EBC Elkhorn

Unbiblical expectations led Pharaoh, Israel, and Moses to bedisappointed by his plan. Since the Lord is faithful to keep his covenant, we ought to trust him even when circumstances appear to conflict with his promises and adjust our expectations accordingly.

Paul calls believers to engage in a kind of friendly rivalry by trying to be first in giving honor to one another.

The Lord executes mercy and justice in accordance to his covenant oath. Since God never fails to fulfill his covenant oaths, we must trust him to bless and curse accordingly and to exercisejudgment first of all on those he intends to save.

All believers are called to make disciples of all peoples. Since Jesus, who has received all authority from his father, has called us to be his followers, we must obey his command to make disciples who will identify with him and obey him.

Guest Preacher: Pastor Jeremy Schaeffertrinityfdl.net

All who trust in God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, are credited with righteousness. There are three reasons we ought to believe God’s promise of salvation: the experience of Abraham, the testimony of David, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

God is the just judge who can justify the ungodly because of the death of Jesus Christ. Since God has been vindicated by the work of Christ on the cross, we can and must believe and be graciously forgiven of our sins, refusing to seek any reason to boast in ourselves.

God has promised to be with his people. We should trust God to give us the inheritance he promised, because he will stay with us, faithful to see it through.

God has promised to be with his people. We should trust God to give us the inheritance he promised, because he will stay with us, faithful to see it through.

Yahweh revealed himself to Moses and chose him to lead Israel out of their bitter bondage. Since the Lord is at once high and holy as well as immanent and makes himself known, we must trust him and his plan of salvation, knowing we are unworthy to be in his presence.

The church is God’s dwelling place, so we must purify ourselves and pursue holiness. Since God has promised his immediate presence within the congregation of believers, we need to separate ourselves from worldly pollution and follow after true righteousness.

The Lord moved behind the scenes to prepare Moses and his people for deliverance. Since we cannot see all that God is doing, we must learn to trust him in the face of trials and disappointments and to cry out to him in our pain and frustration.

The children of Israel multiplied in spite of Pharaoh’s jealousyand fearmongering. Since the Lord is faithful and capable of carrying out his covenant oaths even in the face of the most powerful human opposition, we must trust him and fear him over man.

Jacob’s family multiplied greatly in fulfillment of God’screation plan and blessing. Since the Lord blessed procreation and life even in the face of death, we should value life and trust in the providence of God to protect and provide for his people.

Paul closes the letter to the Ephesians by asking for prayer for himself and encouraging them to receive Tychicus, his messenger, with openness and love.

Believers must prepare to stand, then determine to stand independence on the Lord. Since the armor of God is constituted of the attributes and works of God and his Messiah, we must draw near to him in faith and prayerful dependence in order to stand.

Believers are to live in God’s strength to remain standing in the face of the devil’s attacks. Since the strength we need to stand against the devil is that which only God can provide and which he offers abundantly, we must walk in continual, conscious dependence on him.

Slaves and masters are to serve one another; in doing so they are truly serving Christ. Since believers all belong to God as his slaves, bought and paid for by the blood of Christ, we ought to serve one another joyfully, even if we our slaves, trusting in the Lord.

A spirit-filled home includes children who obey and parents who nurture in the Lord. Since Christ is the Lord of the home as much as he is the head of the church, believers must live out their faith claims in the context of the home and family.

Men chafe at God’s authority and face certain judgment unless they repent and serve him. Since Jesus has come in the flesh, we have the chance to humble ourselves and pay homage to him now before his 2nd coming in glory and judgment.

Men chafe at God’s authority and face certain judgment unless they repent and serve him. Since Jesus has come in the flesh, we have the chance to humble ourselves and pay homage to him now before his 2nd coming in glory and judgment.

A husband’s love for his wife is pictured by Christ’s self-givinglove for his church. Since Jesus gave himself for the church and nourishes and cares for her, every husband ought to love his wife as he does his own body and sacrifice for her good in every respect.

Wives are to give voluntary submission to their husbands as an act of obedience to Christ. Since Christ is the head of the church and has made men to be the head of their wives, wives should gladly be subject to their husbands in everything and so glorify Christ.

Believers demonstrate Spirit-filling by mutually submitting in order to serve one another. Since God has adopted us as sons and daughters through Christ, we have the opportunity to demonstrate our loyalty to and honor for him by submitting to one another.

Believers are to live wisely, avoiding foolishness, as under theinfluence of the Holy Spirit. Since we are now light in the Lord, we must pursue the will of God rather than our own innate foolishness, constantly yielding to the Spirit’s control in the fellowship of the saints.

