a study in from the book of ephesians · individual root systems create a forest of trees with...

AstudyinfromtheBookofEphesians

HOW AM I DEMONSTRATING TO THE WORLD EKKLESIA?

Spirituality is not declining in America, but church affiliation is. Even those whose spirituality is grounded in the tenets of Christianity may question the value of the church. We hear things like, “I love Jesus, so why do I need the church?” Such thinking overlooks the great truth of the purpose of the church. Through faith in Christ, God gives us a new identity through Jesus and a new family in His church. Commitment to the church is a nonnegotiable part of Christian discipleship; by neglecting the church we will miss the great benefits and opportunities that come from being affiliated with and committed to God’s people.

In our study, we will explore Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. We’re going to see how God’s encouragement to these first-century Christians still instructs our twenty-first century lives today. During our time together, we’ll discuss the following more deeply:

We are joined together.

We pray for one another.

We support one another.

We encourage one another.

We strengthen one another.

We stand together in spiritual battle.

Let’s dive in and see why we need the church—and why the church needs us.

Author:

Chris James lives in the Boston area where he pastors and ministers to college students at UMass-Lowell. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He co-authored the study Commit: Releasing the Hold of Reluctance.

Commentary Writer:

Warren McWilliams wrote the Bible commentary for “Why Do I Need the Church?” He is a retired professor of Bible at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Okla. Warren is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

SESSION 1

We Are Joined Together

THE POINT When we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.

THE PASSAGE Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:8-10,19-22

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE A few years ago, I visited Muir Woods National Monument—known for its beautiful California redwoods. Dwarfing other tree species, redwoods can grow to over 350 feet high and can be as wide as 24 feet in diameter.

Yet, as massive as these trees are, redwoods possess remarkably shallow root systems. But the roots overcome their lack of depth by extending outward more than 100 feet from the tree’s base. Each tree’s roots then intertwine with the roots of other redwoods. By joining together, the individual root systems create a forest of trees with staggering strength.

The simple reality is that redwood trees were not created to exist in isolation—and neither were we. Just as a redwood tree requires a forest of other redwood trees in order to stand, so also the Christian requires a spiritual family in order to grow. The church—the body of Christ—is that family. Being a part of Christ’s church is not an option. Through Jesus, God designed us to live and serve together as His body.

THE SETTING The apostle Paul wrote to a church he knew well. He spent about three years in Ephesus on his missionary journeys (Acts 20:31). Since the name Ephesus does not appear in some early copies of his book (Eph. 1:1), some scholars believe Paul wrote a letter to several churches in the area around Ephesus, and the book we have was preserved in Ephesus. Paul, as a church planter, wrote many letters to churches and church leaders (such as Timothy and Titus).

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 7, the “Why Do I Need the Church?” poster, to introduce the major theme of this study, along with the special focus of each session.

Discuss: Question #1 on page 81 of the PSG: “When have you felt most at home with a group of people?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 82 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of each part of the body of Christ by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 82 of the PSG: “When we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.”

Activity (optional): In advance, gather some items from nature. Display various items—a small branch of a tree with its leaves, a plant, an acorn, or a flower—and ask members to point out various parts of the vegetation that are necessary for its survival. Ask members how they might relate what they see to the interrelatedness of the church.

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 3, the “Exiles of 1 Peter” poster, to give context to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. (Note: The city of Ephesus is also on the map.)

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for the gift of the church. Ask Him to help group members gain a greater understanding and a deeper love for the church through this study.

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 1:20-23

20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one

to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Read: Ask a group member to read aloud Ephesians 1:20-23 on page 83 of the PSG.

Leader Pack: In advance, make copies of Pack Item 8, “Ephesians” handout, and distribute them to your group members. Use this handout to give an overview of this unit’s Scripture focus.

Recap: The New Testament writers used various metaphors to describe God’s church, such as flock, temple, household, gathering, and so forth. But the most frequently used metaphor is “the body.” Through this picture, we learn that each Christ-follower is a member (or part) of the body while Jesus Christ is the head. Bodies can have multiple hands, feet, fingers, toes, ears, eyes, hairs, and even kidneys. But a body possesses only one head. So, if the church is considered a body and that body can have just one head, then it only makes sense that Jesus would be the head.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 83 of the PSG: “How is being a part of a church different from being a part of any other organization?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

WhatdoesJesusbeingheadofthechurchreallylooklike?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 83 and 84 of the PSG. Consider what this passage tells us about God’s demonstration of His power through His Son, Jesus:

God raised Jesus from the dead.

God seated Jesus at His right hand in a place of authority over every other ruler.

God put everything under Jesus’ authority.

God gave Jesus an eternal rule—not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

God appointed Jesus as head over everything for the church.

