Ephesians Sunday School Class- Summary
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Ephesians Chapters 1,2,3 declarations Chapters 4,5,6 Obligations
Ephesians Chapters 1,2,3 declarations Chapters 4,5,6 Obligations
Highlights from the Book of Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians, written by the apostle Paul during his imprisonment in Rome around AD 60-62, serves multiple purposes12. Primarily, Paul wrote to develop and articulate his understanding of church doctrine and to instruct believers on the importance of holy conduct, particularly in Christian family relationships34. The letter presents God's glorious plan of salvation through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the church as the focal point for displaying God's glory eternally134. Paul aims to encourage believers, reframe his imprisonment as God's work, and teach Gentile Christians about their place in God's plan as co-heirs of His promises in Christ5. The epistle also seeks to deepen the readers' knowledge of God in Christ, strengthen them against adversity, and promote unity and love within the church25. Additionally, Paul challenges Christians to face unseen powers of darkness by putting on the "whole armour of God"1. Overall, the letter is designed to confirm and equip a maturing church, presenting a balanced view of the body of Christ and its significance in God's economy2.
I. 1:1-3 Written to the believers in Ephesus
II. 1:3-14 Eight Spiritual Blessings
a. We are chosen vs. 4
b. We are Adopted vs. 5
c. We are Accepted vs. 5
d. We are Redeemed vs. 7
e. We are Enlightened vs. 8-9
f. We Obtain an Inheritance vs.11
g. We are Sealed vs. 13-14
h. We are Secured vs. 14
Why are these spiritual blessings emphasized to the Ephesian believers?
III. Paul’s first prayer for the Ephesian believers
a. Priority of Knowing Christ vs 17
Star athletes-know about them, statistics, accomplishments, but we have no relationship with them
Difference in knowing and knowing about
b. Possibility of Knowing Christ- It is one thing to have a priority, another to know if it is a possibility vs 17-18
c. Purpose of Knowing Christ
i. To know the promise He made to us vs. 18
ii. To know the pleasure He takes in us vs. end of 18
iii. To know the power He can release in us vs. 19-23
d. Plug into the Power of God- There is no sinner that is beyond His rescue
Describe the way Paul is praying for us to know Jesus?
IV. Salvation Pure and Simple
a. The Reason for Salvation vs. 2:1-3
i. We were dead vs.1
ii. We were deceived (living out a lie) vs.2
iii. We were disobedient vs. 2
iv. We were defiled vs.3
v. We were doomed vs. vs.3
b. The remedy of Salvation vs. 4
i. Rich mercy Psalm 103:8–12 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
ii. Great Love vs. 4
iii. Rich Grace vs 5
iv. Free Gift vs. 8
v. Through Faith vs. 8-9 Chilean miners
V. Created for Good Works
a. The Secret of athority vs. 10 Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
b. The Secret of Identity vs. 10
c. The secret of responsibility (reason 8-9 are followed by vs. 10)
d. The secret of ability “which God prepared beforehand”
e. The secret of Fidelity vs. 10 “that we should walk in them”
f. The secret of Availability “ Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
What good works we would do, will melt the hearts of unbelievers?
VI. Unity in Christ vs 3:1-13—These verses explain the difference between Unity and Union
a. Unity is not Union- cat example
b. Unity is not uniformity
c. Concentrating on What you know=disunity
d. Concentrating on who you know=Unity
VII. A Prayer for Inner Strength 3:14-21
a. The Posture of Paul’s Prayer vs. 14 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
b. The Petitions of Paul’s Prayer
i. A prayer for inward Power vs. 16-19
ii. A prayer for inward Presence vs. 17 “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
iii. A prayer for inward Perception Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
iv. A prayer for inward Provision Ephesians 3:19
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
v. The Potential of Paul’s Prayer vs. 20-21
Ultimately what is Paul’s hope as we read his words in chapter 3 of Ephesians?
VIII. The Diversity of Unity
a. The Provision of God’s Gifts vs. 4:7
b. The Price of God’s Gifts vs. 8-10
c. The Purpose of God’s Gifts vs.11-13
d. The Point of God’s Gifts vs.13-15
How does the church function like one body?
