#1400. Who do we boast in? (3/12/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

In our last reflection, we saw that salvation - including the very faith by which we receive it - is the gift of God. This realisation should humble us and fill us with joy and praise. Today, Paul presses this truth further by reminding us that salvation is designed to silence self-congratulation and turn all boasting toward God. Continuing in Ephesians 2:8-10, we ask:

Why is it vital that we learn to boast in the right things and that we must make this a lifestyle? 

To watch this devotional, select the link below:

1. When boasting goes wrong

Left to ourselves, we boast in all the wrong things. Even if we never speak it out loud, pride often lives quietly in our hearts: we compare ourselves with others, grow impatient with those who don’t measure up to our standards, or dismiss advice because we “already know.” Perhaps most tellingly, we neglect God’s Word and the fellowship of His people, showing that we think we can manage life in our own strength.

The word ‘boast’ (kauchaomai) means to boast, to glory, to exult. Paul warns that boasting in ourselves and our works has no place in the Christian life. Salvation understood wrongly can feed self-righteousness: ‘I’m more devoted, prayerful, or holy than others.’ But salvation understood rightly destroys pride. 

Paul, confronts such an attitude in His letter to the Philippians, when, initially speaking of his worldly successes and reasons for boasting, he dismisses them as ‘garbage’, choosing, rather, to boast in the righteousness that is gifted to those who have faith in Christ:

2. When boasting is right

The gospel doesn’t remove boasting altogether - it redirects it. We are meant to boast, glory, and exult, but in the Lord. To boast in Christ is to remind ourselves daily of who He is and what He has done: He has saved us, forgiven us, and given us a new life we could never earn. Like Paul in Ephesians 1, we should begin each day with overflowing praise.

Of course, throughout the day we will be tempted to boast in ourselves - to show our competence, strength, or goodness. But those who deliberately boast in Christ are kept from pride, kept from despair, and kept close to the joy of the gospel.

Response

Maybe, in worldly terms, you have every reason to boast. You’ve worked hard. Perhaps you’re the first in your family to go to university. Maybe you’ve had so much against you, yet battled through. You weren’t born with the same advantages or privileges as others, but you’ve pushed forward. These are good things—but who, in the end, are you boasting in? Yourself, your performance, your strength—or Christ, His saving grace and the way that He has been the source of all your good? Take time today to ‘boast in the Lord.’ Let His grace, not your mood or performance, be the true measure of your status and condition.

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Note:

• Please be thinking and praying about who you might want to invite to our upcoming carol service (7th December)

  
  

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

THIS WEEK IS SIV (SERVE INVEST AND INVITE) WEEK.

What is SIV? 

SIV stands for Serve, Invest, and Invite. This is our very simple strategy to help bring our community to Jesus. We believe that God has placed us in relationships and in specific locations to be 'salt and light.' and to ‘fish for people’.  We can effectively bring people to Jesus by 'Serving' them - demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways; by 'Investing' in the people to whom we feel the Spirit is leading us; and by 'Inviting' them into our homes by showing hospitality and inviting them to church events, to Alpha, and ultimately, inviting them to come to Jesus through the gospel. 

Along with a brief reflection on Sunday’s text, let's spend this time sharing, thinking and praying about how God wants to work through us to help our communities to come to Jesus. 

This week, we continue in our series: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

Our message on Sunday from Ephesians 2:8-10 was: We are God’s good work for His good works 

In these verses, we see that although we are in no way saved by our good works, we are re-created in Christ for God's good works; good character and works are the inevitable outcome of being united to Christ.

Please read Ephesians 2:8-10 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – What did God speak to you about through Sunday’s message?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• How does God's promise of 'good works' affect our approach to evangelism?

• Why should understanding that salvation - including our faith - is the gift of God lead us to greater confidence in sharing the gospel?

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

• Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.

• Pray for our upcoming carol service (7th) and those who may be planning to invite.