God appointed Jesus to fill all things in every way; in other words, everything finds its purpose in Jesus.

Transition: Christ is the head of His body, the church. In the next verses, we also see that Christ brought us into His church by His grace.

EPHESIANS 1:20-23 COMMENTARY

[VERSE 20] Paul’s favorite word picture for the nature of the church was the body of Christ. He introduced this theme in the context of prayer for the Ephesian Christians (1:16-19). Paul stressed God’s power (v. 19) and gave two examples of how God had exercised His power in the story of Jesus (v. 20). First, God had raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus was central to Paul’s preaching and the Christian faith in general (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Second, God placed Jesus at his right hand. Being at the Father’s “right hand” points to Jesus’ enthronement. The New Testament authors often referred to Psalm 110:1 being fulfilled in Jesus (Heb. 10:12). After His resurrection, Jesus ascended and reigns in the heavens. The risen Christ was both in the presence of God the Father and with His followers.

[VERSE 21] Paul stressed the risen Christ’s power and supremacy in two ways in this verse. First, Christ is superior to every kind of spiritual being. Paul used several words familiar to his first-century readers. Christ is supreme over every ruler and authority, power and dominion. The risen Christ is superior to every title given. In Colossians 1:16 Paul noted that Christ was involved in the creation of the world and therefore had supremacy over such beings. Those spiritual beings that opposed God were defeated by Christ (Col. 2:15). Later in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul would stress that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war with evil forces (Eph. 6:12). Second, Paul noted that the risen Christ reigns now and in the future. Paul wanted to assure his readers and us that Christ is supreme in this age and in the one to come.

[VERSE 22] Here Paul quoted Psalm 8:6. David praised God for creating humans and giving them authority over God’s creation. Paul was inspired to apply this truth to Jesus in particular. Paul introduced the concept of the church in this verse. Most first-century Christians generally thought of the church as a local congregation, but here Paul pointed to the universal church or all Christians in all places. The

universal church is sometimes thought of as the invisible church, but Paul stressed its reality. He emphasized that Christ is its head. This term can mean source or origin in some contexts, but a primary meaning is the authority of the “head.” Baptists and other Christians conduct business meetings as a democracy, but ideally Christ is the Head or Lord of all church decision-making.

[VERSE 23] Paul often described the church as the body of Christ. His concern was the relation of Christ, the head of the body, to the rest of the body. Paul was inspired to use this analogy, but some readers might recall Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ as Paul went to Damascus. Christ indicated that when Paul persecuted the church, he was in effect persecuting Christ Himself (Acts 9:5). Perhaps Paul then started to realize the close connection between Christ and His “body,” the church. His word picture of the church as the body of Christ might be familiar to you. Many Christians, however, routinely think of the church as an institution or a building. The more we realize the truth Paul presented in this analogy, the more we will recognize the need for the church in our lives as Christians. If the church were merely a human organization or a physical building, our participation might seem insignificant. If, however, you and I are important parts of Christ’s body, we need to be involved in the church’s activities.

The last part of verse 23 is interpreted in various ways by commentators today. The language of fullness and fills can be confusing. Here Paul was still dealing with the relation of Christ to His church. Paul later mentioned that Christians should be “filled with all the fullness of God” (3:19). In his letter to the Colossian church, Paul stressed that the fullness of God dwelt in Christ and believers “have been filled by him” (Col. 2:9-10). Ephesians 1:23 likely means the risen and exalted Christ fills His church. The church is empowered by the risen Christ for ministry in the world.

EPHESIANS 2:8-10

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.


Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 84 and 85 of the PSG. Few passages of Scripture sum up Jesus’ work on our behalf like Ephesians 2:8-9:

We are saved. The need to be saved implies peril. We normally don’t cry out for rescue from a party or game night. We cry for help when our lives are in danger.

We are saved by grace! Grace describes God’s undeserved favor toward sinful humanity. The One we’ve sinned against initiates the salvation we need.

We are saved by grace through faith. Some people think faith is simply a shot in the dark, an intellectual leap, or just believing without seeing. That’s not how the Bible describes faith. Faith is accepting the truth about who Jesus is and what He has done to reconcile us to God.

Every aspect of our salvation is God’s gift to us—not work done by us. Twice in this passage, Paul reminded us that no work on our part can earn salvation. Rather, the entire process is a gift of God’s grace. We don’t enter Christ’s church by paying dues, signing a roster, or performing good works. God’s sovereign, merciful, and gracious work on our behalf enables us to be saved and to come into His church.

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain Paul’s description of God’s workmanship.

