But God

God is moving The River to be a church of influence in the South Bay—and the church in Ephesus gives us a compelling picture of what that can look like. These early churches in Ephesus were not large, wealthy, or politically powerful, yet God worked through them to transform their city. Their influence did not come from their strength, but from their deep dependence on the gospel. This week, Ephesians 2:1–10 brings us to two words at the very heart of that gospel: “But God.” We were powerless to rescue ourselves out of sin — but God, rich in mercy and great in love, acted on our behalf. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. And more than this, he gives us purpose to live in the good works he has for us. A church that lives and breathes this reality—that everything begins with what God has done and then overflows into what He calls us to do—can have an influence far beyond imagination.