Tag Archives: Ephesians 2:8-10

Do Good Works

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Ephesians 2:8-10 - Do Good Works - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Ephesians 2:8-10 – Do Good Works – Growing As Disciples – practical ministry in black and white

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Prepared In Advance

I do have a plan for your life. I have good works prepared in advance for you to do for me. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. I will work in and through your life. You will go where I send you. You will do all that I ask of you. You will be able to know my will and walk in my ways. I will do in and through your life far beyond what you could have asked, hoped for or even dreamed or imagined. How does all this sound to you? I am overwhelmed. I am taken aback. I am in awe. I am thankful that you will use me according to your purposes and plans. There is nothing else I want to do in life other than your will. That is very good.

You are my workmanship. You are my masterpiece. I am molding and shaping your life. I am preparing you to do the work that I will give you to do for me. Don’t be impatient. Don’t run ahead of me. Be ready and willing to go and do what I have called you to do when you hear my voice. Listen carefully to me. Walk closely with me. Remain in my presence. Receive all that I have done and will do in you. Apart from me you can do nothing that will bear fruit for all eternity. Apart from me your work will amount to nothing. Will you remain in me? Will you allow me to prepare you? Yes Lord, I will remain in you every day of my life. I welcome you to do all your work in me. Make me into the person you want me to become. There no one else I want to be than the person you had in mind when you created me. That is very good. 

All that you are, all that you have and all that you hope to be has come to you as a gift. You have not earned your salvation. There is and will be nothing that you will be boast about. You will simply be able to say that you know me and that I have saved you and prepared you to do good works for me. That’s is enough for me. I am all yours. I am your servant. Use my life as you have planned. Yes, I will.

Lord, I know you have a purpose and plan for my life. You have created me as your workmanship. I am your masterpiece. You are molding and shaping my life. You have prepared good works in advance for me to do. Help me to go and do all your good works. Amen

Key Question… What good works has the Lord prepared for you to do for Him right now?

Living It Out… Do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God has prepared good works in advance for you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you known and done good works God has prepared for you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do for Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

God’s Will – Ephesians 2-8-10 – Do Good Works – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

God’s Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 2:8-10 - God's Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 2:8-10 – God’s Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Good Works

Those are very important words. What words? Good works, are very important words. How so? You may not have realized it, but you have asked a very good question. Why is that? In the past, you have misunderstood “good works”. I’m not sure what you mean. Have you ever thought that you needed to earn my approval? Have you ever tried to do heroic acts of service to try to atone for your sins? Can you be more specific? Yes, I can. At times in the past, when you became aware of your sins, you confessed them to me. I still do. Yes, you do and that is good. But, in the past there were times when you thought confessing your sins and receiving my forgiveness was somehow not enough. Is this ringing a bell? Do you remember trying to earn my forgiveness even after it had already been freely given to you? I do. What do you know now, that you didn’t know then? Now, I know for certain that I cannot earn my forgiveness. I cannot do anything to cleanse myself of my own sin. To try to do so, is a sin in itself. Yes, it is and tell me why trying to earn your own forgiveness and cleansing is a sin. Any attempt to earn my own forgiveness and cleansing is like saying that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough payment for my sins. Any attempt to earn my own forgiveness and cleansing is like saying that I can take what Christ did on the cross one step further by my own efforts. How does that sound to you? It sounds like a sinful act of pride. So, we are agreed that you are not forgiven and cleansed of your sins by your own good works. Yes, we are. You are not saved by your good works? No, I am not. You and I are clear on this point? Yes, we are.

There is another way I want you to understand “good works”. How is that? You are not saved by good works. I get that. But, you are saved to do good words. Say more about that. You are my workmanship. I created you. I have given you gifts, talents and abilities. I have designed you. I have prepared you to do good works. I have good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do. As your life of salvation unfolds I will lead you to where I want you to go and I will give you what I want you to do. Do you understand? Yes, I do. Will you go where I guide you? Will you do what I ask of you? Will you do the good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to pay for my sins and secure my salvation. You have given me a gift I could never earn. Use me now to do all the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do. I am at your service. Amen

Key Question… What good works do you believe God has prepared in advance for you to do for Him?

Living It Out… As God’s workmanship, do all the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you are God’s workmanship created to do good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are doing the good works God has prepared you to do.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Ephesians 2-8-10 – God’s Workmanship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

No One Can Boast

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That - Ephesians 2:8-10 - No One Can Boast - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – Ephesians 2:8-10 – No One Can Boast – Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Masterpiece

You are my workmanship. You are my masterpiece. I created you for a purpose. I had a plan in mind when I made you. I prepared good works in advance for you to do for me. I’m so excited to hear this from you. I couldn’t be more delighted. I want to be used by you. It is my joy and pleasure to serve you. I welcome your work in my life. I want you to mold and shape me into a living masterpiece that will bring honor to your name. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. That is exactly what I will do in and through you.

