Ascension Bible Class May 2021

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV) 15  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 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 of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18  I pray also 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 the saints, 19  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20  which he exerted in Christ when he raised him 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 title that can be given, 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.

The sermon started with contemplating how people and other things have a reputation. Our reputation is what others think and say about us. Listed below is one way you can find out about what others are saying about a local restaurant. What conclusions can we make based on such reviews?

Stella Lindenberg 📷 April 2021 Owner was very rude, menu was very small and not a lot of variety. When my order was wrong and had something I was allergic too on it, was given dirty looks and could hear owner (who made sure to let us know she was the owner) taking poorly about us.

Paul Vander Galien 📷 April 2021 Great staff and wonderful breakfast choices.

Paul G 📷 April 2021 Our group has breakfast at Miss Jen's almost every Tuesday at 8:15 AM. Jen chooses her breakfast special that day based on what she thinks we would like. Our server is very friendly and insists that we drink water between cups of coffee so that we don't get dehydrated. They even provide larger coffee mugs for us. Highly recommended. Food is great as well.

Paul Klawikowski 📷 March 2021 Top notch food. Awesome creative daily specials.

Joe Conlan 📷 March 2021 Awesome place Jen is great food enjoy

Aimee Feint 📷 March 2021 Great food friendly service .

Vernon Kieffer 📷 January 2021 Had a great breakfast, eggs, sausage & potatoes. I went with a business partner & he was very pleased also. They opened at 7:00 AM. Our waitress (no mask) was extremely pleasing & offered us coffee often.

Duane Busche 📷 January 2021 Good food and good service 4 stars

driverVern 📷 December 2020 Service was great. Food was excellent & our waitress was friendly and kept coming back to offer us more coffee. What a great business meeting we had because of the food & service . I will be coming back.

How do such reviews or sources such as Consumer Reports help us make decisions when it comes to spending money?

Great Communication. A pleasure to do business with. Thanks from [Always Model] MiniArt 1/35 35235 Workable Track Links Set for German Pz.Kpfw III/IV Early Type (#361848253205)

Beauty !! Very Well Packed !! Excellent all the Way !! Die Heilige Schrift (Holy Bible) in German published 1887.   (#124657145956)

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Hope to deal with you again. Thank you. 36 Fountain Pen Leather Display Case Organizer Storage 3-Layer Collector Box USA (#193218949373)

Thanks for shopping with us @ Troll Hoard Games! Battle Systems Urban Apocalypse Terrain Shanty Town Core Set - TWD Modern THG (#153653869356)

Excellent seller. Would buy from again. 1/35 Sherman Mk. 1c Firefly Hybrid kit by Dragon FACTORY SEALED (#124435672286)

Great seller! 1/35 Dragon Kit #6330: PzKpfw.IV Ausf.D mit 7.5cm Kw.K.40 L/43 (#124429527622)

Great seller. Well protected package and Quick shipment. Trumpeter 1/350 Russian Navy Tsesarevich Battleship #05337 Sealed (#124352178468)

Fast shipping and excellent service. Recommended seller. CyberHobby 6497 WWII Sd.Kfz.166 Stu.Pz.IV Brummbar Tank 1/35 BONUS details (#124429533835)

Fast payment, great buyer. Fallout Board Game + Atomic Bonds Cooperative Expansion Set Fantasy Flight (#224225621031)

Seller: jfortney2012 (534)

Love my new book! Seven Little Sisters Who Lived On The Round... by Jane Andrews, 1916, Hardcover (#124334183179)

Got item fast and as described Academy 12538 1:72 IL-2M & Panther D Sealed (#124407301469)

Good seller. 1/500 Nichimo IJN Aircraft carrier Battleship Hyuga with photo etched railings. (#124344057463)

Good Seller - Fast Shipping, Well Packed - Thanks! Jigsaw Puzzle Manhattan In Morning New York City 1000 Pieces G54 by Ravensburger (#124364486847)

Purchased multi-volume set, which arrived timely and in good condition Theological Dictionary of the New Testament by Kittel.  Complete Set 1977. (#124315931713)

Arrived in perfect condition Tamiya 24254 1/24 Nissan 350Z Car Open Box Parts sealed. (#124379669722)

What does this passage tell us about our own reputation? 1 Timothy 3:7 (NIV84)

7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

3 John 12 NIV

12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Acts 10:22–23 NIV

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

What reputation did the Ephesians have? How did Paul find out about them?

Why is there reputation a good one for us to model?

How did Paul commend the Ephesians?

What are ways that we can commend others or recommend them to others? What commandment teaches us this?

St. Paul prayed for the Ephesians.

Note that Jesus would often prayer for others and that as our ascended Lord he prays for us now at the right hand of God.

What do these passages teach us about prayer?

Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV) 18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. James 5:16 (NIV) 16  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) 1  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Is praying for others a regular part of your own devotion to God?

What specific things did St. Paul pray for on behalf of the Ephesians?

Getting to Know God Better

When watching TV, I like to learn more about the actors in the show I am watching. I can quickly research this by going to IMDB.com for a summary.

How do you learn more about people?

See how we get to know God better?

Ephesians Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesian Believers / 1:15–23

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Paul prayed for the believers to know God better. How do you get to know someone? By reading biographical information or historical data about him or her? That will help you know a lot about that person, but it won’t enable you to actually know him. If you want to get to know someone, you have to spend time with that person. There is no shortcut, no microwave process. The same holds true with God. Reading the Bible and great works of theology and devotional material is wonderful, but there is no substitute for knowing God personally. What about you? Do you really know God, or do you just know about him? The difference is in spending time with him. Study Jesus’ life in the Gospels to see what he was like on earth two thousand years ago, and get to know him in prayer now. Personal knowledge of Christ will change your life.

St. Paul wants us to know the hope to which we are called. Discuss how sure our hope of heaven is and on whom that hope is based.

St. Paul also wants us to now God’s power for us. What two events in the life of Jesus does Paul refer to as examples of God’s great power?

How does Jesus’ resurrection show God’s power in the past and give us hope for the future?

How does Jesus’ ascension reassure us of God’s power?

When the world thinks of power, what examples come to mind?

How does a war demonstrate power?

How does fighting a disease demonstrate power?

How does reacting to global warming relate to power?

Why is our power limited?

In what ways may God’s power currently seem to be limited?

When will Jesus’ power be fully realized?