The Legacy Heart & All Saints' Day Presentation | Ephesians 3:14-21

Oct 29, 2023

Devotional

Day 1: Strengthened in Our Inner Being by God’s Power

To live faithfully and leave a lasting legacy, we must first be strengthened in our inner being by God’s own power, not relying on our own strength but drawing from the inexhaustible riches of God’s love. This inner fortitude enables us to face the challenges of life with courage and hope, knowing that God is the source of everything we need. Each day, we are invited to ask God to fill us with this strength, so that we may persevere and reflect His love in all circumstances. [07:30]

Ephesians 3:14-16 (ESV)
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being."

Reflection: Where in your life do you most need God’s strength today, and how can you intentionally ask Him to fill you with His power in that area?

Day 2: Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts Through Faith

When Christ dwells in our hearts, He takes up residence within us, shaping our identity and grounding us in love. This indwelling is not a distant or abstract idea, but a daily reality as we open ourselves to Jesus and allow Him to transform us from the inside out. Through faith, we become rooted and established in love, empowered to live as Christ’s followers in the world. [07:55]

Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love..."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can make space for Christ to dwell more fully in your heart today?

Day 3: Comprehending the Vastness of God’s Love

God’s love is immeasurable—its breadth, length, height, and depth surpass our understanding—yet we are invited to seek to comprehend and experience it together with all the saints. As we open ourselves to this love, we find our lives transformed and our capacity to love others expanded. The journey of faith is one of continually discovering just how vast and inclusive God’s love truly is. [08:39]

Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV)
"May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: When have you felt overwhelmed by God’s love, and how might you intentionally seek to grasp more of its fullness this week?

Day 4: Living Out Agape—Love as Identity and Action

God’s agape love is both who we are called to be and what we are called to do; we first receive this love as our identity, and then we are empowered to share it as an action. True legacy is built when we allow God’s love to define us and then act out of that love, even when it feels difficult or impossible. The act of sharing God’s love flows naturally from having received and embraced it ourselves. [10:52]

1 John 4:19 (ESV)
"We love because he first loved us."

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally show God’s agape love to today, even if it feels challenging?

Day 5: Leaving a Legacy That Continues—To Be Continued

A legacy heart is one that not only remembers those who have gone before but also acts to make a difference for future generations, trusting that God can do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. Our lives matter, and the marks we leave—through faith, love, and generosity—become part of a story that is “to be continued” in the lives of others. God invites us to participate in His ongoing work, leaving a legacy that glorifies Him for all generations. [12:10]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to invest in a legacy of faith, love, or service that will impact others beyond your lifetime?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered on All Saints Sunday to honor the legacy of those who have gone before us, to give thanks for their lives, and to reflect on what it means to leave a mark that endures. This is a day of remembrance, gratitude, and hope—a time to celebrate the saints who shaped our faith community and to recognize those who have become legacy builders, ensuring the ongoing ministry of our church for generations to come. We paused to remember not only our grief but also the faith that binds us together, trusting that God is at work in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine.

Drawing from the letter to the Ephesians, we explored a prayer that is both deeply personal and universally relevant. The prayer asks that we be strengthened in our inner beings by God’s Spirit, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, that we might comprehend the vastness of God’s love, and that we would come to know this love for ourselves. These petitions are not just for the early church, but for all who seek to live out a legacy of faith. The foundation of this legacy is agape—God’s unconditional love—which is both our identity and our calling. We cannot share this love authentically until we have received it deeply, allowing it to transform us from the inside out.

Legacy, then, is not simply about what we leave behind, but about how we live now—rooted and grounded in love, acting with courage and compassion, and trusting in God’s power to accomplish more than we can imagine. As we remembered the names of those who have passed, we celebrated their lives and the marks they left on our hearts and our church. We also looked forward, encouraged to become legacy builders ourselves, living in such a way that our faith and love will continue to ripple through future generations. In all of this, we give glory to God, who is able to do abundantly more than we ask or think, and we pray that our lives, too, will be marked by a legacy of love.

