Ephesians Community COGIC

10/21/2026

See you Saturday!

10/21/2026

Total obedience to God set Christ apart from the rest of us. Are you prepared to explain this to anyone who asks? Come join the discussion Sunday morning at 9:30 AM in person or via zoom.

THE HIGH PRIEST FOREVER
Hebrews 7:1-3, 19b-28; Psalm 110:1-7; Hebrews 9:11-15; Acts 4:12;
2 Peter 2:9-16; 3:15-16; 2 Corinthians 4:1-4; 6:1-2.

We have a great High Priest eternally interceding for us in heaven. He offered Himself for us as a blood sacrifice. Through His suffering and death He became our King and High Priest.
He died on a cross, but death could not hold Him. He rose again and now has all power. His Priesthood is eternal and completely valid as a one-time offering for sin. All those who come to Him will be justified by their faith in His completed work. God, our father accepted His offering. He was our lamb without blemish. We, as His church are followers and become priests of God. We represent Him to the world, and represent the world before Him interceding on their behalf. He is our example and our ultimate leader.
1. Why is the Priesthood of Christ and unchangeable priesthood?
2. Who is the only one who can intercede for all people?
3. What are three things we can identify that make His priesthood unique and eternal?

10/14/2026

OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-10; Matthew 26:36-42; John 17:1-5;
Matthew 11:29-30; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:1-5.

The humanity of Christ is seen in the Garden of Gethsemane. The deity of Christ is seen in His resurrection. The empathy of Christ is seen in the grace we have to come boldly to God. The compassion of Christ is seen in how merciful He is toward us and all mankind. Christ is our “Great High Priest.” The priest was called by God and given responsibility to represent the people to God, and God to the people. On purpose the priest made intercession for his sins as well as the sins of the nation. The Apostle Peter declared that we, the believers, are priests called by God. We are responsible to bring people before God and ask their forgiveness. We are to represent God to the people through our dress, lifestyle, and demeanor. Since we have the best advocate/lawyer available, we should never shy away from talking to God our friend about our needs, our failures or our struggles.

1. What does it mean to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need?
2. Does being a priest demand we become intercessors for others?
3. Is delivering care packages door-to-door to our neighbors a way of advocating for fairness and equality to those who are overlooked or underserved?

10/07/2026

BUILDER OF THE HOUSE
Hebrews 3:1-6; Matthew 7:24-29; John 1:10-14; 1-Philippians 3:9-15; Ephesians 4:1-6, 16; 1 Peter 2:1-6; Galatians 5:13.

Jesus Christ is the builder of this house. He made himself to be the chief cornerstone through perfect submission to the will of God the Father. He walked among us and we were allowed to see the glory of God through Him. Yet, His true purpose was only fulfilled through His perfect obedience by suffering death on the cross to give us eternal life. Hebrews refers to the church, the called out ones, as the house. Ephesians calls us the body. Both writers see that the single requirement is our faith in Christ alone. We are His house, He owns us. We are His body, He controls us. He is the builder of the house, and the maker of the body. When we follow His prescription by doing the work of ministry, we can expect to hear well-done for our faithfulness. We are His house only as we live a life that honors Him. We are His body only as we use our giftedness to honor Him through service and collaboration.

1. What does this tell us about the importance of obedience?
2. Why is the Son honored above the servant Moses?
3. Why is collaboration necessary to be faithful?

09/30/2026

A child saved is a soul saved, plus a life!

THE IMPRINT OF GOD
Hebrews 1:1-9; John 1:1-5, 10-14; 5:24-29; Colossians 1:15-20; Psalm 2:1-8; Mark 1:8-12 1 John 3:1-3.

Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to us in fragments by the prophets. Now, through Christ He has removed the mystery surrounding Himself. Christ is the expressed image of the majesty of God. While God is so high above us that there is no understanding of His greatness, we are able to see clearly the awesome plan of God to redeem us. Jesus Christ is the human imprint of God our creator. He is the image of God because He is also God come as flesh. Jesus was before the beginning and was active in all of the creation. Christ is called the “Firstborn” because we who by faith have received His spirit are sons of God. He was given all authority and power over heaven and earth. We by His spirit have power to do extraordinary things. He is the best, we are called to be like Him. We are called to become the imprint of Christ as He is the imprint of God the Father as we follow and obey Him.
1. In the past, God spoke to us by the prophets. How does God speak to us today?
2. To whom should we turn for direction about life’s questions?
3. How will we know for certain something is from God?

