PARTICIPANTS GUIDE EPHESIANS: A PLAN FOR THE CHURCH

Transcription

1 PARTICIPANTS GUIDE EPHESIANS: A PLAN FOR THE CHURCH

2

3 "There is a difference between believing something is beneficial and opening up your heart, mind and life to let that beneficial thing in," Geof Morin, American Bible Society 3

4 Welcome to our ESM study on Ephesians As we spend time looking through the 6 chapters that make up this Epistle of Paul s, my prayer is that you will begin to see how the message of Paul to a people nearly 2000 years ago, can apply to you today. Here we find words spoken to a newer community of faith that has birthed since Jesus Christ died. Though these words are spoken to a people and place far removed from us, the topics they cover and application to our lives today are timeless. The words of scripture are timeless and are perfect for giving direction on how to live out our faith. For all of scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17) My prayer is as you look into the book of Ephesians, you will find God speaking to you and you will find application for your own life as well as those in your cell group and our family of faith here at OCAC. What is in this study? Over the next 3 lessons (or 6 depending on your group s meeting frequency) we will cover the 6 chapters of Ephesians. This study will in no way be exhaustive and cover all there is to know about Ephesians but will hopefully wet your appetite to study it more in-depth for yourself. I am certain that most of us have heard of the things taught in this letter before but probably have not had the opportunity to study it in depth from beginning to end. In each lesson you will have opportunities to look deeper into the words of Paul and explore the message he wanted to convey to those early believers in the region of Ephesus. There will be questions for discussion, background information given and even a bit of work outside for those who desire to get the most out of this study. Through S.O.A.P. (this will be explained later) reflections you do at home, you will be better prepared for each study together as well as be more equipped to apply the lessons to your own life. In addition, as each of the cell groups study the material over the next few months, we will be preaching through Ephesians as well in our Sunday worship service in order to compliment what you are learning. May God bless you and your small group as we commit to having God speak through us through Ephesians. 4

5 S.O.A.P. S.O.A.P. stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It is a way of getting more out of your time in God's word as you study the book of Malachi outside of your small group times. It s a method of studying and reflection that has been around for a while and works because it s straight forward. S- The S stands for Scripture- you physically write or type out the scripture (no copying and pasting) You will be amazed that what God will reveal to you just by taking the time to slow down and actually write out what you are reading! O- The O stands for observation- what do you see in the verses that you re reading. Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What did you observe about the scripture that struck you. This can be a few words, a sentence or however long you desire. A- The A stands for Application- this is when God s Word becomes personal. What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read and my observations to my own life today? What changes do I need to make? Is there an action that I need to take? P- And finally P stands for Prayer. Pray God s Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time in His Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Write out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask him to help you apply this truth in your life. S.O.A.P. Readings 1) Ephesians 1:1-15 2) Ephesians 1: ) Ephesians 2:1-10 4) Ephesians 2: ) Ephesians 3:1-13 6) Ephesians 3: ) Ephesians 4:1-16 8) Ephesians 4: ) Ephesians 5: ) Ephesians 5: ) Ephesians 6: ) Ephesians 6:

6 Background on Ephesians Author All internal and external evidence strongly supports the Pauline authorship of Ephesians. The very words of this letter found in Eph. 1:1 and Eph 3:1, show that this Epistle claims to be that of Paul. Many of the early church historians and traditions have also lent support to Pauline authorship. There is not enough credible support otherwise to look into other authors of Ephesians. In Acts 18 and 19 we learn that Paul had spent 2 occasions ministering to the area of Ephesus totally over 3 years of ministry. Paul wrote this letter during the early part of his imprisonment int Rome. In addition to the other prison Epistles (Philippians, Colossians and Philemon). The date was likely around four years after his parting with the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Ac 20:6 38), about 62 A.D., before his imprisonment had become more severe kind, which appears in his Epistle to the Philippians. From Eph 6:19, 20, though a prisoner, he had at the time some degree of freedom in preaching (which agrees with Acts 28:23, 30, 31) where he is represented as being able to receive visitors. Recipient The traditional view is that the letter was written to the believers in the city of Ephesus as noted in verse 1 of many of our bible translations. Though it is to be noted that some early manuscripts omit the mentioning of Ephesus in the opening greeting but address it to just the faithful or Saints in Christ Jesus. The Church of Ephesus was made up of converts partly from the Jews and partly from the Gentiles (Ac 19:8 10), though Paul is noted to be the Apostle to the Gentiles and this letter seems to be more targeted towards them. Ephesus was famed for its Temple of Artemis (Greek) of Diana (Roman), which, after its having been burnt down by Herostratus on the night that Alexander the Great was born (355 B.C), was rebuilt at enormous cost and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Resulting perhaps, in Paul s images in this Epistle regarding a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:19 22). In addition, the practice of magic and the local economy were clearly related to the Temple of Artemis. The pagan culture that surrounded the church was evident. The Epistle (Eph 4:17; 5:1 13) implies the extent to which the Ephesian heathen were notorious. Many of the same expressions occur in the Epistle as in Paul s address to the Ephesian elders. 6

7 Paul s time in Ephesus Paul s first short visit to Ephesus is mentioned in Ac 18:19. His second longer visit, after his journey to Jerusalem, kept him in Ephesus for about three years (Acts 19). The founding and rearing of this Church occupied an unusually large portion of Paul s time and care in relation to his other ministries. Therefore, his language in this Epistle shows a directness yet warmth of feeling, and a free outpouring of thought. Paul s effective ministry began to serious hurt the traffic in magic and images, leading to an uproar in the huge Ephesian theatre. On his last journey to Jerusalem, Paul sailed by Ephesus and summoned the elders of the Ephesian Church to meet him at Miletus, where he delivered his remarkable farewell charge (Ac 20:18 35), Theme and purpose The purpose of the Epistle is to set forth the ground, the course, and the aim and end of the Church of the faithful in Christ Jesus. Paul speaks to the Ephesians as a type or sample of the Church universal. Hence, the Church throughout the Epistle is spoken of in the singular, not in the plural, churches. The Church s foundation, its course, and its end, are his theme. Everywhere the foundation of the Church is in the will of the Father; the course of the Church is by the satisfaction of the Son; the end of the Church is the life in the Holy Spirit [ALFORD]. In chapters 4-6 the same threefold division prevails, for the Church is represented as founded on the counsel of God the Father, who is above all, through all, and in all, reared by the one Lord, Jesus Christ, through the one Spirit, who give their respective graces to the several members. These last are therefore to exercise all these graces in the several relations of life, as husbands, wives, servants, children and church. The conclusion is that we must put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13) if we are to be the church. Ephesians presents that it is the believer s responsibility to walk in accordance with his heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. Ephesians is not written to correct specific errors in a local church but to prevent problems in the church as a whole by encouraging the body of Christ to mature in Him. Believers need to be aware of their position in Christ, the assurance of their faith and salvation because this is the basis for their faith practice in every day life. 7

8 Alternative Recipients The omission of Ephesus in the greeting of some manuscripts has lead a number or scholars to challenge the traditional view of the Ephesian recipient. Two other theories have been held on the question, to whom the Epistle is addressed. There are some who maintain that it was addressed to the Church at Laodicea, and that it is the Epistle to which Paul refers in Col 4:16. But opponents of this say the Epistle to the Colossians was probably written before that to the Ephesians based on the parallel passages in Ephesians bearing marks of being expanded from those in Colossians. It is noted that no single manuscript contains the heading, to the saints that are at Laodicea. Archbishop Usher advanced the second theory: That this Epistle was an encyclical letter which bore the heading, to the saints that are and to the faithful. The name of each Church being inserted in the copy sent to it and that because it was sent to Ephesus first, occasioned its being entitled, the Epistle to the Ephesians. It is argued that Ephesians is really a Christian treatise designed for general use as it involves no controversy and deals with no specific problems in any particular church. Opponents of this state the following objections: 1) It is at variance with the spirit of the Epistle, which is clearly addressed to one set of persons, co-existing in one place, and as one body, and under the same circumstances. 2) The improbability that the apostle, who in two of his Epistles (Second Corinthians and Galatians) has so plainly specified their encyclical character, should have here omitted such specification. 3) The still greater improbability that Paul would have written this circular Epistle to various church in a district, of which Ephesus was the commercial capital, yet not admit it to Ephesus, in which he had spent so long a time and to which he was so affectionately bound. 4) The universal testimony of the ancient Church. 8

