 By: Danny Torres A devotional on the book of Ephesians
What does a minister look like? Do they wear pin striped suits and shiny shoes? Do they wear long robes and funny hats? Or maybe they carry a huge dinosaur sized Bible under their arm?
We all have a preconceived notion when we hear the word "minister." The first thing that probably pops into your mind is, "that's not me." This week we read in Ephesians 3:7 that Paul called himself a "servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace." The word "servant" is translated from the Greek word "diaconos" which means, "someone who executes the demands of another, a servant, a minister." One of the last things Jesus told his disciples was to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," {Matthew 28:19 CSB}. This means that we all have a role to play when it comes to making disciples. Here's three things Paul did as a minister of the gospel that we can do as well. 1, PROCLAIM The first thing we get to do as servants and ministers of the gospel is proclaim the incalculable riches of Jesus. Proclaiming is simply sharing the great gift of God’s love that we have experienced through Jesus with someone else. 2. SHED LIGHT As ministers and servants of the gospel, you can shed light on this mystery. What mystery? Well, it’s no longer a mystery for you. It’s the mystery of the gospel. It’s the good news of Jesus Christ. Each time you talk to that friend or family member, you’re shedding a little more light. As a minister of the gospel, God is using you to shed light on this mystery of the gospel and ultimately point others to the hope and faith you have found in Jesus. 3. BE BOLD AND CONFIDENT As ministers of the gospel we can be bold and confident. Not in our own abilities or skills. Instead we can have boldness and confidence because we have access to the Father through Jesus. Be bold and confident as you proclaim and shed light and share the hope you have in Jesus with those around you. Have confidence knowing that Jesus loves those in your relational circle more than you do. It’s God’s heart to seek and save the lost. His heart is not that any would perish but that many would come to repentance. In Matthew 9 Jesus said, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." {Matthew 9:37-38 CSB} What if you were an answer to this prayer by Jesus and the disciples? What if God has placed you right here, right now to share the love of God with those around you? My hope and prayer is that you would begin to see yourself, like Paul, as a minister and servant of the gospel.
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 By: Daniel Torres A Devotional on the Book of Ephesians
Devotional. Check.
Prayer. Check. Listen to Hillsong album. Check. All done...not so much! Did you ever consider that getting together with other believers is an integral part of your personal growth and sanctification? That's what Paul is saying in this passage. Last week at our gathering we spoke about how through Jesus we are all one. Regardless of race, nationality, or background, we are all united at the foot of the cross. Before God we all have one thing in common. We're sinners. And in Christ we all share another thing in common. We're forgiven. This week we spoke about how this oneness creates a new dynamic. It's one of family and kinship. Because of this family dynamic, we all need each other. I need you. You need me. We need each other. In what ways do we help each other grow? Glad you asked! Here are some ways we help each other grow. It's not an exhaustive list. I'm sure you can even add some other benefits. But it's a good start...
Here's the question however. If it's so beneficial for us to get together, and it's even backed up in Scripture, why are there so many "Lone Ranger Christians?" There's probably many reasons. Let me tell you a few. Some people are just really good at creating excuses. Why is it that when it's time to do something as beneficial and necessary as gathering with God's people, all of a sudden we notice the laundry that needs to get done, or the food shopping we must do, or the tires that need to get rotated, etc. The truth is that these are just a bunch of excuses and could easily be resolved with better time management. If gathering with each other is truly a priority and as essential as Paul says it is, then we must learn to push through those excuses and be better managers of our time. Some are just lazy. Maybe they're good intentioned and even set the alarm, only to hit the snooze button over and over again. For the lazy person, sometimes it's just too tempting to kick off the fuzzy slippers, put down the remote, and brush their teeth. But just like that same temptation is very real when you have to head to work, go to school, or whatever other important responsibility, you have to push through for what's important. Some simply do not care. They believe they can live out their Christianity solo. After all, who needs other people? Nowadays, all you need is an internet connection and a smartphone and you have access to world class communicators, Grammy award winning worship, and devotionals from the Bible App. The problem is that you have an incomplete diet. Personal worship, devotionals, and learning from great Bible teachers are all great ways grow and mature spiritually, but it's not complete. Paul says that we actually need each other grow. This means that corporately we play an important role in each others maturation and sanctification. We are better together. We were designed for relationship. Deep down within each of us is a desire to be needed and known. From the bubbliest social butterfly, to the shyest introvert, we have a need for relationship. So here's my challenge. Do you have a family of believers which you regularly do life with? A community that corporately worships and sits under the teaching of God's word? A place to practice the one another's of Scripture? If you don't, I'd love to invite you to Swerve. We're not perfect in no way, shape, or form. We've just got our eyes fixed on the One who is.  By: Steven Berrios A Devotional on the book of Ephesians
This morning I woke up the “Birthday Man”. This is what my five year old daughter has been calling me all week leading up to today, my birthday. Birthdays are a great reminder that we should often reflect on the blessings of life.