09/23/2026

EVERLASTING COVENANT
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; 42:5-9; Luke 4:16-21; Leviticus 25:8-11; Romans 12:19-21; 2 Corinthians 8:9-15.

Isaiah prophesied of a time of restoration. In Luke 4:21, Jesus in His message to the faithful in the temple that Sabbath declared Himself to be the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. Christ became the messenger of the spiritual Jubilee. The year of Jubilee was a part of the levitical order put in place by Moses. It was given so there would less disparity between the well-off and those impoverished. It was a time of God ordained release, return, rest, and restoration. God describes through Isaiah both His promise for restoration and his reason for having it. All things wax old and die, or stray from righteousness and are punished. After judgment God brings a time of favor and restoration. Our salvation and the sending of the very Spirit of God to live in us shows the reason for having the year of Jubilee. We are restored to union with God through Christ the Messiah. This is the everlasting covenant. Whatever God promises, He also delivers.

1. Verse 11, describes what about our lives becoming as believers?

2. What can we do to ensure that the message of this covenant reach the masses in America?

3. How should we live to show our faith in Christ as the author of salvation?

09/16/2026

Where do you place your Faith?

FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH
Isaiah 40:21-31; Luke 1:49-53; Psalm 20:5-9; 27:8-14.

To wait on God is like catching our so-called second wind. God the almighty creator renews us. He gives us that second wind. He created the universe. He captured the wind and started it on its course. He knows the name of all species of animals and numbers the hairs on our heads. Kingdoms come and go. God is everlasting. Rule and authority are fleeting and just for a moment in time. Our reliance on God creates miraculous happenings in an ordinary world. Little people can do big things when they put God first in everything. This is what the word from God through the Prophet Isaiah emphasizes to us today. God is the foundation; with Him our expectation is always victory.

1. What is a practical application of soaring on eagles' wings?

2. What does Isaiah and also history tell us about man’s power and authority?

3. Can you tell of a time when God did the miraculous on your behalf?

09/09/2026

THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD
Isaiah 25:6-10a; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 2 Corinthians 3:11-18;
Revelations 21:1-5; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Ephesians 3:4-7; Romans 14:10-11.
The Mountain of God is the place of ultimate victory. In this mountain we see the coming together of all chosen peoples, both Jews and Gentiles. The real enemy, death, has been swallowed up. The tears of all oppressed peoples are washed away. This, the victory after the great day of the Lord, is the banquet and marriage feast. This is that banquet to which we invite non-believers to come and dine. The Feast where all the finer things are prepared; w**e that is better than Dom Perignon or the best of the best. The grave shall give up her dead for this mountaintop feast. The sea too, shall release all those chosen to eternal life. Tell this story again and again. Jesus Christ is coming again for a banquet feast for all peoples who chose faith over fear.

1. What are the benefits to those who are invited to this feast?

2. How does this show God’s provision for people of faith?

3. What project can your church initiate to highlight God’s coming victory?

James E Chatman, Pastor

09/02/2026

When will Christ return? Soon, Soon, Soon!
THE PEACEFUL KINGDOM
Isaiah 11:1-9; 1Kings 3:5-10; Psalm 46:5-10 ; 72:1-5.

The rod is a symbol of both kingdom power, dominion, correction and caring discipline. This rod will reflect God’s wisdom and righteous judgment. It will surpass all known or experienced kingdoms. It will end warring factions and usher in a time of peace. This rod out of the stem of Jesse is a symbol of an enduring kingdom. Central to its existence is righteous judgment available only from God. The rule or rod of this kingdom creates a community in which all are respected and treated fairly and justly. It is so peaceful that babies can play on the home of poisonous snakes, and lambs can feed with wolves. Our understanding of human strivings recognizes that this kingdom is not of this world. It is the future kingdom of our God and His Christ the Son. We believers create small portions of this kingdom here and now.

1. Why will this king not judge after what he sees?

2. How does reverent fear of God cause understanding, peace and strength?

3. Which area of community is most lacking in your church, and what can be done to change it?

08/26/2026

Youth adding Truth

Changed People, Change People
Welcome to our page.
We have new worship opportunities:

High Worship Sundays 11:00 AM
Zoom Bible Study Tuesdays 6:30 PM
86595158071 code: 628593
Zoom Preacher's Pulpit Study Thursday 6:30 PM
81702066958 code: 877085