The love you had at first...

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

Revelation 2:4-5 (Speaking to the church at Ephesus)

Dramatic Readings

Reading: Laura Cox

Music: Nathan Wildes

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Reading: Nathan Harden

Music: Nathan Wildes

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Holy and Blameless...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

Ephesians 1:3-4

Music

Written by Jason Houser & Alan Terry

Performed by Alan Terry

About the song: In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul depicts Jesus as KING: seated in heavenly glory working power of immeasurable greatness toward those who believe in His name and are saved by His lavish grace. This song attempts to capture the mystery of God’s plan of salvation that was ordained before the dawn of time and offers a response of worship to Jesus as we behold Him in awe and adoration.

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Written by Adoniram Judson Gordon & William Ralph Featherstone

Performed by Caryl Parker & Darci Wantiez

About the song: In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul admonishes the people of the church to be rooted in love. But in the book of Revelation, we read that the love of the Ephesians had grown cold and the Spirit of God was calling them to return to their first love. Our songs are merely noise if not sung from a pure place of love (1 Cor. 13). We long to be people of purity and undivided devotion to Jesus. Recording a “Belmont Version” of this timeless hymn is an act of calling our own hearts to return to Jesus as our first love.

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Rooted in Love...

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth an length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Poetry

Written by Jennifer Buentello

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About the Artwork

Every Spiritual Blessing

Every Spiritual Blessing

Design by Jillian Harding

About the design:

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is abundant in its revelation of the character of God and the identity of the Children of God. As I spent time considering all God had chosen to speak to the Church through this letter there were three phrases about the identity of Believers in the first two chapters which I gathered as inspiration for this painting: blameless in love (1:4), sealed with the Spirit (1:13), and alive in Christ (2:5). These phrases all speak of our relationship to God as we have been chosen in Him to come near to the Father through the redemption of His Son, Jesus, who has poured out His Holy Spirit upon us as the mark upon us guaranteeing the complete fulfillment of all His promises in the age to come. As you engage with this visual representation of our identity in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to ask God to speak further to you about our identity in Him as the Body of Christ Jesus. I encourage you to read the letter of Ephesians even during your time of viewing this visual representation. I encourage you also to turn your heart to thanksgiving and praise as God illuminates His word to you.
Here are some suggested gratitudes to offer to God in response to these first two chapters of Ephesians. Allow these to be a point of beginning and then let the Holy Spirit lead you into further gratitude.
  • Blessed are You our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Thank you for choosing us to be holy in Your love.
  • We praise You for Your glorious grace you have lavished on us.

Here are some questions you might consider asking God:

  • Father, will you teach me what it means that you have made us holy and blameless in Your love?
  • Jesus, will You show me the richness of redemption through Your blood that You poured out to forgive us of all our sins?
  • Holy Spirit, will You lead us in receiving our glorious inheritance in You?