Sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10 (February 1, 2026)

Luke 8:4–8

Luke 8:4-8 

English Standard Version 

  Do you ever wonder how many different sermons have been preached on some of the more famous passages of Scripture?  For 2,000 years, the church universal has been teaching on the same passages.  There must be millions of sermons on some of these readings!

  When I read this passage, I used to get caught up in trying to decide what type of soil I was, and how I could do a better job of being the right soil.  And I still believe that we ought to do whatever we can in our power to be more receptive to the Word of God.  May the Word fall into our hearts and take root, transforming the way we live and the way we see the world.

  May we also read this passage and be amazed at the abundant love of the sower.  I was watching a show about farming where they talked about the cost of seed -- so the farmer wants to be careful about where the seed is used to ensure value is received the cost of the seed.

  Here, the sower throws seed everywhere.  Seed falls among the thorns and on the path as well as in the good soil, and it says a lot about the way that the sower is willing to put the seed in lots of places in hopes that it will be received.  God sends the Word out, and doesn't strictly reserve the Word for certain places -- the hope is that the Word will find every corner of the world, and that everyone would hear the Good News of the Gospel.  That is the kind of sower we worship -- one who reaches out to every human heart.

Luke 8:1-3

Luke 8:1-3

English Standard Version 

  People have often talked about how the early church wasn't very inclusive in leadership.  Jesus shows us that his ministry was radically inclusive -- from the very beginning, there were men and women included in the core group of followers, all of them following him on his path through cities and villages, part of the proclamation of the good news.  

  So whoever you are and whatever you're doing, there is room for you as part of the proclamation of the good news in the ministry of Christ's church.  

Luke 7:40–50

Luke 7:40-50 

English Standard Version 

  If the IRS tells you that you don't owe your taxes next year, how would you feel if you owed $5?  What about $500?  What if you owed $10,000?  

  The degree of our debt impacts the way we feel if it is canceled.  The more we owe, the more gratitude we have.  Ephesians 2 talks about how we were dead in our sins -- but I don't think we truly realize this.  We go through life ignoring the colossal debt we owe towards God.  We think it's a trifle, and often our gratitude is small.  The more we realize what a huge debt we owe, the more grateful we are for what Christ has done.  In this story, the woman has been forgiven much, and in response, she loves much, having been transformed by grace.  She is then sent out into the world, transformed, changed.  

  As are you.  Christ has forgiven much for you.  Now, you are sent out, no longer the same.  How will your gratitude change you?