Are you really living?

Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I really living?” Not just existing. Not just surviving. But actually living the way you were created to live?

That’s the question we wrestled with this week in our Thrive Together series as we looked at Ephesians 2:1-10. This Palm Sunday message is titled Lifeless No More, and it’s a powerful reminder that without Jesus, we aren’t just off track—we’re dead. But through Him, we can come to life in a way we never imagined.

Dead in Sin (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Paul doesn’t sugarcoat it. He opens this section by reminding the Ephesians (and us) that before Jesus, they were dead in sin.

Not lost. Not broken. Not in need of a little help. Dead.

And the truth is, death isn’t just a physical condition—it’s a spiritual one. Without Christ, we’re missing more than just hope. We’re missing purpose. Identity. Real love. The capacity to live the life we were meant to live.

Sin has infected every part of humanity. And when we live under the weight of it...when we make our decisions from that place of death...it affects everything. Our relationships. Our habits. Our outlook. Our soul. Living in sin may feel like living, but without Jesus, our bodies can only die.

We’ve all been there. That place where we blame God for our pain, when in reality, our suffering is the result of sin...ours and the world’s. But the beauty of the Gospel is that Jesus didn’t have to die for us...He chose to, because of his great love for us.

Brought to Life (Ephesians 2:4-7)

But Paul doesn’t stop with death. Why? Because of God’s love, His mercy, and His grace we can be brought back to life.

Through Jesus, we are made alive. Not just breathing. Not just functioning. But truly alive, able to see the world through spiritual eyes, to love the way God loves, and to step into the identity and purpose we were always meant to have.

And here’s the exciting part: God doesn’t just revive us...He raises us. He seats us with Jesus. He makes us co-heirs to the Kingdom. He doesn’t just save us. He restores us to who and what we were meant to be. Jesus didn't die just to save us from death--He died to bring us fully back to life.

If you’ve been living in patterns of sin or bitterness or brokenness, this is the most important thing to remember: you were made for more. Jesus died not just to rescue you—but to resurrect you.

Unstoppable Together (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We love to quote Ephesians 2:8-9: “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

It’s the heartbeat of the Gospel: salvation is a gift. You can’t earn it. You’ll never be good enough. That’s what makes it so beautiful.

But don’t miss verse 10.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

You weren’t just saved from something—you were saved for something. And not just individually. Paul moves from “you” to “we," from singular tense to plural.

WE are His workmanship. WE are created for good works. WE are designed to live out our purpose together. You may come to life as an individual, but you were meant to thrive in community.

God doesn’t save us to sit still. He saves us to move. To love. To live. And when we do it together...when we go all in as the body of Christ...we become unstoppable.

Your Invitation

Are you really living?

Maybe you’ve been chasing life but feeling more lifeless than ever. Maybe you’ve believed in God but haven’t fully embraced what it means to live in Christ. Maybe you’ve been trying to earn your way to heaven instead of accepting the grace that’s already been offered.

Today is your moment to wake up. To come to life. To stop surviving and start thriving. Take a moment to reflect:

• Have you recognized the dead places in your life?

• Are you living in the freedom and identity that Jesus has given you?

• Are you stepping into your purpose alongside others?

Want to go deeper? Watch the full sermon here:

Lifeless No More | Mt. Olive Church

Because when we live together—we’re unstoppable.