Recap: Why does God save sinners like you and me? We might think it’s simply because He loves us. God most certainly loves us, but He saves us for a bigger reason than just to display His love. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (v. 10). Do you see that distinction? God doesn’t save us by our good works; He saves us for His good works. God saves us to show His divine handiwork. Through our redeemed lives, He displays for the world His character, love, and glory. And the local church is the place where He does that best.

Discuss: Question #3 on page 85 of the PSG: “What’s the relationship between grace, faith, and works?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

HowdoesitchangeourperspectivewhenweviewourselvesasGod’sworkmanship?

Transition: In the next verses, we see that we are members in Christ’s church.


[VERSE 8] Paul introduced the topic of the church in chapter 1. The basis for the church, both universal and local, is our salvation (1:7-8). In chapter 2 Paul clarified the nature of our salvation (2:1-10) and the relation of our salvation to our experience in the church. For many readers, this section of Ephesians will be very familiar. Paul wrote to fellow Christians. He wanted them to recall the radical transformation they experienced when they received Jesus as Lord and Savior. In the opening verses of chapter 2 Paul contrasted the before and after of the Christian’s salvation experience. Unsaved people were spiritually “dead” because of their sins (2:1). The salvation offered and initiated by God “made us alive” (v. 5). Paul highlighted that our salvation is based on God’s grace. A traditional description or definition of “grace” is God’s unmerited favor. Grace cannot be earned; grace is God’s gift. New Testament authors described God in many ways, but “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16) is a favorite of many readers. Paul often underscored God’s displeasure with human sin, but he pointed to God’s love and grace as the basis for our salvation. God provides that salvation to sinners by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.

Paul noted both the divine initiative in salvation, God’s grace, and the necessary human response, faith. Like “grace,” the word “faith” is sometimes difficult for people today to understand. Paul did not primarily mean an intellectual comprehension of truths about Jesus, although correct doctrine is important. Paul stressed faith as trust and commitment. Faith is the appropriate and necessary response by humans to God’s gracious offer of salvation through Jesus. Although our “faith” is essential, Paul emphasized that ultimately salvation is not from yourselves.

[VERSE 9] If you and I could contribute to our salvation, we might be tempted to boast about what we accomplished. Since we live in a culture that promotes self-confidence and self-expression, we need to resist the urge to consider salvation a personal do-it-yourself project. God is the author and source of our salvation. Paul often criticized human works as a way to gain salvation. Often he had in mind Jewish people who insisted that works of the law brought merit. For example, he reminded the Galatians that their salvation was based on faith in Christ, not works of the Jewish law (Gal. 2:15-16). Most readers today do not have a Jewish background, but Paul’s emphasis on grace is still relevant. A self-centered culture will have trouble acknowledging that salvation is God’s work, not ours. Paul warned against boasting about human achievement. He noted that our boasting should be God-centered (1 Cor. 1:31).

[VERSE 10] Many Christians recognize they are saved by grace through faith, highlighted by Paul in verses 8 and 9. Verse 10, however, is sometimes neglected. A summary of verses 8 through 10 would be that we are saved by grace through faith for good works. In verse 9 Paul was emphatic that our good deeds, or works, could not save us. We do not earn divine favor by trying to impress God with our deeds. But Paul was equally clear that good deeds should be the natural and normal result of salvation. Paul described believers as God’s workmanship. Bible scholars often note that the Greek word Paul used is the basis for our English word poem. Paul used the same word in Romans 1:20 to describe the world created by God (“what he has made”). We do not create ourselves through our efforts. God created us for a purpose, and we honor God through our good deeds. In his letter to Titus, Paul noted that Christians should be “eager to do good works” (Titus 2:14). Paul understood that from God’s eternal perspective our good deeds are a crucial part of being saved. Later in Ephesians Paul would dig deep into the ethical aspects of the Christian life. Some Bible scholars suggest that a pattern in many of Paul’s letters is a discussion of doctrine followed by ethics or practical application. In general Paul’s discussion of our good works occurs in chapters 4 to 6 of this letter.

EPHESIANS 2:19-22

19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain Paul’s description of us as no longer foreigners and strangers.

Recap: God has always had a people. The Old Testament records God calling Israel to Himself. They were God’s chosen people among the nations (the Gentiles). God commanded the Jews to obey Him, tell of His greatness, and believe His promises—the greatest of which was the promise of salvation for both Jew and Gentile alike.

Discuss: Question #4 on page 86 of the PSG: “What are the responsibilities and blessings of being a member of God’s household?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

HowcanweacknowledgeourdifferencesbutcelebratewhatwehaveincommoninChrist?

Recap: Our culture is becoming increasingly individualistic. It’s hard not to allow that reality to affect the way we view the church. But Scripture presents a radically different approach. The church is not simply about me or my needs. The church is God’s household—His family. It’s the Body for whom Christ died. And when we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 86 of the PSG: “How has the church played a significant role in your life?”

