The three excerpts, each about five minutes in length, are from a complete series of messages covering Ephesians, delivered by Mike Sperou, Senior Pastor of North Clackamas Bible Community.

The first two excerpts are from a sermon entitled ‘Opening Thanksgiving,’ covering Ephesians 1.15-17:

Faith

In the first excerpt, Mike reminds the ncBc community that faith and love, along with hope, constitute the true measure of a church and that faith, in particular, always operates in the sphere of Christ’s body: a church in which he is truly Lord.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers …

– Ephesians 1.15-16

Spirit of Wisdom

In the second excerpt, Mike reminds the ncBc community that we must have a spirit of wisdom, for we must learn how to walk this life — it is a life we do not know how to live if we are not growing in an understanding of God’s Word and living in his church.

… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

– Ephesians 1.17

Forgiving

The third and final excerpt is taken from a sermon entitled ‘Forgiving.’

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

– Ephesians 4.32–5.2

Mike was reminding our community that God’s salvation work in Christ is to serve as the paradigm for how we treat one another: we forgive one another — out of grateful, forgiven hearts — so that each one is freed up to flourish.