Predestined to the Praise of His Glory

Sermon on Ephesians 1:3-14 for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon Talking Points:

1. Do you ever have doubts about your salvation? Why or why not? What things can contribute to our complacency about such questions?

1. What are harmful ways of thinking about predestination? What focus is lost in them?

1. What are the implications of the fact that God chose us before the foundation of the world?

1. Read Romans 15:4. Why can’t it be that one of God’s teachings (such as predestination) should cause our faith harm or trouble? What is the purpose of God’s Word?

1. Does predestination make it irrelevant how I live my life? (reread Eph. 1:4)

1. How does the eternal decree of predestination intersect with faith in Christ in time and history?

To study further on the teaching of Election/Predestination, there is a short summary explanation in the Book of Concord in the section called the “Epitome, article XI”, or there is a more in-depth treatment in the “Solid Declaration, article XI.” Both links are below if you don’t have a book copy.

http://www.bookofconcord.org/fc-ep.php#XI. Election.

http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-election.php