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “Where Do I Fit In?” on page 87 of the PSG (page 105 in this Leader Guide) to help them consider their place in the church.

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “When we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.”

Activity (optional): Use the model option on page 105 of this Leader Guide to help your group understand the importance of the bond the church maintains.


[VERSE 19] Paul accentuated that Christians are united in the church because of our common faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our salvation in Christ brings Christians together. Our common salvation by grace through faith in Christ should impact our social relations. Humans are social beings, and we generally do not live in isolation from other people. In Paul’s era and today, however, humans often create barriers to separate themselves from people they do not like. The way faith in Jesus overcame the traditional hostility between Jews and Gentiles. These two groups, who typically did not like each other, were “brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). Jewish and Gentile Christians were expected to work together for the cause of Christ in His body, the church.

Paul’s readers were no longer foreigners and strangers. The racial or ethnic discrimination that separated Jews and Gentiles in the past should be eliminated in the body of Christ. Now, Christians are all citizens with the saints. For us citizenship might not seem like a big deal, unless you were naturalized to become an American citizen. Paul used this political term to spotlight the common bond among believers. Saints referred to all Christians, who were expected to live holy, pure lives. The “saints” were not necessarily super-Christians. Paul addressed this letter to “the faithful saints in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1). Paul also used the analogy of the church as God’s household. Today we often refer to our church as our family. Some call fellow Christians brother and sister.

[VERSE 20] Paul developed the analogy of the church as a building in this verse. Although today we often think of our church as a building, Paul’s readers likely met in house churches. Still, they would understand this figure of speech. A building typically has a foundation. Paul identified the foundation of the church as the apostles and prophets. By “prophets” Paul might mean Old Testament prophets or Christian prophets in the first century. The word “apostles” refers to people appointed for a task, sent with a particular assignment. Continuing with his building analogy for the church, Paul noted the significance of Jesus as the church’s cornerstone. Paul likely meant a large stone that was part of the foundation of a building. Paul liked the organic analogy for the church as a body, but he wanted to stress here that the church is built on faith in Jesus.

[VERSE 21] Just as Christians can be symbolized as parts of a body, so we are components of a building constructed by God. Paul noted believers resemble a holy temple in the Lord. Jewish Christians, in particular, would have been familiar with the large temple in Jerusalem.

The first temple, built by King Solomon, had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The temple in Paul’s day was the one built by Herod the Great. Although Jewish Christians visited the temple early in church history, that temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Although Paul used the analogy of the church as a temple, it did not mean a literal building. In 2 Corinthians 6:16 the church is the “temple of the living God.” In other contexts, the individual Christian could be considered a temple. Christians should, for example, avoid sexual sins because the human “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19).

[VERSE 22] Paul concluded this presentation of the church as a building by stressing that God unified His people. Since he noted the tension between Jews and Gentiles earlier in this chapter, here he seemed to accent the new unity in Christ. Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians should be unified by their faith in Christ. Paul emphasized the overcoming of ethnic bias in other letters. In Galatians 3:28, he highlighted ethnic, economic, and gender discrimination. He sounded a similar note in Colossians 3:11.

Read the article “Ephesus: A Historical Overview” in the Summer 2020 issue of Biblical Illustrator.

Previous Biblical Illustrator articles “His Workmanship: A Word Study” (Fall 2019), “Ephesians’ Unique Message” (Fall 2010), “Ephesus, A Historical Survey” (Spring 2008), and “Temples of the First Century” (Spring 2008) relate to this lesson and can be found in the Leader Pack’s digital files or can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life.

LIVEITOUT

Guide: Direct group members to page 88 of the PSG. Encourage them to choose one of the following applications:

Confess. In order to adopt a right mindset of your part in Christ’s church, confess any wrong mindsets or attitudes you hold (or have previously held) about individuals in your local church.

Submit. Re-read Ephesians 1:20-23 and reflect upon the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Submit your life to His authority and control.

Commit. If you’re not a member of a local church, pursue membership to begin experiencing the beauty of living “together” in the household of God. This might mean going through a membership class or talking to a pastor. If you’re already a member, commit yourself anew to the covenant and mission of your church.

WrapItUpTransition: Read or restate the final paragraph from page 88 of the PSG.

Just as the California redwoods grow by the united togetherness of their roots, so also Christians grow by the united togetherness of our souls. Our experiences with church in the past can affect our approach to church today. But God’s grace can help us embrace a healthy view of our role in Christ’s church.

Activity (optional): Use the puzzle option on page 103 of this Leader Guide to help your group understand the importance of each member.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for the church. Ask Him to help us be a blessing to our church as we seek to honor God.

