Embracing Spirit-Given Blessings

Date: June 7, 2026

Series: The Spirit-Led Life (The Book of Ephesians)

Sermon Title: Embracing Spirit-Given Blessings

Series Topic: How the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit led us to the life God desires for us (Ephesians)   

Key Passage(s): Ephesians 1:4-13, & 18-21, Ephesians 4:3-14 & 22-24

Topic(s): The Blessings of Salvation, Unity, Power, Growth and More!

Sermon Blurb: God offers His children blessing beyond description and greater than we can imagine.  When we walk in the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit, these blessings overflow.  When we recognize and receive God’s good gifts, we overflow with His grace and witness in the world He came to save.  In this message, we will look at seven distinct and amazing blessings that are available as we walk and live in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

***1st week ODD months add communion & target message at 15 pages.

***1st week EVEN months add space for dedication, baptism, or ministry highlight & target message at 15 pages.

***Green in sermons means illustration, something we are looking for a response from, and/or a picture that goes on the screens.

***What is yellow will be on the screens and in the handout.

Baptism / Dedication weekend!!!! ADD HERE IF YOU HAVE or promo serve teams if you do not.

Sermon:

Good morning, Family Church! 

Whether you are here in person or joining us online, it is a joy to be with you and learn from God’s Word together.

I hope you are enjoying summer and having some great times with the people you love and enjoy being with!

Family Moment-

Share something personal about a blessing God has surprised you with and ask people to think of one way God has blessed them in this season!

Celebrate salvations / re-dedications from the last week.

PAUSE

Over the course of this year we have been learning a lot about the person and work of the Holy Spirit here at Family Church. 

This is so important and we want to go even deeper this Summer.

This month, we will be studying the Book of Ephesians together. 

This book of the Bible teaches us powerful lessons about what it looks like to live a Holy Spirit-Led life. 

In the coming weeks, we will learn:

● How to receive and enjoy Spirit-given blessings.

● How to walk in the leading of the Spirit each day.

● How to share the Good News of Jesus in the power of the Spirit.

● And how to stand strong in spiritual battles.

PAUSE

It is going to be an amazing June here at Family Church! 

And I want to lead out with a prayer for God to open our hearts and lives are open to everything the Spirit of God wants to teach us.

PAUSE and pray for a powerful movement of the Spirit at Family Church this Summer.

Grab your Bible and open it up to the book of

Ephesians

It will also be on the screen here in the church building and for those online.

If you are new at Family Church and you don’t have a Bible, we would love to give you a really great study Bible with a leather cover and study notes to help you make sense of this amazing and God-inspired book. 

Just go by (Give your campus location)and get one after the service today. 

If you are new at Family Church and already have a Bible, go by the same place and they would love to give you a gift card for a local restaurant.

We want you to know that we are honored you are here and would love to give you a gift and answer any questions you have about Family Church or what it means to live with faith in Jesus.

PAUSE

Let me give you some background as you are getting to Ephesians.

Let’s get a snapshot of this ancient city:

● It was one of the most prominent and impressive cities of the ancient world.

● It was a center of trade, culture, and spiritual activity.

● The temple of Artemis (the pagan Roman goddess) was in the middle of the city and was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world.

● In the middle of all this culture, pagan religion, business engagement, and wealth was a powerful movement of the Living God. 

● If the church could thrive in Ephesus, the gospel could spread around the ancient world.

● We will also learn that there were spiritual battles raging in the city and the heavenly realms.

PAUSE

God wanted His people to stand strong and shine the light of Jesus in Ephesus.

And God wants to do the same through you and me right here in West Michigan!

In chapter one of Ephesians, there is a powerful prayer in verses 18-21.

And I want to read this prayer over all of us….

NOTE- (It will not be on the screen or handout)

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

(Ephesians 1:18-21)

Amen…

Church today I want to show you some of the blessings we get from God.

          Write this down, it is in your notes:

Blessing #1- You are chosen and adopted by God.

          (Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 1: 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

There is something wonderful about being chosen and something painful about being left out! 

Think back to Jr. High or High School days…

Some of you don’t have to use your imagination because you are there now! 

Tell a couple of Jr. High stories about being picked for a team (or not making the cut).  Or, standing on the wall at a dance and waiting for someone to come over and ask you to dance.

PAUSE

We have all felt the joyof being singled out, chosen, picked. 

And, we know the pain of rejection that hits a young heart when they are left out. 

The God of Heaven looks at you and says:

“I want you on my team!”

“You matter!” 

“I choose you!” 

“I sent my only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for all your sins so that you can come home and be with me forever.” 

“I want to adopt you!”

PAUSE

Here’s the deal…

It is your choice to accept that inviation or note.

We can say “yes” or “no.”

But know that God’s arms and heart are open to us. 