9 Lesson 1 Ephesians Chapter 1 & 2 In and Through Christ Ephesians 1-2 (NIV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in 9

10 Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of his glory. Thanksgiving and Prayer 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit [ f ] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Made Alive in Christ 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the 10

11 circumcision (which is done in the body by human hands) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 11

12 Who s Your Daddy? A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I hope he doesn t come over here." But sure enough, the man did come over to their table. "Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice. "Oklahoma," they answered. "Great to have you here in Tennessee," the stranger said. "What do you do for a living?" "I teach at a seminary," he replied. "Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I ve got a really great story for you." And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple. The professor groaned and thought to himself, "Great... Just what I need... another preacher story!" The man started, "See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, Hey boy, Who s your daddy? Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, Who s your daddy? He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. "When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, Who s your daddy? But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, Son, who s your daddy? The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, Who s your daddy? "This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy... "Wait a minute! I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God. " With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, "Boy, you ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it." The distinguished! gentleman got up from the table and said, "Isn t that a great story?" The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn t told me that I was one of God s children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!" And he walked away. 12

13 It can be said, Ephesians is addressed to a group of believers who are indescribably rich in Jesus Christ, but living beggarly existences and because they are ignorant of their wealth, they are walking like they are spiritual beggars! It is because they unaware or forget of who we are in Christ Jesus. In Verse 1, the greeting of this letter, it addresses the letter to the faithful. Others translate it as the saints, meaning those who are holy, set apart for Christ. What does it mean to be the faithful in Christ Jesus? How would you describe someone who is faithful in Christ Jesus? Would you describe yourself as faithful or a saint in Christ. Why or why not? What would make anyone hesitant about calling themselves faithful? Read Ephesians 1:3-14 on your own. What do you immediately sense or feel? Write these things down without thought or filter. Share these with the group. 13

14 Verses 3-14 draws us into the wonderful plan of God in choosing to save us, the redemptive work of his Son Jesus Christ and the seal of our salvation through the Holy Spirit. When you understand the sovereignty of God in all aspects of life from creation to faith, does it make you feel peaceful or anxious? How do you suppose the believers would have received the opening passage of this letter living in a world 30 years after Jesus died? The phrase in Christ (or it s equivalent) appears 35 times in Ephesians, more than any other NT book. There believer is in Christ (1:1), spiritual blessings in Christ (1:3), chosen in Him (1:4), adopted through Jesus Christ (1:5), redeemed in Him (1:7), seated with Him (2:6), created in Christ (2:10) growing in Christ (2:10) etc... Paul is obviously trying to ingrain a message into the minds of the Ephesian believers. What do you suppose this could be? The Fourfold Gospel is the foundation of our Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. It is stated Jesus Christ our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Sanctifier, Jesus Christ our Healer and Jesus Christ our 14

15 Coming King. While it would be shorter to leave out the last three Jesus Christ and say, Jesus Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King our Alliance distinctive calls for us to say it four times with Jesus Christ. It is a ever present reminder that as believers we can never lose sight that it is Jesus Christ who has given us our position in God. What is the danger of a faith, a church, a person that loses sight of Jesus Christ but holds on to his religion? How can you see the above happening and how do we protect against it? Read Verses 1:15-23 In these 9 verses we find Paul s prayer for these believers showing his closeness to this church. He is proud of them as a father in faith to them. He gives thanks for them and perhaps more importantly here has some specific prayers he offers up on their behalf. Circle the things that Paul prays for the believers. What are the results for the believers of each of these things? Why would believers require the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God more? 15