ENGAGE

Where Do I Fit In? Today’s text portrays the church as the body of Christ and the house of God. Considering these metaphors, describe how you might fit into each portrait.

As part of Christ’s body, I would be the ________. I fit in by doing this:

As part of God’s house, I would be the _________. I fit in this way:

Offer a prayer thanking God for making it possible to fit into His purpose.

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, obtain a plastic model kit (car, airplane, etc.), and a tube of cement. Cement a few of the pieces together and bring them to class along with a few other pieces from the kit. Give the pieces that are cemented together to some class members, then ask them to take the pieces apart without breaking them. If the cement is set, they will not be able to do so. Explain that cement does not simply form an adhesive, but it actually melts the parts together and makes them one piece. You cannot separate them without damaging them. Likewise, church members are joined together, and one member’s actions affect the others.

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, obtain a small jigsaw puzzle that can be put together rather quickly. Take a few key pieces out of the box, but don’t tell anyone that you’ve removed them. Invite one or two volunteers to put together the puzzle. They will soon notice that some of the pieces are missing, so the picture is incomplete. In the same way, every member of the church has something unique to contribute to the church. Without these members, the church is not complete.

SESSION 2

We Pray for One Another

THE POINT The church is strengthened as we pray.

THE PASSAGE Ephesians 3:14-21

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Some things are just better when done with a group. It’s one thing to grab a basketball and shoot hoops, but you can’t play a game of basketball by yourself; it takes a team. Almost 60 million people run for exercise, and almost 111 million walk for the same reason.7 This discipline is commendable, yet many more decide to run or walk each year, only to quit after a few weeks—or days. What causes some people to stick it out and others to quit?

While we might suggest many reasons, a great motivator can be the presence of others. It’s easy to say, “I’ve gone far enough,” when you’re by yourself, but runners are great at encouraging each other to keep going. Marathon runners are known for verbally “high-fiving” each other. They know it’s hard, and they support one another.

This truth applies to our prayer lives as well. God hears the prayer of the individual, but we experience something wonderful when we gather with others to pray. As a church, we need one another, and we support one another through our prayers.

THE SETTING Paul was a pray-er! He prayed for the churches he established (Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:4). He encouraged other Christians to pray for him and other needs in their locales (Phil. 4:6). He urged them to pray regularly (1 Thess. 5:17). One of his most famous prayers is his request for divine deliverance from the thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-10). God did not remove the thorn, but Paul learned to rely on God’s power in his struggles.

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Activity (optional): In advance, prepare to show a video clip of unusual or funny hobbies some people have enjoyed. Then ask Question #1.

NOTE: A video option can be found at BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra.

Discuss: Question #1 on page 89 of the PSG: “What are some of your favorite group hobbies or pastimes?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 90 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of prayer by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 90 of the PSG: “The church is strengthened as we pray.”

Activity (optional): Use the nutrient option on page 115 of this Leader Guide to help your group understand the importance of prayer for the church.

Leader Pack: In advance, make copies of Pack Item 9, “Praying for Others” handout, to help group members know how to best pray for one

another and the church.

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for the gift of prayer. Ask Him to give group members wisdom to know how to strengthen the church through prayer.

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 3:14-17A

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Read: Ask a group member to read aloud Ephesians 3:14-17a on page 91 of the PSG.

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the significance of kneeling in prayer.

Recap: Culture tends to reduce prayer to only asking God for tangible things in times of pressing need. Christians, on the other hand, should hold a much wider view of prayer. Don’t get me wrong; God assuredly cares about our needs. In another letter, Paul said we are to pray about everything (Phil. 4:6)! We should keep praying for God’s provision in our lives, but prayer involves much more than asking for our own concrete needs.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 91 of the PSG: “How does prayer help us experience the power and presence of Christ?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

WhatdoesitreallymeanforChristtodwellinaperson’sheart?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 91 and 92 of the PSG. This passage challenges us to broaden our prayers in at least two ways.

Pray for others, not just ourselves. We should especially pray for fellow believers. God is the One “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (v. 15). Christ’s church includes members from every nation on earth. We should pray for believers in our church and around the world.

Pray for spiritual needs, not just physical. Like Paul, we can pray that God would strengthen our brothers and sisters through the Holy Spirit’s power.

Recap: Humanly speaking, obeying God rightly is impossible. If we are to have any hope of regularly following what our heavenly Father has commanded us, then we must depend on His power. The reality is we are desperate apart from His power, so we pray to be strengthened with power from the Holy Spirit—and we are to pray that same prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

All of these spiritual realities grow through prayer. God uses the prayers of fellow Christians to empower our obedience, comfort our hearts, and mature our faith. And we can pray that He will do the same for them.