As I reflected this morning, I was literally brought to tears with the arm's of my children around me. As the day's routines picked up around the house, so did the challenges. This included homework getting done, dinner being prepared and the adventure of getting my two year old son to eat his food before getting his juice. Yet after it all I sit back and write with praise on my lips. You see our blogs are written to keep things real and apply the scriptures to our everyday lives. I'm not going to give anyone an unrealistic picture here. All of our days come with their own set of challenges. But none of it ever changes the fact that a life made alive in Christ is a blessed life. It's blessed not because our marriages are without its challenges, our children are perfect or our jobs are stress-free. It's blessed because of the truths that we've been reading in the book of Ephesians as a church. Because of the death of Christ on the cross, we have been adopted into the family of God. Because of Gods great love and rich mercy, we have been chosen by God and because of His power we have been made alive. In Ephesians 2:10, we are told the remarkable truth that we are God's workmanship. But what does that mean exactly? It means that you are God's great masterpiece. Not your own masterpiece, you belong to God. You are His workmanship. That above any of the challenges, hardships and struggles should cause us to praise Him in the midst of it all. Why? Being “His workmanship” also means that He is at work in you and that the work He is doing in you has purpose. Nothing that God does is without purpose. He is working in you something beautiful. You are His beautiful work of art. You might not see that today. But reflect for a moment on all that He has blessed you with and give Him thanks. PAUSE AND REFLECT He has prepared just for you what He has given you to do. What is it today that He has prepared for you? How can you make much of Jesus in your family, workplace, in your parenting, in your marriages, friendships, in your neighborhood and in your church?  By: Steven Berrios A Devotional on the book of Ephesians
But God! These two words together could be two of the most powerful words in all of Scripture. We could read the two words together in several different places throughout the Bible. Here are just a few:
In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul hammers who we are before Christ. He reminds us all that before Christ, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. He reminds us that we are by nature children of wrath. He reminds us that we have an enemy in the world, in Satan and in ourselves. BUT GOD! It was God, because of His rich mercy and great love, who made us alive with Christ. In ourselves we were completely hopeless. But that was forever changed with “but God”. It was His redemptive plan to display His rich mercy and great love in giving us His one and only Son to die in our place. All Praise be to God. In reflection today, spend a few moments reading over Ephesians 2:1-5. Give Him thanks that He chose to love on you.  By: Danny Torres A devotional on the book of Ephesians
He is the most controversial person in all of history. More books have been written about him than anyone else. There is no more prominent figure that has turned more heads and raised more eyebrows. Who is he? His name is Jesus.
This Sunday we discussed the supremacy of Jesus. While there are many claiming supremacy in our country and around the world, there is only One who is truly supreme over all. Here in chapter 1 of Ephesians, Paul claims that God has subjected everything under his feet. What I especially love about this passage is that Jesus is appointed head over everything for the church. Who else would be more fitting for that position than the man who gave his life for the church? As we strive towards planting a life giving and gospel centered church, let's remember to keep Jesus in his rightful place. Let's remember to keep razor focused on him. After all the church is founded upon him. So when we sing, we sing to and about him. When we teach God's word, we teach about him. When we gather together, we celebrate how he is at work in each other's lives. How about for you? Is Jesus first in your life? Is he supreme above all? Be encouraged today. Whether there's not a care in the world, or your world is falling apart, Jesus is ruling and reigning. In your prayer time this week, be sure to include words of thanksgiving for Jesus' rule and authority over all. Take time to repent and refocus the areas in life where Jesus is not in first place.  By: Steven Berrios A devotional series based on Ephesians
What a powerful weapon we have in prayer. When as believers we say we are praying for one another, it carries immense power. The Christian who prays, does so to the creator of the universe, to the one who holds all things in the palm of His hands. The Christian who prays has access to the throne of grace as a son or daughter. The Christian who prays can do so as a little child who needs to speak with their parent. There is power in our conversations with God. And that power is not in our words but in the person to whom we pray.