Let’s take a pause here for a moment. There is one thing that I always want you to remember. What’s that? You can’t merit or earn your salvation. You have received your salvation and have faith in me as a free gift. Yes, I have. I know that all I have received from you has come to me as a gift. My service to you is being given because I love you. I’m not trying to earn your love or your favor. Why is that? You already love me. You have already shown me your favor. My service to you is not being given in an attempt to pay you back for all that you have done for me. Why is that? I could never pay you back. To even try to pay you back would be a sin. Your gift of salvation would not be a gift at all if I had to pay you back. That’s right. I am indebted to you however. What do you mean by that? Maybe, I’m not expressing myself correctly. Here is what I mean. Because you love me I love you. Because you gave yourself to me I’m giving myself fully to you. Because you have done so much for me I’m giving you all my thanks and praise.  I’m not trying to pay you back. I’m not trying to earn anything from you. It is just my desire to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, when you say that you have good things planned in advance for me to do my only questions are, “When and where do I start?” Those are good questions.

You start by listening to me. You continue by following me. You do know that apart from me you can do nothing that will bear real fruit and last for all eternity? Yes, I know that. Then listen to me. Then follow me. I will speak so that you can hear from me. I will lead you to where I want you to be. I will give you what I want you to do for me. Yes, Lord, that is exactly what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for making my salvation and faith in you available to me as a free gift. Keep molding and shaping my life. Make me into the masterpiece that you want me to be. Guide me to do the good works that you have planned in advance for me to do. Amen

Key Question… Why is your salvation and faith in God something that cannot be merited or earned?

Living It Out… Receive your salvation and faith in God, through Christ, as a free gift and then allow Him to use you for His glory.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God has designed your life of faith in Him as a living masterpiece that He will use for His glory.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you came to receive your salvation and faith in Christ as a free gift.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, as God’s workmanship, do the good works He has planned for you to do for Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

So That – Ephesians 2-8-10 – No One Can Boast – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

His Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 9 - Ephesians 2:8-10 - His Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2:8-10 – His Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

Good Works

I know a few things about those. You know a few things about what? I know a few things about good works. I’d like to hear what you know about good works. So, go ahead, I’m listening. Tell me what you know. First, I know only what I have been taught. I am not pridefully holding up what I know. I only know what I have heard and seen and learned and received from you. And even then, my knowing, is faulty. Understood, go ahead. Most importantly, I have learned, your salvation is a free gift. Nothing I have done or could ever do would earn or merit my salvation. Trying to earn or merit my salvation, by doing good works, would not be pleasing to you in any way, shape or form. No, it would not. What is pleasing to you, is receiving my salvation by faith in all that Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross. His death and resurrection secured my salvation and has given me a completely new life in Him. He is my Savior and Lord. You are my God and Father. I have been filled by your Holy Spirit, who is like a deposit, guaranteeing my inheritance in heaven. All this has come to me by faith, as a gift. Yes. None of what you have given to me has been earned. So, I have nothing to boast about. How am I doing so far? You have listened and learned well. Keep going.

So, I can confidently say that I have not been saved by good works. That is correct. But on the day, I turned my life over to you, a work was started in me. What sort of work? You have been molding and shaping my life. I am your workmanship. You are the potter. I am the clay. I am the work of your hands. Yes, you are, without a doubt. You have been preparing me to do good work for you. You have given me gifts and talents and abilities. You have been teaching and training me. You have been getting me ready. What have I been getting you ready for? You have good works already lined up and ready for me to do for you. You have a purpose and plan for my life. You have places you want me to go. You have things you want me to do. How do you feel about that? I feel excited. I feel grateful. I feel thankful. The idea that you want to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans is incredibly amazing. The thought that I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name is astounding. To all of this I can only say, “Here I am Lord, use me!” That is very good. Yes, I will use you to do good works that I have prepared for you. You will bear fruit for my Kingdom and bring glory to my name. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the free gift of salvation I have in Jesus Christ. I know I have not been saved by any of my good works. Thank you for molding and shaping my life. I’m the work of your hands. Help me to do the good works you have prepared for me. Amen

Key Question… How has your Heavenly Father been molding and shaping your life since the day you gave your life to Him?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing to go and do all the good works that your Heavenly Father has prepared you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father is making you ready and able to go and do good works for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what good works your Heavenly Father has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good work that God created you to do.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – His Workmanship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

