We start a new book today in the new year.

Please don't think that I'm so clever that I plan that. I'm not that smart.

Just as God would have it, we finished Galatians in our trek through the Bible, book by book, and chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

And today we begin in the next book, which is the book of Ephesians and our text today will be

chapter 1 verses 1 and 2 and I'll ask you to stand if you're able if not that's all right but you can

follow along as I read the apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit is writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, and he says,

verse 1, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God's holy people, or as some of your translations render it, saints in Ephesus,

the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Verse 2, grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's pray if you would join with me.

Loving Heavenly Father,

we need for you at this time as only you can and always do to settle our hearts and enable us to focus our attention on you and your word and that which you have for us in our time together today.

It's with a longing anticipation that we look to you to speak into our lives, in and through your word.

Lord, we don't want any distraction or disruption to hinder us from hearing and perhaps more

importantly, heeding that which you're going to minister to us in our time together.

So Lord, speak. Your servants are listening. We pray. you're going to minister to us in our time together.

So Lord speak.

Your servants are listening, we pray.

In Jesus' name, amen.

You can be seated.

Thank you.

So the title that I chose for today's teaching is change based on God's grace.

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