South County Church
The Plan
Locations & Times
South County High School (Entrance 15)
Sunday 10:00 AM
Intro: What’s the Plan?
Big Idea: You were part of God’s plan all along!
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-11 NLT – This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
What is God’s plan?
a. To Choose You from the Beginning
i. Ephesians 1:1a NLT – This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
ii. Ephesians 1:4 NLT – 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
iii. Psalm 139:1 NLT – 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
iv. Ephesians 1:5 NLT – 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
v. Ephesians 1:7 NLT – 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
vi. Phil 2:13 NLT – 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
vii. John 15:16 NIV – 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…
b. To Give You all You Need on this Journey
i. Ephesians 1:3 NLT – 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
ii. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT – 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
iii. Ephesians 1:5 NLT – 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
c. To Give You His Spirit
i. Ephesians 1:13-14 NLT – 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
d. For You to be part of His Church and on Mission Together
i. Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT – 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
E. Close: Are you living to fulfill your plan or living surrendered to God’s plan?
a. Romans 8:28-29 NLT – 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
b. Next Steps
i. Read Ephesians 1&2 this week.
ii. Think About: How can I be more on God’s mission?
iii. Action: Step out in faith and serve where you can move God’s mission forward.
Big Idea: You were part of God’s plan all along!
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-11 NLT – This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
What is God’s plan?
a. To Choose You from the Beginning
i. Ephesians 1:1a NLT – This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
ii. Ephesians 1:4 NLT – 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
iii. Psalm 139:1 NLT – 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
iv. Ephesians 1:5 NLT – 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
v. Ephesians 1:7 NLT – 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
vi. Phil 2:13 NLT – 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
vii. John 15:16 NIV – 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…
b. To Give You all You Need on this Journey
i. Ephesians 1:3 NLT – 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
ii. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT – 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
iii. Ephesians 1:5 NLT – 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
c. To Give You His Spirit
i. Ephesians 1:13-14 NLT – 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
d. For You to be part of His Church and on Mission Together
i. Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT – 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
E. Close: Are you living to fulfill your plan or living surrendered to God’s plan?
a. Romans 8:28-29 NLT – 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
b. Next Steps
i. Read Ephesians 1&2 this week.
ii. Think About: How can I be more on God’s mission?
iii. Action: Step out in faith and serve where you can move God’s mission forward.