Ephesians 3:1-13 / Sermon Prep

Preparation

Pray

Lord, help me to focus. Give me the energy to complete this task that is before me with all my might.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

Is he in prison now?

What does he mean on behalf of you?

“by revelation”

The mystery is explained in verse 6.

He had a unique calling and didn’t let his past stand in the way

The manifold wisdom of God is made through the church

We are called to have boldness and confidence through our faith in Jesus

What does he mean by verse 13?

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Clarifying and encouraging

Word-studies

None for now

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

None for now

Commentary

Context / Overview

More simply, mysterion is a truth hitherto hidden from human knowledge or understanding but now disclosed by the revelation of God.” (Stott)

Versus

1

“Paul was the apostle to the gentiles, so the sufferings he experienced during his ministry were on their behalf.” - esv study

He is writing from prison.

4

“Paul explains this phrase in v. 6: Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God has invited Gentiles (non-Jews) to join His people—expanding the scope of His salvation to include the entire world, not just Israel (compare Isa 49:6; Gal 3:8). This stunning revelation is the heart of Paul’s gospel and missionary work.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eph 3:4.

6

“The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God.” - the message

8

“Paul considered himself the least because he had persecuted the Church prior to becoming a Christ-follower” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eph 3:8.

10

“By responding faithfully to the gospel, the people of God—Jews and Gentiles together—reveal God’s plan of salvation. John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eph 3:10.”

“Angels are learning about God’s grace through the church! (See 1 Peter 1:10–12.) Satan knows the Scriptures; by keeping His program for the church hidden, God prevented Satan from hindering the plan. Satan took Christ to the cross, and by so doing sealed his own doom. Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 545.”

“It is as if a great drama is being enacted. History is the theatre, the world is the stage, and the church members in every land are the actors. God himself has written the play, and he directs and produces it. Act by act, scene by scene, the story continues to unfold. But who are the audience? They are the cosmic intelligences, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” (Stott)

12

“(Jew and Gentile collectively) have the identical boldness, access, and confidence before God — because it has nothing to do with national or ethnic identity, only with faith in Him (Jesus).” - guzik

13

“Now Paul was imprisoned in Rome, waiting for his trial before Caesar — and there because he knew God wanted Gentiles to share in the good news of the Messiah, and he wasn’t afraid to preach that truth.” - guzik

“Paul was being used, and probably in a greater way than he ever imagined. This Roman imprisonment produced the letters of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. They all certainly have a place in God’s eternal plan.” - Guzik

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

Thinking application (mind)

Feeling application (heart, soul)

Action application (strength)

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

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

Hope for Outsiders

Level ground

Potential Outlines