I was reminded this week that there is a such a wonder and awe that comes with each moment spent in prayer. The very fact that I, because of His grace, can now have access to His throne with confidence through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16), is an incredible blessing. But honestly I don't always approach prayer with this sense of awe. Prayer can become a routine act for a Christian and can cause the Christian to forget the incredible power they have in prayer. This is dangerous church. So the question I have to ask myself, and I ask you today, is when we pray do we do so with an awe and wonder in who it is that we are praying to? If we all did, imagine the power of our prayers within the Church. Imagine with me if we as a church prayed for one another with this understanding that we are lifting up prayers for one another to the One who from the foundation of the universe predestined us as sons and daughters. Would that change the way in which we pray for one another? Before you spend some time in prayer, pause and sit silently for at least one minute. Reflect on the God to whom you are about to approach in prayer. Father, what words can I use to express the wonder it is to approach you today. And how great it is that you are my Father and because you are my Father, I can speak with you with a confidence in your love for me. Father, help me to understand a little bit more today that your love for me is so great and so is your love for my brothers and sisters in Your church. Help me then to remember my brothers and sisters in my prayers today and to pray with a unceasing love as you would want your children to pray for one another. In Jesus' name, Amen.  By: Steven Berrios A devotional series based on Ephesians
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the words of Paul in the opening of his letter to the church in Ephesus. In fact Paul would echo these words, grace and peace, in each of his letters recorded in the New Testament. I am reading these word's this evening after just watching a behind the scenes short film of the horrific and criminal events that took place in Charlottesville Virginia. And my heart truly aches. I feel anger and I feel deep sadness. And I cry out to God my Father for grace and peace. Grace and peace for myself and for you.
We didn't survive yesterday without it, we most definitely need it today and we will need it tomorrow. Then I go on reading Ephesians chapter 1. For those of you reading this who do not know, as a church, we began a new series on the book of Ephesians this past Sunday. For the next 13 weeks or so we will be walking through verse by verse the entire letter written by Paul to the church in Ephesus. And I want to spend some time looking at the beautiful truth Paul writes in verses 5 and 6 that reveal to us the heart of God that was planned before the foundations of this universe. The Doctrine of Adoption was at the heart of God's redemptive plan for His children from the very beginning of time. Through the completed work of Jesus Christ, we have legal standing before God the Father. This is the Doctrine of Justification. But it is through adoption in which we become children of God. In adoption, God brings us into His family. Just think of what you just read. Now read it again. In adoption, God brings us into His family. Beautiful, isn't it? No where else will you find a greater love. God in love according to his own will, predestined us for adoption as sons and daughters. And so as we hear, read, watch and even first hand experience the hostility and division that is in our communities, in our nation and world, let it bring us great peace to know that the family of God consists of a bunch of adopted sons and daughters from all backgrounds and races. Understand that as adopted sons and daughters, we all have equal rights and privileges in this family. None of us were born into this family but God planned and purposed for each of us through Jesus to become family. We were all once orphans. No one was and no one is superior. It was God's will to bring us into His family. What a display of his marvelous grace! Each of us, as it says in Romans 8:15, have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry “Abba, Father!” What great joy to be adopted into the family of God. The family dinner table in the church of Christ should be the most beautiful table of all. Church, we need to get just a glimpse of this beauty that is the doctrine of adoption. Because of adoption, we have hope because of our inheritance in heaven with Jesus (Romans 8:17). Because of adoption we have a hope that comes from no longer being slaves but sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4-7). Because of adoption we have assurance that though we suffer with him now, we will also be glorified with him (Romans 8:14-17). Praise be to God the Father, for not only saving us but for adopting us. What a beautiful God we worship. Praise be to his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved! Father, what a joy it is to be in your family. I know I have done absolutely nothing to earn this. And so I thank you for willingly adopting me into your family. Father I pray now that I will live each day with this joy of understanding that I am your child. In Jesus name, Amen.  We're right in the middle of our Spring semester of Life Groups and it's been great! It's such a vital part of the life of our church and an extremely important part of your personal growth and development as a follower of Jesus. Here's a few reasons why... 1. The food is great!This semester we've introduced a new emphasis at our Life Groups and that is a full on meal! So far we've had baked ziti, arroz con guandules, and tacos! There's something about gathering around a meal that helps foster relationships and lowers guards. In fact, in the Bible you see how this truth is played out over and over again. Check out what it says in the book of Acts...
2. You make new friends.At Life Group you have the ability to know and be known. You have the opportunity to make new friends while strengthening existing relationships. You were never meant to do life alone. Life Groups provide a way to stay connected. In NYC it can be so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of city life. I constantly hear how people battle with feelings of loneliness. Which begs the question, How could one feel so lonely amidst being surrounded by so many people? Life Group provides space to connect to others so that you can encourage others and receive some encouragement as well. 3. You grow in your faith.I truly believe that spiritual growth best happens in the context of community. At Life Groups, we'll always have an emphasis on reading a passage of Scripture together. We'll dialogue how that specific verse impacts us and how we can best live it out. An important part of Life Group is bearing one another's burdens through prayer. We always spend time praying for one another.
What's the result? We grow better together. As we pray, dialogue, and study God's word together, we help each other draw closer to, and become more like, Jesus. There's only three week's left in this semester of Life Group. I hope and pray that you can join us in our next one. Simply click here to sign up or check out our Meetup Page.
Divine Direction continues this Sunday, mission teams in March, and the Annie Armstrong Easter offering in this week's Swerve News & Announcements.
Last week of our series "I Want to Believe But," Communion Sunday, and 30 Second Theology is around the corner on this week's Swerve News and Announcements.
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