Reading With the Church | Ep. 4

Gospel Mystery (Ephesians 3:1-13)

In this message from Ephesians 3:1–13, Pastor Joe Abdelghany dives into the staggering weight of the "Gospel Mystery," reframing the Apostle Paul’s prison suffering not as a tragic obstacle, but as the very vehicle meant for the spiritual glory of the church. For generations, Old Testament heroes could only look forward to a shadowed picture of salvation, but the Holy Spirit has now unveiled a profound reality: through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, the entire global expanse of the Gentiles has been grafted into the covenants of promise as full, equal heirs with Israel. Paul models gospel leadership by highlighting his true status as a mere diakonos (servant), uniquely stewarding a grace he never deserved so he could spend his life actively preaching the completely unsearchable, infinite riches of Christ to absolutely everyone. In a powerful visual illustration, Pastor Joe points out that the local church—in all of its messy, multi-ethnic, and unpolished diversity—is God's ultimate living masterpiece. When a unified body of once-dead, unpredictable sinners actively loves across historical and language barriers, it serves as a cosmic showcase preaching a sermon to the entire spiritual realm about the multi-faceted wisdom of God. No matter what earthly trials or chains you face, we have dynamic, bold access with confidence to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. We don't need to lose heart in our suffering, because our reigning King has unlocked our chains, secured our peace, and swept us into His eternal, victorious purpose. 🖥️ Learn more at ashlandcc.net📱 Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram!Subscribe for more sermons and share to encourage others!#Ephesians3 #GospelMystery

Christ’s Triumph in Divided People Reconciled (Ephesians 2:11-22)

In this message from Ephesians 2:11–22, Pastor Casey McCall moves from our vertical reconciliation with God to the powerful horizontal reconciliation it produces among one another. Paul commands us to explicitly remember where we came from—reminding the Gentile believers that they were once completely separated from Christ, hopeless, and alienated from the covenants of promise. Forgetting our spiritual roots breeds self-righteous pride, but remembering who we were before Jesus broke into our lives destroys our performance-driven mindsets and deepens our everyday gratitude for His unearned grace. The cosmic shift occurs with the phrase "But now in Christ Jesus," as those who were once far off are brought near by the blood of Christ. Jesus Himself is our peace, actively shattering the dividing walls of hostility, ethnic bias, and cultural segregation to forge one new human race out of broken divisions. Through the cross, we have equal access in one Spirit to the Father and are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens and members of God's household. Built upon Christ as our cornerstone, the church serves as a living, growing holy temple and a showcase model for the coming new creation. True peace cannot be manufactured by changing our earthly circumstances; it is only found when we rest in Christ alone. 🖥️ Learn more at ashlandcc.net📱 Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram!Subscribe for more sermons and share to encourage others!#Ephesians2 #DividedPeopleReconciled #Reconciliation

Christ’s Triumph in Dead Sinners Made Alive (Ephesians 2:1-10)

In this message from Ephesians 2:1–10, Pastor Casey McCall explores the ultimate proof of Jesus’s cosmic victory: the historical reality of dead sinners being brought back to life. While a skeptical world might scan the news and question whether Christ is truly reigning, Paul points directly to the transformative miracle of the gospel as the undeniable authentication of His triumph. Pastor Casey breaks down the text by highlighting three core points: what you were before Christ intervened, what you are now in Him, and what it all means for our daily lives. First, he focuses on What You Were, detailing how every human being is universally born spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, driven by fleshly desires, and walking by default in rebellion against God. Second, he reveals What You Are, which hinges on the ultimate turning point of the scriptural narrative—"But God". Because of His rich mercy and eternity-past love, God has resurrected our dead hearts and spiritually seated us with Christ in the heavenly places as living trophies of His grace. Finally, in What It Means, Pastor Casey explains that salvation is an entirely unearned gift received by grace through faith, leaving no room for human boasting. Because we are His custom workmanship, we are re-created in Christ to step out into the purposeful good works that God prepared for us from the very beginning. 🖥️ Learn more at ashlandcc.net📱 Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram!Subscribe for more sermons and share to encourage others!#Ephesians2 #ButGod #MadeAlive #SavedByGrace

Reading With The Church | Ep. 5

Join Tucker Hargrove and Pastor Casey as they discuss the book from June, "Hannah Coulter" by local, Kentucky, author Wendell Berry.

Reading With the Church | Ep. 4

Join Tucker Hargrove, Kyle Sivers and Pastor Joe Abdelghany as they discuss "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" by Puritan author Thomas Brooks.