Oakwood Church
The Power of Connecting - Ephesians 1
Locations & Times
Oakwood Community Church
11209 Casey Rd, Tampa, FL 33618, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
Hebrews 10:23-25
Presenting Problem:
addiction, anxiety, depression, anger, disrespect, over-eating, under-eating, over-working, under-working, pride, selfishness, _______________________
addiction, anxiety, depression, anger, disrespect, over-eating, under-eating, over-working, under-working, pride, selfishness, _______________________
Treatment Options:
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
Treatment Options:
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
○ The new priestly class of professional Counselors
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
○ The new priestly class of professional Counselors
Treatment Options:
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
Treatment Options:
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
○ Trading one expression of Flesh for another (from self-focus to self-reliance)
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
○ Trading one expression of Flesh for another (from self-focus to self-reliance)
Treatment Options:
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
1. Fix what’s Wrong through therapy to resolve psychological issues
2. Do what’s Right through effort, exhortation, and accountability
Baseline Diagnosis:
1. There is Good in everyone because the Image of God is imprinted on us
2. There is Bad in everyone because the Corruption of Adam is embedded in us
1. There is Good in everyone because the Image of God is imprinted on us
2. There is Bad in everyone because the Corruption of Adam is embedded in us
1. There is Good in everyone because the Image of God is imprinted on us
○ This makes us rational, relational and moral beings who long for Connection
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…’”
Genesis 1:26
○ This makes us rational, relational and moral beings who long for Connection
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…’”
Genesis 1:26
2. There is Bad in everyone because the Corruption of Adam is embedded in us
○ This infects every part of us: heart, mind, soul and body. We suffer from Disconnection and aggravate that pain in others.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:21
○ This infects every part of us: heart, mind, soul and body. We suffer from Disconnection and aggravate that pain in others.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:21
“Connecting is a kind of relating that happens when the powerful life of Christ in one person meets the good life of Christ in another… Connecting is the actual life of God, the energy with which the Father and Son relate to each other, a set of inclinations put in our hearts by the Spirit and kept alive by his presence. It is a power that is most fully released as we develop a compelling and awe-inspiring vision of who another person is and what he or she could become because of the gospel.”
~ Larry Crabb, Connecting p. 66
~ Larry Crabb, Connecting p. 66
• Do you believe there is Good developing in every follower of Jesus, no matter what you see on the surface?
• Do you believe there is Power in YOU to help your brother or sister, no matter how incapable you feel to address the problem?
• Do you believe there is Power in YOU to help your brother or sister, no matter how incapable you feel to address the problem?
The Good in You because of Jesus:
1. In Christ you are a Saint
“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:1
1. In Christ you are a Saint
“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:1
The Good in You because of Jesus:
2. In Christ you are Beloved
“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons… he has blessed us in the beloved.”
Ephesians 1:5-6
2. In Christ you are Beloved
“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons… he has blessed us in the beloved.”
Ephesians 1:5-6
The Good in You because of Jesus:
3. In Christ you are Growing
“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.”
Ephesians 1:15
3. In Christ you are Growing
“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.”
Ephesians 1:15
The Power in You because of Jesus:
1.The Spirit of Wisdom
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Ephesians 1:17
1.The Spirit of Wisdom
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Ephesians 1:17
“A vision we give to others of who and what they could become has power when it echoes what the Spirit has already spoken into their souls.”
~ Larry Crabb, Connecting p. 165
~ Larry Crabb, Connecting p. 165
Wesley’s Three Questions:
• What Sins have you committed this week?
• What Temptations are you facing?
• What means of Grace is God giving you to stand up to those temptations?
• What Sins have you committed this week?
• What Temptations are you facing?
• What means of Grace is God giving you to stand up to those temptations?
The Power in You because of Jesus:
2. The Revelation of Hope
“Having the eyes of your heart enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.”
Ephesians 1:18
2. The Revelation of Hope
“Having the eyes of your heart enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.”
Ephesians 1:18
The Power in You because of Jesus:
2. The Revelation of Hope
“The hope to which he has called you… the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:18
2. The Revelation of Hope
“The hope to which he has called you… the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:18
The Power in You because of Jesus:
2. The Revelation of Hope
“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”
John 17:22
2. The Revelation of Hope
“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”
John 17:22
The Power in You because of Jesus:
3. The Power of the Resurrection
“What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…”
Ephesians 1:19
3. The Power of the Resurrection
“What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…”
Ephesians 1:19
The Power in You because of Jesus:
3. The Power of the Resurrection
“Head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 1:23
3. The Power of the Resurrection
“Head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 1:23