16 Paul s second prayer is for the eyes of their heart to be enlightened. This would presume that he believes the Ephesians eyes are closed or darkened. What does it mean for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened (opened)? What are the dangers for believers who live with their eyes darkened to the hope he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance and his great power for us who believe? In Asia Minor, where Ephesus is located, many lived in dread of spiritual beings and powers who dominated their lives and pagan practices. Paul prayed that His readers would have an experiential knowledge the realization and confidence that as believers in Christ they possessed divine power. Christians do not need to cower in fear of any other spiritual powers. What can the experiential power of the Spirit look like in our lives today? What is the extent or limit to which the power of God is available in our lives and the church today? Paul asserted that Christ fills the church, His very body, with His presence and power. No human institution has greater potential power to effect good than Christ s church. Take a moment to imagine a church that lives out the prayers of Paul today in Ottawa. What excites you about that picture? 16

17 Read Chapter 2:1-10 Paul describes an unflattering picture in the opening verses of this chapter. In verse 3 Paul says, 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Why did Paul choose to remind the believers in Ephesus of their past? In what ways have you followed the ways of the world before coming to know Jesus? In what ways do you find yourself following the ways of the world now? The scriptures call these items the transgressions and sins in which we used to live. It s pretty harsh isn t it? Verse 3 says that all of us lived among them at one time So no one here needs to hide from the fact. Why is it that though we are in Christ, we still find ourselves trapped at times in these ways? In Verse 4-5 Paul contrasts the opening verses with what we have now in Christ. According to Paul, how is it that we now have life? Why is it so important to our faith for us to understand the grace and gift of being made alive? 17

18 In verse 8, in the original Greek, the definite article appears before the word grace, pointing the reader back to the same statement in verse 5, and informing him that the writer is elaborating upon this previously mentioned statement. The reader is urged to go back to the verse 5 and refresh his memory as to the total meaning of Paul s statement, by grace you have been saved. Why do you suppose Paul feels the need to reiterate this point again after already having covered before and especially in chapter 1? In 2:10 it says, For we are God s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. How should it affect your perspective on your purpose in life? We often know what we should do in our faith, what stands in your way the most of living out the faith? Are these things that you can control or overcome on your own? Do you need the help and/or support of others? While good works cannot merit right standing with God, good works are the fruit born in the lives of those whom God has saved. Good works are neither an afterthought nor optional in the lives of believers. God created and saved them for the very purpose of doing good works. 18

19 Read 2:11-22 Verse 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ speaks of the reality of faith for all of us today. In Christ there is not a person who can be excluded from salvation based on their age, gender or race. Formerly there was division, there was hostility between Gentiles and Jews but Jesus destroyed hostility and barriers by setting aside the laws and regulations. What barriers today stand in the way of people coming to faith? Are any of the barriers you see man-made? Are there any barriers that you can see that which hinder people from the grace of Jesus Christ that needs to be removed? The grace of God reveals itself especially in the redemption of Gentiles from paganism into their equality with Jews in the church. In this, Jesus is said to be their peace. Can Jesus be your peace in any of your relationships today? Are there walls and barriers that have been set up in your life that hinder you or another s faith journey? 19

20 Verse 18 tells us we have access to the Father through one Spirit. Though Paul was talking about the Jews and the Gentiles, he is referencing a relationship that had very little in common. On the other hand, for Christians, as we look around the world and see different churches and denominations we need to remember that we too share that one Spirit with them. We need to remember that Christ didn t die for a a single church, denomination, a certain theological ideology but he died for his universal Church. Verses paints a wonderful picture of a building, a holy temple in the Lord, built from the wide array of citizens of God s people with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. What can you conclude from this imagery that Paul has given? Read verse 22 and spend a moment to meditate on it. How does this verse speak to you? What are the key words in this last verse? connected together? (Read John 17:20-23) How are the words Imagine for moment that you were the group of Jews and Gentiles who heard this letter. How would it impact how you did church? 20