Guest Speaker: Pastor Brian Lievens (translation by Bethany Lievens)

As children of light believers must bear the fruit of light andexpose the works of darkness. Since we have been raised up from the dead with Christ, we must live separately from the world, exposing shameful works and inviting such as will come to the light.

Immorality and idolatry should be completely absent from theChristian congregation. Since we belong to Christ, believers should never engage in impurity in mind, mouth, or body but rather give thanks for God’s goodness and live for the glory of his kingdom.

Believers are to imitate God by walking in love as Christ did when he died for our sins. Since we belong to the family of God, we ought to take on the resemblance of our heavenly Father by following the example of Jesus who gave himself up for us to please God.

Instead of responding to injury with violence, we must choosedeliberate mercy and grace. Since God has so graciously forgiven us every trespass by virtue of our being found in Christ, we can and must extend forgiveness to others, putting aside the desire for vengeance.

The former way of life is to be put aside and replaced with a new ethic of righteousness. Since we have been sealed by God’s Holy Spirit until the final day, we must resist the devil and yield to the Spirit rather than give place to the devil and oppose the Spirit within.

The believer has been born again and his life is to reflect this new nature created in Jesus. Since we have been called to this new life in Christ, we must no longer live in the old way but follow the pattern of righteousness and holiness that is modeled after God himself.

The spiritual truth of being in Christ demands that believers unite for the good of the body. Since the ultimate goal is the growth and health of the church, we must prefer one another and embrace our role in doing the work of the ministry – to serve rather than be served.

Christ has gone to receive his kingdom and will come again to reward faithful servants. Since Jesus ascended to heaven and left us to do his business during the time of unspecified length before his return, we must not grow weary but live by faith and do his will.

Believers should prize peace and grace so the body will be without interpersonal conflicts. Since Jesus set us a more excellent example of enduring wrongs and offering forgiveness, we must resolve personal disputes quickly and privately within the church.

Money, though necessary for life in this world, cannot sustain the weight of ultimacy. Since money is limited in its usefulness and power, we must learn to trust in the Lord rather than in wealth and the benefits it provides.

While money is a good gift, there are many things which arecomparatively better. Since money is only a proximate good, we must pursue the things which matter more, because we believe that God’s wisdom is superior to this world’s.

Words are powerful; those unfit for either the speaker or occasion cause major damage. Since our words have the potential to cause so much good or evil, we must exercise great care and seek God’s grace to control our speech.

Paul’s prayer for believers is that we grow in love and holinessuntil Jesus returns. Since love is a work of God and sign of true spiritual life, we must pray for grace to grow in love and let love direct our relationships to one another before a watching world.

Wise words and foolish words come out of the heart and have apowerful impact. Since our words are instruments of healing or destruction and come from the overflow of our hearts, we must feast on wisdom and righteousness so that our speech will do good.

Shame is powerfully tied to our character, but Jesus can remove it and restore our honor. Since Christ died in our place, bearing our shame and reproach, we must turn to him in humble faith and receive not just forgiveness but restoration through his grace.

Guest Speaker: Pastor Jeremy Schaefferhttps://trinityfdl.net

Solomon’s wisdom teaching is intended to lead to honor, butrejection will result in shame. Since we have all fallen short of full obedience to God and brought shame on ourselves and those around us, we must come to Christ to have our shame removed and honor restored.

The world today claims to seek justice for perceived societal wrongs, yet fails to define justice according to God's word. Proverbs emphasizes that justice is rooted in God's perfect righteousness and the assurance that he will bring all actions into judgment one day.

Righteous living results honor and life, while wickedness leads to shame and death. Since righteousness and wickedness lead to certain outcomes, we must choose the path of righteousness and reject the temptation to self-indulgence and sin.

The fear of the LORD is central to Proverbs and to the life ofwisdom, joy, and peace. Since the fear of Yahweh is essential to life and true happiness, we must make it out life’s pursuit, embracing the honor of obedience and holding out hope for future glory.

Speaker Phil Bonvicini

Guest Speaker Conor Bradstreet

Paul prays for the Ephesians to experience the fullness of Christ’s love by his Spirit. Since the Father blesses his children out of the abundance of glory, we should expect his power and love to cause us to grow to maturity as we come to him in the prayer of faith.

Paul’s imprisonment was for the sake of his call to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Since the mystery of Christ has been revealed to us in the gospel, we must consider sacrifice for the sake of those who are glorified through its power to be our honor and glory.