Transition: We are to pray for the power and presence of Christ to be manifested through His church. In the next verses, we learn that we should also pray for a deeper sense of God’s love.

EPHESIANS 3:14-17A COMMENTARY

[VERSE 14] Paul often prayed for the churches he had established and other Christians. Although he mentioned many issues, in verses 14-17a he specially wanted his readers to experience the power and presence of the risen Christ in their lives. For this reason is repeated from 3:1. For several verses Paul had focused on the experiences of Gentile Christians in the church. In verse 14 he moved on to highlight his prayer for the church. Paul wrote that he would kneel as he prayed. He might have literally gone to his knees. The typical Jewish man would stand while praying. Sometimes, however, a Jew would kneel. Paul might also have used kneeling in Ephesians 3:14 figuratively, suggesting the depth of his feeling for the Ephesian Christians and his reverence for God. Paul prayed to God the Father. Although Paul mentioned all three Persons of the Trinity in this letter, he prayed to the Father here. Today many Bible students realize that calling God our “Father” does not relegate Him to human masculine gender. Although the biblical authors primarily used masculine imagery for God, God is sometimes described with feminine traits, such as a mother comforting a child (Isa. 66:13). Paul used the imagery of God as Father to reinforce God’s concern for His people.

[VERSE 15] This verse is challenging to many Bible students. Paul’s main point is that our understanding of human families and fatherhood is related to our divine Father. Paul did not mean that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were literally a heavenly family. To paraphrase Paul, our human understanding of the best traits of a father reflect the traits of God the Father.

[VERSE 16] Here Paul moved to the heart of his prayer for the church at Ephesus. The prayer is addressed to God. Now we see what we might call Paul’s prayer list. He mentioned some of his prayer concerns about the church at Ephesus earlier (vv. 16-19). Paul was always concerned about young Christians becoming more mature in their walk with Christ. Christians were in the minority in a pagan culture in the first century, so they faced many challenges. Paul wanted them to tap into the power of the triune God. They would not face life’s obstacles alone. God would strengthen them, and as the body of Christ they could encourage each other. Paul assured his first-century readers and us that they could be strengthened with power. When they felt weak, they should recall the power of God as a steady resource. Some Christians speculate about God’s omnipotence, but Paul highlighted God’s power as a resource for the Christian life. Paul also affirmed the riches of his glory. In the Bible, the “glory” of God is usually His majesty or radiance. Here Paul featured God as a power or energy source for those who might be struggling in the Christian life.

Although Paul emphasized the church as the body of Christ in this letter, he did not forget about the concerns of individual Christians. He prayed God would strengthen each believer in his or her inner being. Paul was concerned about the total person, not just “spiritual” issues. When Paul mentioned a person’s “inner being,” he probably meant abilities humans have such as reason or conscience. Paul referred to the Holy Spirit many times in his letters, often how the Holy Spirit is a resource for daily living. God’s Spirit energized the early church in a dramatic way on the day of Pentecost, but Paul stressed we should “walk by the Spirit” and manifest the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16,22-26).

[VERSE 17A] Another way God strengthens His people is by the indwelling of Christ in your hearts. Although Paul typically described a Christian as someone “in Christ” (Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17), here he noted Christ’s being in us. Either way Paul highlighted the intimate, personal relation between Christ and His followers. Christ dwells in our hearts. For biblical writers the heart represented our basic character or selfhood, sort of like the “inner being” in verse 16. Bible scholars note that the word dwell suggests a long-term relationship, not a temporary visit.

EPHESIANS 3:17B-19

17b I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Read: Ask a group member to read aloud Ephesians 3:17b-19 on page 92 of the PSG.

Discuss: Question #3 on page 92 of the PSG: “What are some ways you’ve experienced the depth and breadth of God’s love?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Whomdoyouknowwhoseemsparticularlyrootedandestablishedinlove?

Recap: Love is most definitely a feeling—and a very powerful one at that—but it is far more than a feeling. Love is actually an action. We

see this play out in our own lives. For example, a father frequently tells his child he loves him, but he demonstrates that love by feeding him, clothing him, and sacrificing his time for him. Moreover, as a parent, the father sees the bigger picture of life. Just as a father installs a fence around the backyard to allow his young child to play freely while being protected from outside danger, so too God places boundaries around His beloved children in His Word. Love is something we do—love in action.

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain what it means to be rooted and established in love.

Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 92 and 94 of the PSG. When it comes to God’s love, we must also hold the “feeling” and “doing” in proper balance. That’s what Paul was ultimately praying for the Ephesian believers. And it’s what you and I should be praying for each other in Christ’s church.

Pray we would constantly remember that it was God’s love that saved us and it is God’s love that sustains us.

