Living Into God's Story of Unity and Love

Devotional

Day 1: Chosen and Blessed in Christ

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ, choosing us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption as His children, giving us redemption and forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice. This truth means that no matter how chaotic or uncertain the world may seem, you are at the very center of God’s purpose and will, marked by His grace and included in His family. Let these words give you clarity and mission, reminding you that your story is woven into God’s grand narrative of hope and love. [47:55]

Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: What does it mean to you today that you are chosen and blessed by God before the world began? How might this truth shape the way you see yourself and your purpose this week?

Day 2: Living Into God’s Story, Not the World’s

The world offers many competing narratives—political, cultural, and personal—that can divide and distract us, but God calls us to root ourselves in His story of love, grace, and unity. When we allow worldly ideologies to dominate our thinking, we risk losing sight of our true identity and purpose as God’s people. Instead, we are invited to live into the narrative of Christ, which transcends all divisions and calls us to be a family marked by radical love and compassion. Ask yourself which story you are living into, and let God’s narrative reorient your heart and actions. [57:41]

Colossians 2:6-8 (ESV)
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally root yourself in God’s story today, rather than being swept up in the narratives of the world?

Day 3: Unity as God’s Ultimate Goal

God’s purpose is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ, and He calls His people to reflect this unity in their relationships and community. Jesus prayed for believers to be one, just as He and the Father are one, so that the world would know God’s love. In a world marked by division and chaos, Christians are called to be a people of unity, love, and self-sacrifice, showing the world a different way of living that points to Christ. This unity is not just an ideal but a mission to be lived out daily, starting within the church family. [01:13:34]

John 17:20-23 (ESV)
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Reflection: Who in your church family or community could you reach out to today to build unity, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone?

Day 4: Embracing Radical Love and Forgiveness

When the world descends into chaos, Christians are called to respond not with fear or retaliation, but with radical love, forgiveness, grace, and truth. This way of living is not ordinary; it is the way of Jesus, who forgave even those who crucified Him and calls us to do the same. By choosing empathy, sacrifice, and compassion, we become living witnesses to God’s love and help bring His peace into a fractured world. Let the Spirit move you to choose this radical path, even when it is difficult or countercultural. [01:10:59]

Luke 23:33-34 (ESV)
"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments."

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or show compassion to today, even if it feels undeserved? How can you take a step toward radical love in your response?

Day 5: Living as God’s Adopted Family

Through Jesus Christ, all believers—regardless of background—are adopted into God’s family and called to live as His beloved children. This new identity means we are no ordinary family; we are called to live differently, to offer rest, hope, and another way to a world desperate for meaning. As you go about your week, remember that you are part of a story much bigger than yourself, and you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love, serve, and bring unity wherever you go. [12:30]

Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Reflection: What is one way you can live out your identity as God’s adopted child today, offering hope or encouragement to someone who needs it?

Sermon Summary

Today we celebrated a beautiful moment of new life in Christ, witnessing JC’s baptism and her confession of faith. This is not just a one-time event, but the beginning of a transformed life—a life rooted in the reality that Jesus makes us new. The water itself isn’t magic, but the faith that brings us to Jesus is powerful and real. We are reminded that our journey with Christ is ongoing, and that we are continually being shaped by His love and grace.

Reflecting on Paul’s introduction to the Ephesians, we see that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, chosen us before the creation of the world, and adopted us into His family through Jesus. This is a story that began long before us, a story of redemption, forgiveness, and grace that God has been telling for generations. In a world that often feels chaotic and divided, it’s easy to be swept up in competing narratives—political, cultural, or personal—that promise meaning but ultimately fall short of the unity and purpose found in Christ.

We are called to examine what story we are living into. Are we shaped by the world’s narratives, or are we rooted in God’s grand story of love and reconciliation? Paul’s words remind us that our true identity is found in being God’s beloved children, chosen and marked by the Holy Spirit. This identity transcends all other distinctions—race, class, nationality, or ideology—and calls us to a radical unity and love that the world cannot replicate.

Just as the early church in Ephesus struggled with competing identities and loyalties, we too are pulled in different directions. But God’s purpose is clear: to bring all things into unity under Christ. We are invited to live into this story, to be a people who respond to chaos not with fear or division, but with love, forgiveness, and grace. Our calling is to embody the story of Jesus, to be a family marked by self-sacrifice, empathy, and unity, so that the world may see something truly different in us.

As we begin our journey through Ephesians, let’s commit to living into God’s story, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into a community that reflects the love and unity of Christ. May we be people who offer rest, hope, and another way in a world desperate for meaning.