It Is The Gift Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 116 - Ephesians 2:8-10 - It Is The Gift Of God- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 116 – Ephesians 2:8-10 – It Is The Gift Of God- Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

A Masterpiece

That’s what I want to be. What do you want to be? I want to be your workmanship. In fact, I am very glad that I am your workmanship and I will be your masterpiece. Why is that? If I were my own workmanship, I’m pretty sure that I would look nothing like a masterpiece. I have no idea of how to mold and shape myself into a masterpiece that will be pleasing to you. So, what will you do? Well, you started me on this journey of faith with you. You made it so I could be saved. You forgave all my sins. You cleansed all my unrighteousness. You put your Holy Spirit in me. You have given me a completely new life to live. You have helped me to love and follow and serve you. Yes, I have done all of these things for you. None of what you have done for me could I have accomplished, nor could I have earned or merited any of it. My life of salvation has come to me as a gift. Yes, that’s right. So, I will keep on coming to you. I will keep on relying on you. I will keep on following you to where you lead me. I will keep on doing what you ask of me. I will keep on living in an intimate relationship with you. That will be very good.

What else? I know that you have prepared good works in advance for me to do. You have a purpose and plan for my life. You have work that you want me to join you in doing. It is the desire of my heart to go and do what is pleasing to you. I want to fully live out the new life you have given me to live. I want to faithfully and fruitfully keep on serving you. I know that I will be molded and shaped and changed into a masterpiece day by day and moment by moment, as I love, follow and serve you. So, I will not concern myself with anything other than coming to rely on you. You will do your work in me. You will do your work through me. You will help me to live the life you have called me to live. I will be your workmanship. I will be your masterpiece. Yes, you will. I have no doubt about that. That is very good. 

Lord, thank you for giving me your salvation as a gift. There is nothing I could ever do to earn or merit your salvation. Keep on doing your work in and through me. Make me into your masterpiece. Help me to join you in doing the work you have given me to do. Amen

Key Question… Why can you do nothing to merit or earn the salvation you have received as a gift?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to mold and shape your life so you will become His masterpiece as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you have received your salvation in Christ and have been given a completely new life to live.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been saved and given a completely new life to live.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you faithfully and fruitfully live out the life of salvation that you have in Jesus Christ

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 116 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – It Is The Gift Of God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

We Are God’s Masterpiece

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The Sacramental Life - Day 338 - Ephesians 2-8-10 - We Are God's Masterpiece - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 338 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – We Are God’s Masterpiece – Growing As Disciples

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

Your New Life

What does your new life look like? What has changed since you have come to believe in me? How are you now different because you have accepted me as your Savior and Lord? How are you now living out the life of salvation I have secured for you? What hasn’t changed? I have been made completely new in you. My values and priorities and goals have been made new. My thoughts, and words and actions have all been transformed. My old life in the world is far behind me. Now my heart and mind and life are focused on you. I want to know and do your will. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I am moving forward with you. I am following you to where you lead me. I am doing what you ask of me. Now, before I go much farther, there is something that I must make quite clear. What’s that? You saved me. You pulled me out of the muck and mire that was my old life. You rescued me when I cried out to you. I have done nothing to earn or merit my salvation. You have saved me and given me a brand-new life as a gift. Heaven will be my eternal home based solely on all that you have done for me. It is good that you have this understanding. It is very good that you are not confused on this point.

There is something else that I have come to understand. What’s that? I have a new life in you, but I am not a finished product. You will be molding and shaping me every day as I love and follow and serve you. As I come to think and speak and act more like you, I will know that you are making me into one of your masterpieces. When do you suppose that my work in you will be complete? Not anytime in this life, that is for sure.  Only when I see you will I be completely changed. Then your work in me will be fully complete. Yes, it will. 

Now that you have a new life in me and I am continuing to mold and shape your life into a masterpiece, what else can you expect? I can expect that you will help me to go and do the good works that you long ago planned that I would go and do for you. How do you feel about that? It is my joy to love and follow and serve you. My life is filled with hope and meaning and purpose as I go and do whatever you ask of me. That is very good.

Lord, thank you for the new life of salvation you have given to me as a gift. You are my Savior and Lord.  Help me now to live out my salvation. Mold and shape me into a masterpiece. Help me to go and do the good works God has prepared for me to do for Him. Amen

Key Question…  What has God used to continue to mold and shape you into His masterpiece?

Living It Out…  Allow God to keep on molding and shaping you into His masterpiece as you live out your new life in Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you have been created new in Christ and that God will mold and shape you into His masterpiece.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what God has used to mold and shape you into His masterpiece.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God to mold and shape you into His masterpiece.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Sacramental Life – Day 338 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – We Are God’s Masterpiece – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com