Pray we would grow in understanding the full measure of God’s love and character.

Pray we would be astounded by the sacrificial love of Jesus on the cross.

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “My Prayer List,” on page 93 of the PSG (page 115 in this Leader Guide) to help them apply these biblical principles concerning prayer.

Transition: In the next verses, we also learn that we should also pray that God would be glorified through His church.

EPHESIANS 3:17B-19 COMMENTARY

[VERSE 17B] Paul repeated I pray that (Eph. 3:16) as he continued his prayer for Ephesian Christians. He did not focus on individual concerns. In general, here he put forth his desire for the spiritual and moral development of his readers. He hoped they would develop a deeper sense of God’s love. He mixed two word pictures together as he wrote rooted and firmly established about their life in Christ. “Rooted” is an agricultural image, reflecting the planting and growth of a flower, bush, or tree. “Established” could be rendered “grounded” and points to the analogy of the church as a building with a strong foundation. With either the agricultural or construction word picture, Paul emphasized the role of love in the growth and maturation of the Christian life. Paul dealt with the topic of love in many letters, with 1 Corinthians 13 perhaps being the most familiar. The Greek language had many words translated “love,” but Paul typically used agape, the kind of love God has for us. Agape is the sacrificial, unselfish love that should characterize the Christian life.

[VERSE 18] Paul prayed that Christians would begin to comprehend the love God has for His people. One way to paraphrase Paul’s point is that he wanted us to try to wrap our minds around the immensity of God’s love. John wrote “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16) and in John 3:16 captured God’s love for the world. Paul also acknowledged love as God’s motive for providing salvation for a lost world. Paul used spatial terms to point to the vastness of God’s love. As hard as we might try, as finite human beings we cannot truly comprehend God’s love. We can offer Greek word studies or find weak analogies for love on the human level, but the immensity of God’s love for us and His church is hard to capture. Paul knew that all the saints shared the desire to understand and appreciate God’s love at a deeper level.

[VERSE 19] Here Paul shifted from God’s love (Eph. 3:18) to Christ’s love. Paul’s main point continued in verse 19, since he understood that Christ is the unique Son of God. Unfortunately, today we sometimes think of God the Father as stern and angry but Jesus as loving and compassionate. Paul knew that the entirety of God has a consistent character. Paul did not dig into the details of the doctrine of the Trinity, but he sometimes accented different aspects of God. In this letter he at times mentioned Father, Son, and Spirit. Although ultimately Christ’s love will surpass finite human knowledge, we should strive to understand and respond to Christ’s love as much as we can. Certainly, consistent study of God’s written Word will help us in this endeavor. For some of us, familiar Christian songs capture some of the depth of divine love. By its title, the hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” points to the truth Paul upheld.

Paul’s prayer that Christians be filled with all the fullness of God might be puzzling to some readers. Sometimes Paul used the idea of fullness to highlight the full deity of Jesus as God’s unique Son. Paul noted “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Col. 1:19). Also, “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ” (2:9). In Ephesians 3:19, Paul did not contradict his other writings. His point here was that strong, maturing Christians can have a long-term, intimate relation with God. We are not divine as Jesus is, but God dwells in us. To be full of God for us means we have a strong sense of God’s presence and guidance in our daily lives. Paul knew the temptations that faced first-century Christians. Their loyalty to God would be challenged on a regular basis. Throughout his writings and

ministry, Paul accented different characteristics of God. In this prayer God’s love, manifested supremely in His Son, was the main focus. Because of God’s love, salvation is available (Eph. 2:4-5). As Paul wrote to believers who had already experienced the love and grace of God, he prayed for their growing comprehension of what God had done for them through Jesus.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Recap: Paul challenged us with yet another principle of praying together in Christ’s church. This principle has the possibility of radically changing our lives, affecting our worship, and altering our prayers. That principle is this: prayer is not about us. It’s ultimately about God and His glory. Paul finished his prayer with climactic words of worship to God. He didn’t just tack on an “amen.” Instead, he prayed, “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think” (v. 20).

Discuss: Question #4 on page 95 of the PSG: “When has God exceeded your expectations?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

HowdoweknowwhatbringsglorytoGod?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 95 of the PSG. Those words demand our attention. Two important principles stand out:

God is able to do more than we ask. He created all things. He orders all things. He sustains all things. God saves His people. He empowers His people. He provides for His people. He knows all things, and He can do all things. Nothing is too difficult for Him. The same God who put the stars and planets in their celestial orbits also placed every hair on your head. He knows you by name. This truth should give us enormous confidence as we pray for one another.

