Ephesians 1:15-23 / Second Study

*I have a first study and message of this passage on evernote and google docs

Preparation

Pray

Father, help me to prepare this sermon as if I was preparing it for the queen of England. Help me to remember the importance of preaching. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

Faith in God - love for people

They have faith and love, and yet, they can more deeply be enlightened and have a ‘revelation’

The heart enlightened! Not the brain informed.

his inheritance. You are God’s inheritance

Belief plugs us into his available power

Examples of his power: resurrection, ascension, authority over all

What does he mean by “fullness of him who fills all in all?”

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Glorious

Word-studies

Revelation

Enlightened

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

None for now

Commentary

Context / Overview

Single sentence in greek.

Versus

15

16

17

“The Spirit of wisdom refers to the Holy Spirit’s secret working in Christians to give them insights into God’s Word and the saving knowledge of him.” - ESV Study

18

“The inheritance here is not the Christian’s inheritance but his.” - ESV Study

19

“In Asia Minor many lived in dread of malignant spiritual beings and powers who dominated their lives. Paul prayed his readers would have an experiential knowledge—the realization and confidence that as believers in Christ they possessed divine power. Christians need not cower in fear of evil spiritual powers.William W. Klein, “Ephesians,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1472.”

20

21

22

“under his feet In ancient times, a king who placed his foot upon the neck of his defeated foe demonstrated power and victory.John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eph 1:22.”

23

“The church, filled by Christ, fills all creation as representatives of Christ.” - ESV Study

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

Thinking application (mind)

Feeling application (heart, soul)

Action application (strength)

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

Harry Potter being enlightened to his powers and inheritance

The lady who died poor without the knowledge that she was rich / 18

“On January 6, 1822, the wife of a poor German pastor had a son, never dreaming that he would one day achieve world renown and great wealth. When Heinrich Schliemann was seven years old, a picture of ancient Troy in flames captured his imagination. Contrary to what many people believed, Heinrich argued that Homer’s great poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were based on historic facts and he set out to prove it. In 1873, he uncovered the ancient site of Troy, along with some fabulous treasure which he smuggled out of the country, much to the anger of the Turkish government. Schliemann became a famous, wealthy man because he dared to believe an ancient record and act on his faith. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 14.”

Visual Illustrations

Audience

pains/problems

passions/purposes

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

Pre outline

Main Ideas of the text

So what?

What would this look like lived out?

Title ideas

Potential Outlines