275 Harrison Lane, Lenoir City, TN 37772
(P) 865-777-2121 (F) 865-986-4097
Admin ACS Giving Records & Directory Jobs At Two RiversContact Two Rivers Church Report A Problem With This Page
Eyes Wide Open: Dress for Success
August 15th, 2010
Brad Brinson
If you read a lot of the Apostle Paul’s mail you begin to notice a pattern. Paul’s letters generally have two parts, first, Paul explains what God has done for us through Jesus. Second, in the second half of Paul’s letters there comes a ‘therefore’… he describes how we will live as people led by the Holy Spirit. In chapter four of Ephesians he switches gears to this second focus.
It is remarkable how we who are the recipients of an undeserved blessing of friendship with God can become hoarders or exclusionary in our ownership of this blessing. This week we look at the journey to exclusion… and how God overcame it. In Ephesians 2:11-22 Paul summarizes the outcome of God’s intervention… and we are challenged not to become exclusionary in our stewardship of the Gospel.
Eyes Wide Open: Living In Response
June 20th, 2010
Brad Brinson
In Ephesians 2 we have our version of D-Day, and with this strategic victory by God as He came and liberated us from the enemy’s oppression, the assurance of VE-Day was made certain. So why did God save us so completely, not enlisting any works on our part? And how do we continue with God toward our ultimate day of victory? Ephesians 2:4-10 answers these, and many other fascinating questions.
Eyes Wide Open: The Spiritually Dead
June 13th, 2010
Brad Brinson
When Paul says that we were ‘dead’ in our trespasses and sin’ what does he mean? And what is going on in the lives of person dead to God? And how does such a person find life in Christ? These are the questions Paul addresses in Ephesians 2:1-5.
Power and Position are often cited as corrupting forces by which people are ruined.
But if our power and position are in Christ, they are the reason we are saved!
This week we look at four words Paul uses to describe the power that is at work in us by the Spirit of God, and then, our resulting position in Christ because of whose we are.
Eyes Wide Open: Seeing What You Already Have
May 16th, 2010
Brad Brinson
In Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul gives thanks for and prays that the Christians in Ephesus would take hold of and enjoy what God already gave them, though they may not be awake to the gifts that already are theirs. Today we look at (1) How Paul stayed alive to the blessings of God while others seemed to suffered spiritual amnesia. (2) How wisdom applied to revelation results in a deepening knowledge of God. (3) How embracing our hope that we are God’s treasured inheritance changes everything.
As Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus, he is excited. He releases a passionate flood of loaded terms praising God. In fact: If you were to read Vss. 3-14 in the original language, you would be amazed to see that vss. 3-14 are actually one long uninterrupted sentence. In this Paul focuses on three things: (1) what God has done, (2) what God is doing, and (3) what God will do.
Eyes Wide Open: Freedom From Religion & Magic
April 18th, 2010
Brad Brinson
Understanding any conversation requires context. This week we look into the context behind Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:4, “He chose us…” referring to God’s work in both his life, and in the lives of the believers in Ephesus. So who were the people to whom Paul wrote? They were two predominant groups: People who practiced religion, and people who practiced magic. And surprisingly, even 21st century people still continue to need freedom from both today.
Eyes Wide Open: The Story Behind Paul
April 11th, 2010
Brad Brinson
This Sunday we kick off our new series on Ephesians by looking at its author, Paul, formerly known as Saul. For Saul to become Paul, it would take the intervention of Jesus Himself.