PAUSE AND LET THIS TRUTH SETTLE INTO YOUR SOUL…

You are loved and chosen by God. 

If you are a Christian, the King of Heaven has adopted you. 

If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, God’s arms are open and His invitation is extended. 

Quiet your heart right now and soak this in… God almighty choses you!

LONG PAUSE (Give a few seconds of silence)

Here is the good news when it comes to Spirit-given blessings…we are just getting started!

Blessing #2- You are redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus.

          (Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.

With all wisdom and understanding… 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation…

God chooses us, but there was a cost. 

To forgive us and adopt us… God had to wash us clean.

God had to deal with our sin problem. 

We have all fallen short of God’s expectations.

We cannot earn our way back to perfection.

The price is too high for us to pay. 

Only a perfect sacrifice will get the job done…and that is what Jesus did for God gave for us.

PAUSE

NOTE- Tell the parable of the boy and his sailboat…

A young boy carefully built a small sailboat with his own hands. He sanded the wood, painted it, and fitted it with a tiny sail. When he finished, he took it to a stream and gently set it in the water. The boat floated beautifully, and the boy ran along the bank, guiding it with pride.

But suddenly, a strong current caught the little boat and carried it away faster than he could follow. The boy ran and ran, but eventually the boat disappeared. Heartbroken, he went home.

Days later, while walking through town, the boy stopped in front of a shop window. There, to his amazement, was his little sailboat. He recognized every detail—it was the one he had made. No doubt about it!

He rushed inside and told the shopkeeper, “That’s my boat! I made it!”

The shopkeeper replied, “I’m sorry, but I bought it from a boy who came in just yesterday.  It is mine now. If you want it, you’ll have to buy it.”

The boy went home and gathered all the money he could—doing chores, saving every coin—until he had enough to buy his boat. He returned to the shop and bought back his boat.

Holding it close, the young boy said, “Little boat, you are twice mine now—once because I made you, and twice because I bought you back.”

Think about it. 

This is what God did for you. 

First, He made you, formed you in your mother’s womb, and loved you. 

But sin separated us from God. 

What did God do? 

He bought us back. 

He redeemed us. 

And through faith in Jesus, we are twice His. 

Once because He made us.

Twice because He bought us back. 

PAUSE

Quiet your heart right now and dwell on the reality of this staggering blessing.  You have been redeemed, bought back, returned to your Creator through the sacrifice of Jesus, your Savior!

(Pause for a few seconds and let this truth linger).

But Family Church, it does not stop there! 

The blessings you can experience as you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit just keep adding up!

Blessing #3- You can find unity in our divided world.

(Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 1:10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 4: 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We live in a conflicted, divided, polarized world. 

We see it all around us:

● In the political battles raging in our country,

● In the wars happening around the world,

● In families where people won’t talk to each other because they have different views and convictions,

● With friends who have walked away because we don’t agree on EVERYTHING!

This breaks the heart of God. 

We don’t have to agree on everything to love the people around us.

We can be people who seek peace and kindness even when there are disagreements.

And here is the blessing we need to recognize and celebrate.

Jesus brings unity beyond what we can imagine. 

In this passage, we learn that our Savior is bringing unity to all things in heaven and on earth.

Let that sink in!

For us, as followers of Jesus, we are united. 

Listen to these Holy Spirit-breathed words of unity:

Note- As you read the passage- hit the word one hard and strong!

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Roll Into Prayer: Living and Powerful God, make us one.  Teach your people to walk in unity.  Remind us that we are one because of our faith and because You have made us one body!  Where we are divided, heal us and bring unity.  If we are divisive, show us, convict us, and change us.  Lord Jesus, you tell us that the world will know we are your disciples by the way we love one another.  May this become a reality for Your glory, Amen!

Family Church, are you ready to hear another blessing? 

Brace yourselves because it keeps getting better!

Blessing #4- You can live in the resurrection power of Jesus.

          (Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,

and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Try to get your mind around this truth.

The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is in you and me through faith in our Savior.

You are not powerless. 

You are filled with the staggering power of the living Lord Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. 

This is a blessing from heaven!

Where do you need an infusion of heavenly strength? 

Stop and think about your life right now.

Where do you need God’s power?

● Are you facing struggles in an important relationship?  Pray right now for the power of heaven to fill you!

● Are you dealing with temptation and enticement to sin and live in ways that break the heart of God?  Cry out for the resurrection power of Jesus to fill you right now!

● Do you feel weak, weary, discouraged, and it took all the strength you have just to come to church today?   Invite the Holy Spirit of the risen Jesus to give you exactly what you need today.

● Is your job wearing you down and the care of your family and home feeling heavy?  Look to Jesus right now.

Note- Lead in a short prayer for an outpouring of heavenly power through Jesus in the lives of those gathered.