IX. A New Lifestyle
a. Our Morality vs. 4:25
b. Our Moods vs.26-27
c. Our Money vs. 28
d. Our Mouths vs. 29
e. Our Manners vs.30-32
(To forgive someone is not to endorse or encourage their behavior) (Kindness should be our lifestyle)
What should we be able to look back and see, that we don’t see after coming to Christ?
X. Walking in Love
a. The command about walking in Love vs.5:1-2
b. The case for walking in Love 5:2
c. The counterfeit to walking in Love 5:3-4
d. The Cost of not Walking in Love vs.5
e. The Conclusion to Walking in Love
i. Remember God’s Love vs.2
ii. Respect God’s Wrath vs.6
iii. Respond to God’s Grace vs. 4 “let there be thanksgiving”
Why are we ever drawn away from following God to these abominable things?
XI. Wives and Husbands
a. Dr. Jeremiah says “I think its interesting to note that Paul’s instructions for marriage in Ephesians 5:22–33 contain twelve total verses. Of that passage, nine verses are directed towards husbands, and just three are directed towards wives. Make of that what you will.”
b. The concept of Submission vs 22 (which follows vs. 21)
c. The center of Submission
d. The context of Submission “Wives submit to your own husbands” “The Bible never says that all men have authority over all women.”
e. The criterion of Submission vs. 24
f. The Consequence of Submission vs.24
g. Husbands Love Your Wives
i. Love your wife unconditionally “as Christ loved the church”
ii. Love your wife sacrificially “and gave himself up for her”
iii. Love your wife purposefully vs. 26-27
iv. Love your wife passionately vs.28-29
How different is the picture of marriage in Ephesians, from the average marriage in the US?
XII. Parents and Children
a. The Obedience of Children
i. Because it is a Principle of Morality vs.6:1
ii. Because it is a Precept of Scripture vs. 2
iii. Because it is Protection for the Children vs. 3
iv. Because it is a promoter of Life vs. 3 “And you may live long on the earth.”
What is the parent’s responsibility in teaching scripture to their children?
XIII. Employee’s Manual
a. The Workers Action vs.5 Colossians 3:22
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
b. The Workers Assignment Ephesians 6:5
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
c. The Workers Attitude “With Fear and Trembling”
d. The Workers Ambition vs.6
e. The Workers Aim vs.7
f. The Workers Award vs. 8
What advantages does working hard at the job God gives you to do have?
XIV. Employers Manual
a. Respect your employees vs. 9 “Masters, do thesame to them. . .”
b. Refrain from Abusive Treatment vs. 9 “and stop you threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yous is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”
c. Remember to Whom you Report vs. 9
What is the biggest difference between employee obligations and employer obligations?
XV. Spiritual Warfare is Real
a. The War is Satanic vs. 11
b. The War is Strategic vs. 11 “schemes of the devil.”
c. Spiritual Weapons are required vs. 13
i. The Belt of Truth vs 14 “Let me tell you something, any time you allow a lie to live in your heart or your soul, you are giving a foothold to Satan.
ii. The Breastplate of Righteousness vs 14 Romans 13:12-14
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
iii. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace vs. 15
iv. The Shield of Faith vs. 16
v. The Helmut of Salvation vs. 17
vi. The Sword of the Spirit vs. 17
How have you seen spiritual warfare play out in your life?
XVI. All Prayer
a. The persistence of the Warrior’s Prayer vs.18 “praying always”
b. The Possibilities of the Warrior’s Prayer vs. 18 “with all prayer”
c. The Petition of the Warrior’s Prayer vs. 18
d. The Power of the Warrior’s Prayer vs. 18 “in the Spirit”
e. The Precision of the Warrior’s prayer vs. “Being watchful to this end.”
f. The perseverance of the Warrior’s prayer “keep alert with all perseverance”
g. The Purpose of the Warrior’s prayer “Praying . . . for all the saints.”
h. The Practice of the Warrior’s prayer “praying at all times”
XVII. Final Greeting
a. Believers pray for one another vs. 19
b. Believers comfort one another vs. 21
c. Believers Bless one another vs. 23-24
