Guest User
Bishop Grote's Pastoral Exhortation at Synod ...

Thanks to God for Other Christians

Ephesians 1:15-16

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16

We must never forget that the epistle to the Ephesians is a pastoral letter, and that its purpose was thoroughly practical. St. Paul’s object was to help Christians, to strengthen them, and to encourage them in their daily Christian living. The Apostles believed that the best way to help Christians was to make sure they understood who they were in Christ, and to help them live in terms of that.

The Father of Glory

Ephesians 1:15-17

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

In this passage, the Apostle Paul tells the Ephesian Christians that he is praying for them, that he ceases not to give thanks for them, making mention of them in his prayers to God. We have already remarked on the fact that his prayer is divided, as prayer always should be, into thanksgiving, which includes general adoration and worship, and then petition. We now come to consider how the Apostle offers his petitions to God. We have here a great object lesson in this respect. There is perhaps no aspect of our Christian life that so frequently raises problems in people’s minds as prayer. And it is right that such should be the case, because prayer is, after all, the highest activity of the human soul.

The Mighty Power That Creates and Sustains Faith

Ephesians 1:19-23

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

The exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23

To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart is one of the simplest things imaginable. Yet, to bring the human mind to exercise simple faith in Jesus is a work of the most astounding power. To bring down the pride of man, to subjugate his will and to captivate his passions, so that he shall cheerfully accept that which God presents to him in the person of Christ Jesus, is a labor worthy of a God. The blessed Spirit of God is always the secret Author of faith; it is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. St. Paul twice uses the strongest words which could be employed to set forth the Almighty power exhibited in bringing a soul to believe in Jesus, and in bringing that believing soul onward till it ascends to heaven.

The Final Consummation

Ephesians 1:19-23

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23

St. Paul prays without ceasing that these Ephesians might know the “exceeding great power of God, the energy of the strength of God’s might” which is working in them. The way to enjoy a rich experience in the Christian life is to have a clearer understanding of the truth. People who neglect truth rarely have great experiences. To concentrate on experience alone is generally to live a Christian life which is shallow and miserable.

The Church Which Is Christ's Body

Ephesians 1:22-23

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

God has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all.— Ephesians 1:22-23

The Apostle is praying that we may know the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe, but he seems to be carried away from his theme in describing that power. But actually, he wants us to realize the greatness of the power that is working in us, and to know exactly how it works.

The Human Condition

Ephesians 2:1-3

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

In the first three verses of Ephesians 2, Paul tells us what the human condition is. He tells us how sinful we are, and he does that to set the stage for describing the inestimable grace of God. Let us look at the human condition, and in the next sermon we will look at the grace of God in contrast with that.

God's Compassion

Ephesians 2:4

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

In the last sermon we looked at a somewhat depressing description of the human condition [The Human Condition]. As I said, I was not going out of my way to be depressing and St. Paul was not going out of his way to depress us. The intention, rather, was to give us a realistic and accurate description of the human condition so that we might be in a position to appreciate God’s compassion.

The End of Human Pride

Ephesians 2:8-10

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

If we did not get the point from what Paul said in the first chapter and in the first few verses of chapter 2, he now is going to drive that point home. As a matter of fact, Paul delights in repeating himself, not for the purpose of boring us to tears, but because he knows the great difficulty that we have in understanding God’s way of rescuing the world.

One Nation Under God, Indivisible

Ephesians 2:11-22

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

 “One nation, under God, indivisible”—these words from the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America express the hope and longing of mankind for security, for safety, for happiness, and for prosperity. Those words are a religious affirmation. They express not only allegiance to a country, but also a religious hope that we, by our human efforts and without divine aid, can solve all the problems we face, problems that are caused by sin. That is the American dream, the American religion. But, as wonderful an ideal that may be in the political realm, it is doomed to failure because it ignores the human condition that sin causes. It ignores the reality of sin and sin’s killing and enslaving effects upon us. And it ignores the only solution to the problem, which is in Jesus Christ and not in ourselves.

God's Plan for Human History

Ephesians 3:1-13

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

Is history just a random succession of events, or is there a plan? Is there any point to the events? Are we headed anywhere? Is there a goal, and are we going in the right direction toward that goal? God shows us in this passage that he has a plan, and that it is gracious plan.

The Communion of Saints

Ephesians 3:14-21

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

In Ephesians, St. Paul gives us a great deal of helpful instruction about starting a new church. We learn here what the church is supposed to be, who we are as the Church of Jesus Christ, what Jesus has done for us, and so forth. We are trying to work our way carefully through the first part of the book because in the first three chapters St. Paul lays down the theological principles upon which the practical applications of chapters 4 through 6 will be made.

To God Be the Glory

Ephesians 3:20, 21

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

St. Paul has said that our redemption is the work of the Trinity—we have been brought from the dead, joined to the commonwealth of Israel, made one with those whom we formerly hated, built together with them into a dwelling of God, and that we have received the mystery, i.e. the Church.

Who is the Greatest?

Ephesians 4:1, 2

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1, 2

The question "Who is the greatest?" was asked at the institution of the Lord's Supper when greatest unity should be seen—there is always a tendency instead to have the greatest division, self-exaltation.

The Head and the Body

Romans 12 (Ephesians 4:16)

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

2006

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:16

St. Paul tells us that we have no life in ourselves if we are not one with Christ. He is the Head of the body which means that our life flows from him. And if we are one with him, we are also one with everyone who is joined to him by baptism and faith.

test file

Bacon ipsum dolor amet swine shank meatball t-bone tail. Andouille tri-tip hamburger, short ribs sirloin tail filet mignon beef ribs pork meatloaf boudin turducken swine porchetta. Pork loin shankle chuck pancetta capicola leberkas shank. Pastrami pork chop brisket swine jowl pig turkey venison tenderloin meatloaf short ribs prosciutto turducken. Turkey ground round strip steak kielbasa venison, turducken alcatra rump pastrami picanha buffalo. Jerky swine ham hock bresaola ball tip short ribs pork belly, filet mignon pork chop fatback hamburger landjaeger ham salami pancetta.