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Key Takeaways

1. Our Identity Is Rooted in God’s Story, Not the World’s Narratives In a world full of competing ideologies and stories, it’s easy to let our identity be shaped by politics, culture, or nostalgia. But God’s story is older and deeper, and He has chosen us to be part of His family, marked by His love and purpose. Our true belonging is not in any earthly narrative, but in the grand narrative of redemption and adoption through Christ. [55:06]
2. Unity in Christ Transcends All Divisions Paul’s vision for the church is one of radical unity—where distinctions of race, class, and background are secondary to our shared identity in Christ. God’s ultimate goal is to bring all things together under Jesus, and we are called to live out this unity in practical, sacrificial ways. This unity is not uniformity, but a diverse family bound together by love and the Spirit. [47:55]
3. God’s Purpose for Us Is Active and Ongoing The verbs Paul uses—blessed, chosen, predestined, lavished, made known—remind us that God is not passive. He is actively working out His will in our lives, inviting us to participate in His mission. Even when life feels chaotic or purposeless, we are at the center of God’s loving plan, called to live with intention and hope. [50:13]
4. Living Into God’s Story Means Radical Love and Forgiveness The world’s response to chaos is often fear, blame, or retaliation, but the way of Jesus is radically different. We are called to respond with love, grace, and forgiveness—even when it’s costly or countercultural. This is not weakness, but the very power of God at work in us, making us agents of reconciliation and peace. [70:59]
5. Our Calling Is to Be a Distinctive Community of Hope When the world looks at us, they should see something different—a people who choose unity, self-sacrifice, and empathy over division and self-interest. This is the story we are invited to live into, empowered by the Holy Spirit and bound together as God’s family. Our witness is not just in what we say, but in how we love and live together. [73:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction of JC and Baptism
[03:10] - The Meaning of Baptism and New Life
[12:30] - Confession of Faith
[13:00] - Reading Ephesians 1: Spiritual Blessings
[15:00] - God’s Grand Narrative and Our Place
[18:30] - Prayer for Openness and Love
[20:00] - Facing Chaos and Fear in the World
[24:00] - Stories of Faith Amidst War and Suffering
[28:00] - The Power of Narrative: God’s vs. the World’s
[32:00] - The Challenge of Competing Loyalties
[36:00] - Making Connections: Ephesians and God’s Story
[41:00] - Our Purpose and Identity in Christ
[47:55] - The Blessings and Verbs of God’s Work
[55:06] - Living Into God’s Story, Not the World’s
[70:59] - The Call to Radical Love and Forgiveness
[73:34] - Becoming a Distinctive Community
[75:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:1-14 (ESV) — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Observation Questions

What are some of the verbs Paul uses to describe what God has done for us in Ephesians 1:1-14? (e.g., blessed, chose, predestined, lavished, made known)
According to Paul, when did God choose us, and for what purpose?
What does Paul say is God’s ultimate goal for all things in heaven and on earth?
In the sermon, what examples were given of Christians living out their faith in the midst of chaos or suffering?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes that our identity is rooted in God’s story and not in the world’s narratives? How does this affect the way we see ourselves?
The sermon mentioned that unity in Christ transcends all divisions like race, class, and background. What does this kind of unity look like in a real church community?
The passage says God “lavished” grace on us and “made known” the mystery of His will. What does it mean for God to be active and ongoing in our lives, rather than passive?
The sermon talked about the world’s response to chaos being fear, blame, or retaliation, but Jesus calls us to love, forgiveness, and grace. Why is this response so radical, and what makes it difficult?

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to examine what story we are living into. Are there any “narratives” (political, cultural, personal) that have been shaping your identity more than God’s story? What would it look like to root your identity in Christ this week?
Paul says God’s purpose is to bring all things into unity under Christ. Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you feel division or disunity? What is one step you could take toward unity or reconciliation?
The sermon gave examples of Christians responding to chaos with love and service, even in war zones. What is one practical way you can respond to chaos or fear in your own life with love, forgiveness, or grace?
The passage says we are “adopted” into God’s family. How does seeing yourself as part of God’s family change the way you relate to others in the church? Is there someone in our church family you could reach out to this week?
The sermon talked about being a “distinctive community of hope.” When people look at your life, do they see something different? What is one area where you want to be more distinctive in showing unity, self-sacrifice, or empathy?
The world often responds to conflict with blame or retaliation. Think of a recent conflict you’ve had (at work, home, or church). How could you respond differently next time, following the way of Jesus?
The sermon encouraged us to offer “rest, hope, and another way” to a world desperate for meaning. Who in your life needs hope or rest right now, and how can you offer it to them this week?

Sermon Clips

So we can rest assured that whatever purpose and whatever narrative the world is trying to convince us we are a part of, Paul tells us, no, no, no, no, no, you are part of something much more extraordinary and you are a family. But you are no ordinary family. You are the beloved children of the one true God. [01:01:36] (28 seconds) #GodsFamilyStory

God has been active for a very long, long time writing a story of hope and love and purpose and you are at the core of that story. And the Holy Spirit is revealing to us through Paul that we are a part of his purpose and will. That's important to know here because so many times don't you just feel, oh, what's my point? Is God paying attention? You need to know that you are at the center of God's purpose and will. [01:06:04] (37 seconds) #TwoStoriesWithin

So when the world starts to descend into chaos, we need to remember this story. Do not descend with the world. When the world becomes chaotic, our response as Christians should be grounded in radical love, forgiveness, grace, truth, and ultimately Jesus Christ. I mean, regardless of where we came from, regardless of our past, this is our story. Let's live into that. [01:08:42] (35 seconds) #SpiritCallsToLove

God tells us we don't have to live into an anxious or chaotic story. In fact, throughout this letter in Ephesians, what we're going to hear is that we'll begin to see a new family system, a new family code, a new way to live and work and love together. Throughout this letter, we're going to be able to see a better sense of who we were meant to be because it comes straight from God himself through his spirit. [01:12:13] (28 seconds) #NotOrdinaryUnity

And I think when we embrace this story, what we're going to see is that God is working to connect us to this overwhelming story of God's love for the world because we get to continue to tell that story and to show it and to live it. We get to continue to work to bring unity to everything above and everything below under Christ. And I think one of the best ways to do that is to start right here in the congregation we call a family—work towards unity together. [01:13:34] (43 seconds)

``And when the world looks at us, when the world looks at you, they don't see someone who's contributing to a worldly narrative. They don't see someone who looks no different than the world. They see someone who's not ordinary because they are choosing unity and love and self-sacrifice. That is not a narrative the world wants to tell us. Let's live into that story. [01:14:18] (24 seconds)

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