitudes, and schemes that are not of His kingdom. We won’t participate, but we will be present in the darkness as followers of Jesus. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | September 18, 2011 | Ephesians 5:3-14

Ephesians | Week 19 | Darrell picks up again from Ephesians 5:1-2, on Paul’s command to imitate God; a command that seems impossible! Through this sermon, Darrell asks not just “What Would Jesus Do?” but, “What Is Jesus Doing?” From there we are invited to see all the ways Jesus is at work today, and to participate with him as his beloved children. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | September 11, 2011 | Ephesians 5:1-2

Ephesians | Week 18 | In this section, Paul is shifting gears and brings “the airplane out of the clouds and lands it where we live 24/7”. In Ephesians chapters 1-3, Paul is calling us to this live we have been called. He explains that this new life comes because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. However in chapters 4-6, he challenges us to walk in a matter WORTHY of this new life. He gives us a list of things we shouldn’t do, to help us know how best to live this new life. Through it all, he instructs us to not grieve the Holy Spirit. And do not give the devil a foothold. Get in step with the spirit. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 26, 2011 | Ephesians 4:25-32

Ephesians | Week 17 | Darrell takes us deeper into Paul's instructions for Christian living in chapter 4. Paul instructs believers to renew their minds and put on their new selves, something that has happen from outside ourselves. That is why Jesus came in to the world to be the renewer of our brains, rewiring them so we can think clearly as redeemed people. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 19, 2011 | Ephesians 4:17-24

Ephesians | Week 15 | After the first three chapters of Ephesians outline the good news of the gospel, we now move into the next section of the letter where Paul exhorts us how we should therefore live. A central calling for all Christians, is to unity within the body, but how can we create that? Well, in fact, we can’t. Rather, the Spirit has already created it, we all simply called to be diligent in maintaining it! The new reality the gospel brings we are now called to walk in with maturity and a manner worthy of our calling. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 5, 2011 | Ephesians 4:1-16

This sermon is Jesus’ manifesto on living life in His kingdom; it is a captivating vision of a new way to be human; it is a reorientation of our lives around the rhythms of grace; it is a poignant, punchy, practical description of what it looks like to reflect God's character in our interactions with others. It is the greatest sermon, given by the greatest and most influential teacher in all of human history. More than that, it is a timely message from God incarnate to us. For these reasons (and many others) we are going to spend the next months doing a deep dive in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.