God’s Power…in building his church through Jesus Christ for his own glory.
Controlled by the Spirit you can fulfill your God-given role submissively.
Text: Ephesians 5
Theme: God's Calling …in building his church through Jesus Christ for his own glory.
- Read Ephesians 5:8 and then study light in the following texts: Prov 4:18; Isaiah 60:1; Matt 5:13-16; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 1:5-7
- Look through the Ephesian letter to see the number of uses of the idea of “fullness”: 1:23; 3:19; 4:10; 4:13
- How does 1 Peter 1:13-16 echo Ephesians 4-5?
- Read Titus 3:8 as further commentary on Eph 5:11-16.
Text: Ephesians 4
Theme: God’s Design …in building his church through Jesus Christ for his own glory.
- Let your eyes fall on multiple uses of the word “all” and the word “one” in verses 1-6. Can you see how this shapes a foundation for unity?
- Read Psalm 133. You will encounter “unity” in v.1, and what is found at the very end of the Psalm? How are these two ideas connected?
- Think of one person to show special kindness to today.
Text: Ephesians 2:11-3:21
Theme: God's reconciliation ...in building his church through Jesus Christ for his own glory.
- Consider the Old Testament revelation of God’s plan to save his people out of all the nations. We see the hope of reconciliation in: Genesis 12:3, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14; Psalm 67 & 72; Isaiah 11:10, 49:6, 60:1-3; Hosea 1:10; Amos 9:11-12
- Add to that Ephesians 2:11-22 and Colossians 1:18-23.
Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
Theme: God's grace...in his plan to build his church through Jesus Christ for his own glory.
- Make this week a study of good works. Nail down the place of good works before salvation from Ephesians 2:8-9.
- Now look over a number of verses that show you the place of good works once you have believed in Jesus for salvation. James 2:17-26 is a summary of true faith lived out with good works. See also: Colossians 1:10; 2 Timothy 3:17; Titus 2:14 and 3:1, 8.
Text: Ephesians 1
Theme: God's Sovereignty
- We sang Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery together on Sunday. Look it up online; listen to it; learn it; use it to worship. God’s made known the mystery to you!
- Take a survey trip through the book of Ephesians following the word “mystery.” Paul uses it in the letter seven different times (1:9, 3:3, 3:4, 3:6, 3:9, 5:32, 6:19); from these, build a working definition of “mystery.”