Key Takeaways

1. True legacy begins with inner transformation. Before we can leave a mark on the world, we must first allow God to strengthen us in our inner being. This strength is not self-generated but comes from the inexhaustible riches of God’s love, enabling us to face life’s challenges with courage and hope. [06:44]
2. Christ’s presence in our hearts is not a fleeting feeling but a continual dwelling. To let Christ “take up residence” means to allow his way of love and grace to shape our daily lives, rooting us deeply in faith. This indwelling is the foundation for a life that both receives and gives love abundantly. [07:55]
3. Comprehending the fullness of God’s love is a lifelong journey. The breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love surpass our understanding, yet we are invited to explore it together with all the saints. As we grow in this comprehension, we find ourselves empowered to love others more fully and sacrificially. [08:39]
4. Our identity as beloved children of God precedes our actions. We cannot authentically share agape love until we have first received it and made it our own. The call to love as God loves is daunting, but it becomes possible when we act from a place of being deeply rooted in God’s love for us. [10:52]
5. Legacy is not just about remembrance but about continuation. The lives of those who have gone before us inspire us to live with purpose, knowing that our actions today can echo into eternity. To have a “legacy heart” is to live in such a way that our faith, love, and service will continue to impact others long after we are gone. [13:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Honoring Saints and Legacy Builders
[02:26] - Setting the Foundation for Remembrance
[03:24] - Opening Prayer and Sacred Space
[04:12] - Context and Authorship of Ephesians
[06:01] - The Four Petitions of the Prayer
[06:44] - Strengthened in the Inner Being
[07:55] - Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts
[08:39] - Comprehending God’s Love
[09:31] - Knowing the Love of Christ
[10:13] - Agape: God’s Love as Identity and Action
[10:52] - Receiving and Sharing God’s Love
[12:10] - Doxology: God’s Abundant Power
[12:55] - The Meaning of Legacy
[14:27] - Remembering Our Saints
[16:07] - Celebrating Lives of Faith
[18:12] - Congregational Remembrances
[19:52] - Prayers for the Cloud of Witnesses
[20:41] - Honoring New Legacy Builders

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: All Saints Sunday – Legacy of Love

Bible Reading

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 3:16, what is the source of the strength that Paul prays for the church to receive?
In the sermon, what does it mean for Christ to “dwell” in our hearts, and how is this different from a temporary feeling? [[07:55]]
The sermon mentions four petitions in the prayer from Ephesians. What are they? [[06:01]]
How does the sermon describe the meaning of “agape” and its importance in the Christian life? [[10:13]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul pray for believers to be “strengthened in their inner being” rather than just asking for outward blessings? How might this inner strength help us face life’s challenges? [[06:44]]
The sermon says that legacy is not just about what we leave behind, but about how we live now. How does being “rooted and grounded in love” shape the way we live each day? [[07:55]]
The prayer in Ephesians asks that we “comprehend with all the saints” the vastness of God’s love. Why do you think it’s important to explore God’s love together, not just individually? [[08:39]]
The sermon points out that we can only share God’s love authentically after we have received it deeply ourselves. What might it look like to receive God’s love in a way that changes us? [[10:52]]

Application Questions

The sermon talks about being “strengthened in our inner beings” by God’s Spirit. Is there an area of your life right now where you feel weak or worn out? What would it look like to ask God for inner strength in that area this week? [[06:44]]
Christ’s presence is described as “dwelling” in our hearts, not just visiting. Are there parts of your life where you have not let Christ “take up residence”? What is one step you could take to invite him in more fully? [[07:55]]
The prayer in Ephesians invites us to explore the “breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s love. When was the last time you were surprised by God’s love for you? How can you remind yourself of that love this week? [[08:39]]
The sermon says we can’t share agape love until we have received it. Are there ways you struggle to believe or accept that God loves you unconditionally? How might you open yourself to receive that love more deeply? [[10:52]]
Think of someone in your life who has left a legacy of faith or love. What is one thing you learned from them that you want to pass on to others? [[13:39]]
The sermon encourages us to be “legacy builders” now, not just to be remembered later. What is one small act of love or service you could do this week that might ripple into the future? [[13:39]]
As we remember those who have gone before us, the sermon invites us to both grieve and give thanks. Is there someone you want to honor or remember this week? How can you celebrate their legacy in a way that points to God’s love? [[16:07]]

Sermon Clips

“Regardless of who wrote the letter to the Ephesians, what we do know is that the letter is consistent with Pauline theology and was intended to be read during worship. The letter was intended to be read during worship, and so as we think about this reading that is being shared in worship, it's important to note that this is a prayer. This is a prayer for a particular church community, but this prayer is also for all of those who will hear it or read it later and is filled with a universal vision of God's love for and God's mission for the church of Jesus Christ and all who are a part of it.”

