As we enter Thanksgiving week, Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 remind us that true gratitude begins with remembering who we were without Christ—and what God has done for us in Christ. Before salvation, we were not spiritually weak, lost, or struggling. We were dead in our trespasses and sins, following the world, the flesh, and the devil, and by nature children of wrath.
Text: Ephesians 2:1–10
Speaker: Caleb Shepard
Date:11/23/25
SERMON SUMMARY
But the gospel turns on two of the most hope-filled words in the Bible: “But God.”
When we were dead, God made us alive together with Christ. He raised us, seated us with Christ, and saved us by grace alone—not because of anything we did, but because of His great love and rich mercy.
This grace doesn’t just rescue us from death—it gives us a new purpose. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared before the foundation of the world.
Dead men don’t say thanks. But resurrected men—those made alive by God’s grace—never stop.
MAIN SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 2:1–10 (ESV)
“You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…
But God, being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been /saved…”/
SERMON OUTLINE
I. REMEMBER WHAT YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST — Dead (vv.1–3)
Without Christ, we were:
- Dead in sin
- Blind to spiritual truth
- Bound to the desires of flesh and mind
- Under wrath by nature
Dead people cannot:
- Reach for God
- Clean themselves up
- Pray their way out
- Cooperate with grace
- Choose Jesus
Dead men don’t say thanks.
Quotes:
John Owen: “A man cannot make himself alive unto God any more than Lazarus could raise himself from the tomb.”
Jonathan Edwards: “A dead man contributes nothing to his resurrection.”
What this does in us:
- It kills pride — We did nothing to earn salvation.
- It deepens thankfulness — Grace amazes us when we realize how hopeless we were.
II. REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN CHRIST (vv.4–7)
“But God…”
He moved toward us when we were dead.
What God did:
- Made us alive with Christ
- Raised us with Christ
- Seated us with Christ in the heavenly places
Salvation is:
- By grace alone
- Through faith
- Not of works
- Entirely God’s doing
Reason God saved us:
“So that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace.”
We are eternal trophies of God’s mercy.
Quote:
Spurgeon: “The only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin that made it necessary.”
III. REMEMBER WHY GOD SAVED YOU (vv.8–10)
- We are not saved by good works
- We are saved for good works
- We are His workmanship (Greek: poiema — masterpiece)
God prepared good works beforehand for us to walk in:
- Acts of mercy
- Hidden obedience
- Repentance
- Generosity
- Love
- Forgiveness
A resurrected person doesn’t just say “thank you.”
They live thank you.
IV. CULTIVATING A GRATEFUL HEART
- Remember your story regularly
- “I was dead—but God made me alive.”
- Preach this to yourself in discouragement and entitlement.
- “I was dead—but God made me alive.”
- Let grace kill entitlement
- Entitlement says, “I deserve better.”
- Grace says, “I deserved wrath, but God gave mercy.”
- Entitlement says, “I deserve better.”
- Practice thanksgiving with your mouth
- Speak gratitude aloud
- Thank others intentionally
- At your Thanksgiving table ask:
“This year I saw God’s grace most clearly when He ______.”
- Speak gratitude aloud
- Let gratitude fuel obedience
- Serving
- Giving
- Forgiving
- Sacrificing
- Worshiping
- Saying “yes” to God
- Serving
A thankful heart says:
“Lord, after all You’ve done for me, how could I hold anything back?”
KEY QUOTES FROM THE SERMON
John Owen:
“A man cannot make himself alive unto God any more than Lazarus could raise himself from the tomb.”
Jonathan Edwards:
“A dead man contributes nothing to his resurrection.”
Charles Spurgeon:
“The only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin that made it necessary.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What part of Ephesians 2:1–10 most challenges your view of yourself or your salvation?
- Where have you seen God’s “immeasurable riches of grace” in your life recently?
- What areas of entitlement or complaining do you need to surrender to God?
- How does remembering your spiritual death deepen your thanksgiving?
- What “good works” might God have prepared for you to walk in this week?
NEXT STEPS
For Believers
Ask:
“Lord, restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Make me freshly amazed that You took a dead sinner and made me alive.”
For Non-Believers
You are not here by accident.
Jesus offers forgiveness, mercy, and new life to all who repent and believe.
Today can be the day you move:
- From death to life
- From wrath to mercy
- From hopelessness to thankfulness
Call out to Him.
WORSHIP RESPONSE
We closed our service singing “Amazing Grace”, celebrating the miracle of a God who takes dead men and makes them alive.