What amazing blessings God has poured into our lives through the power of His Holy Spirit! 

Drink in this truth:

● God chooses us! YOU ARE Blessed!

● We are redeemed and bought back!  YOU ARE Blessed!

● We can live and walk in peace-filled unity!  YOU ARE Blessed!

● Resurrection power is ours!  YOU ARE Blessed!

But there is more…

Blessing #5- You received a gift of grace (to serve others).

          (Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 4: 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives  and gave gifts to his people.”

We spent months digging into this truth as a congregation. 

If you missed the series focused on the gifts of the Spirit, go back and watch the sermons on the Family Church website. 

Here is the blessing the Apostle Paul is writing about. 

When you place your faith in Jesus, the God of Heaven imparts a unique and Spirit-given gift in you to glorify God and bless the church and other people in your life. 

You are a conduit of God’s love, goodness, and blessing in this world.

Imagine this spiritual reality. 

God Almighty wants to use you and me to pour His love, grace, truth, and so much more into this world!

Note: Use this moment to bless some groups of people on your campus…

● God is pouring out His blessings on all of us through our worship team as they use their gifts to lead us into the presence of God!

● Some of you feel the blessing of God right now as your kids are in children’s programs being led by people using teaching and compassion gifts.

● We are all blessed by the board members of Family Church using their leadership gifts to guide our growing ministry.

● Add other areas…

● Add other areas…

Can you handle two more blessings?

Well, brace yourself, because there is more!

Blessing #6- You can grow into spiritual maturity.

          (Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 4: 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

The vision of God for those who follow Jesus by faith is that we would “ATTAIN TO THE WHOLE MEASURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST!” 

Are you there? 

PAUSE

Have you arrived at the destination of being fully like Jesus? 

PAUSE

I can tell you this with certainty…

I have not arrived at full maturity in Jesus. 

There are always places where we can still grow.

But here is the blessing…

We can move away from spiritual immaturity.

We don’t have to stay infants in faith (did you notice that term in the passage…

INFANTS?

We don’t have to be infants in faith, easily tossed around by the world’s ways and teachings.

We can become more like Jesus every day.

Here are some great next steps if you are a follower of Jesus:

● I will make gathering with God’s people weekly for worship a higher priority!

● I will make time to open and read my Bible (or listen to the Scriptures) every day.

● I will talk with God in prayer in the flow of my day. (Women, it is not too late for you to jump into the Wednesday Women’s Bible Study on Prayer and women of the Bible led by Sherry Harney.  You can find details in the Bulletin today).

● Maybe it is time for you to find a place to serve Jesus in the life of Family Church as we get ready to launch into all sorts of ministries in the Fall (Direct people to the right person on your campus for volunteering).

● It might be time for you to say, “God, I am ready to start giving to your ministry and growing joyful in generosity.”

If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, what better time than today to say “Yes” to the grace and leadership of King Jesus?

NOTE- Share the simple gospel of Jesus

One of the greatest blessings we have is that we do not have to stay the same. 

We can become more like Jesus with every passing day!

NOTE- Lead in a prayer for those who want to go deeper with Jesus or receive Jesus today!

Well, there are many more blessings the Apostle Paul unpacks as he writes to the Church in the ancient city of Ephesus but we will look at just one more…

Blessing #7- You have freedom from past sin and power to live a NEW Life!

(Repeat)

Let me show you this right from the Bible.

Ephesians 4: 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Did you catch the language in the passage?

“Put off” your old self!

“Put on” the new self!

The Holy Spirit can give you freedom from your old way of living and release you into a whole new and better life!

God is in the business of making all things new, including us! 

In the power of Jesus, we can have new minds, new hearts, and new lives.

Note- Share a story about how God brought radical transformation in your life or the life of someone you know well.  Let this modern example help people see how Jesus can make all things new.

What a blessing! 

New hope! 

New meaning! 

New holiness! 

A whole new life is offered to all who follow Jesus in the power of His Holy Spirit.

Let’s wrap the message up today with our life application.           At Family Church we love to end with something for you to think about in the week ahead and it says this:

Life Application: God has blessed me in so many ways.  One way God has blessed me is: In response to God’s amazing blessings, I will seek to:

Give a few simple examples of what this might look like…speak directly to your campus…

Prayer:

Make sure to follow up on the salvation call you gave in the message (In blessing #6)

Offering:

Thank you all for being here today!

        If you would like to continue your worship through giving, there are offering boxes by the doors as you exit, or behind me on the screens. You can also see other ways to give here at Family Church.

        You can also place any connection cards you filled out in there.

Week #1 –

If you did not know, you can set up Family Church in your online bank bill pay.

This is a great way to ensure consistent giving, and it costs you and Family Church nothing!

Have a great week!!