“The first part of the prayer is that the members of the community be strengthened in their inner beings. This strength comes from God who is called father of us all for every family in heaven and on earth. I mean, that's pretty inclusive isn't it? And from those who's from whose riches and glory these people who hear or experience this word are recipients of God's love for and God's strength.”

“This is a prayer request that every single one of us would do well to ask for for ourselves and for others every single day: to recognize that God is the source of everything we need and what we most need is to be strengthened in our inner beings so that you and I can face the challenges of this world not with our own strength but with the strength and the strength of God's love for us all.”

“The second petition is that Christ will dwell in their hearts. Now to dwell means to take up residence doesn't it? The incarnation, God becoming flesh and dwelling among us as John chapter 1 says, shows us that through Jesus what a life that is full of God actually looks like and can look like as you and I allow ourselves to let Christ in to dwell within us and in our hearts as we follow his way.”

“Verse 17 goes on to say that this dwelling happens through faith as you and I are being rooted and grounded in what? In love. And so we find that God's strength and power and love are all a part of this inner work that God is doing in our lives through faith in Jesus Christ.”

“The third petition is that the Ephesians have the power to comprehend the extent of God's work in their lives through Jesus Christ. Here's how the writer says it: to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the fullness of God which comes to us of course through love made visible in Jesus the Christ.”

“That leads us to the final petition: that they and we may know this love of Jesus Christ for ourselves. This is the prayer for the church, this is a prayer for you and me, and this is ultimately a prayer for legacy.”

“So that whether Paul wrote this letter or someone else who had been a recipient of Paul's teachings and living in the legacy of Paul's influence, this is a prayer for us, for you and for me to have a legacy heart. It is a prayer that calls us to go deep with God into our inner being but not just to stop there, right? No, the legacy heart is one that acts upon behalf of the gospel, that shares the love of God with all people through the strength and the power that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.”

“There's a lot, y'all know this probably if you come to worship from time to time, there's a lot of words that we have in the bible for love, but there's a special name for God's love. Who can tell me what it is? Agape. Agape, the Greek word for God's love, and what's really fascinating in the letter to the Ephesians is that this word is used 20 times in this short letter. Ten times as a noun, which for those of you who may not know, refers to identity. And then ten times as a verb. And for all of you English majors out there, what is a verb? It's an action word, right? So love as a noun and love, God's love as an action.”

“The act of sharing God's love can only follow the identity of receiving that love and making it our own. So you can't have it the other way around, even though people say you can. You can't act your way into being here, right? And that's because sharing God's love, agape love, with all people may seem nearly impossible for us to live out because we're just humans, right?”

“What I also want to remind you of is that the author of this beautiful prayer wrote more today. What follows these four petitions is a doxology. A doxology, which means praise for who God is and what God does.”

“And you know, that right there is good news. It is the gospel. It is what we proclaim. Praise be to God.”

“As we think about why a legacy heart is so important. Norman responded with two things that he'd like people to remember about him. He mattered, and in the genre that shaped his life and work, TBC, to be continued. And that, beloved of God, that is legacy. May it be so, Lord. May it be so in our lives and beyond.”

“Help us to have a heart for legacy as we respond to your call to make a difference in our world with the love, grace, and acceptance you have offered.”

“Give us courage, oh God, to follow in the patterns of holy living shown to us. Help us to have a heart for legacy as we respond to your call to make a difference in our world with the love, grace, and acceptance you have offered.”

“We celebrate their lives, knowing that the trumpet sounded as they passed over to eternal life with you. Give us courage, oh God, to follow in the patterns of holy living shown to us. Help us to have a heart for legacy as we respond to your call to make a difference in our world with the love, grace, and acceptance you have offered. Help us to know that it is by dying that we shall inherit life eternal. For your love. For faithfulness we praise you, now and always.”

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