In contrast to the power and greatness of God, we tend to pray smaller, more limited prayers. God “is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.” This truth doesn’t indict us as much as it humanizes us. In our humanity, we often bring to God our needs and concerns, asking Him to work in specific ways. We even craft a perceived solution to the matter. Through prayer, we then ask God to do it. But what we often fail to realize is that all the best possible solutions we can concoct pale in comparison to the power and ability of God. He’s able to go above and beyond what we ask or think.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 95 of the PSG: “What are some specific ways our group can pray for the church?”

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “The church is strengthened as we pray.”


[VERSE 20] Bible scholars frequently describe the conclusion of Paul’s prayer as a doxology, or a statement of praise. Prayer is primarily a conversation with God. The familiar acrostic for the types of prayer (ACTS) includes adoration or praise. Paul’s prayer was primarily an intercessory prayer, meaning a prayer for other people. The depth of his concern for his readers is obvious. Although he wrote down the gist of his prayer for his first-century readers, his primary audience in prayer was God. Rather than using the word God, Paul described God as him who is able. Here Paul referred to a frequent theme in this letter, the power of God. For example, he noted “the immeasurable greatness of his power” (Eph. 1:19). God had demonstrated His power in many ways, such as raising Jesus from the dead (v. 20). God’s power was available to Christians to enable them to live for Christ (3:16).

Earlier Paul emphasized the vastness of God’s love in Christ (vv. 18-19). In verse 20 the magnitude of God’s power is the focus. Paul used

similar language in the prayer that concluded his letter to the church at Rome: “Now to him who is able to strengthen you” (Rom. 16:25). Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew that first-century readers needed to be reminded that God was all-powerful. Romans typically thought of the emperor as supreme, but God in fact is Lord over all. Just as his readers would struggle to comprehend God’s love, so the immensity of God’s power was above and beyond what we might think or even think of asking God to do for us. Paul’s main point was that this divine power was available to empower Christians. God’s power works in us. This emphasis on God’s empowering His people appears in other texts, such as the doxology at the end of the letter by Jude (Jude 24-25).

Paul’s emphasis on God’s power might relate to the worship of Artemis, a pagan god in Ephesus. Paul’s preaching in Ephesus led to a riot with people chanting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28,34). Perhaps Paul wanted to remind his readers that God alone is almighty!

[VERSE 21] Paul was not inspired to give a full description of God in this prayer, but he mentioned several key aspects of God’s nature and character, such as God’s love and power. The traditional mealtime blessing that begins “God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food” echoes Paul emphasis on God’s greatness and goodness.

Paul reminded his readers that everything we do should glorify God. In other letters he connected glorifying God to everyday activities. For example, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Our actions as Christians can help other people, but the credit for those actions should go to God.

In verse 21 Paul mentioned both the church and Christ Jesus again. Throughout this letter so far Paul stressed the close connection between the Savior and saved people. Paul’s favorite analogy for the church was the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). Although Paul wrote about church and Christ often, he saw an intimate connection between them. God is glorified by the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. God is also glorified by Christ’s followers as they serve Him faithfully. Earlier we saw that Paul thought of the church both as a local congregation and a universal fellowship of believers. Here Paul pondered the impact of the church to all generations (or, “throughout all generations” ESV). Local congregations today celebrate anniversaries, such as the centennial of a church, but Paul envisioned the global and eternal impact of Christ’s church, forever and ever. The closing Amen signals the end of Paul’s prayer, but in later chapters he gave further instructions on living to glorify God.

Previous Biblical Illustrator articles “ ‘Love’ in Paul’s Writings” (Spring 2018), “The Work of the Holy Spirit: A Biblical Overview” (Summer 2012), and “To Be a Saint” (Winter 2008-2009) relate to this lesson and can be found in the Leader Pack’s digital files or can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life.

LIVEITOUT


Confess. In order to realign your prayer life in a more God-centered, others-focused direction, confess to God the ways you’ve prayed in self-centered ways.

Pray. If you’re not in a regular discipline of prayer, begin now. Keep a journal of your prayer requests to ensure you are also praying for the spiritual and physical needs of others.

Pray together. The best way to grow in praying together in Christ’s church is by praying together in Christ’s church! Commit to a regular time to meet and pray with one or two other believers from your Bible study group.


Culture may only see prayer as a means to ask God for help in times of trouble, but for Christians, it’s our lifeline for both physical sustenance and spiritual vitality. Let’s pray and live for the glory of God.

Activity (optional): Use the prayer groups option on page 115 of this Leader Guide to apply the principles we’ve studied in this session.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for allowing us to plead with Him on behalf of others. Ask Him for many answered prayers.

ENGAGE

My Prayer List. Some people keep an ongoing prayer list. Name three people you could add to your list. Make a note of needs each person might have. Next, write a short prayer for each person.

I’m praying for . . .

This person needs . . .

Here’s my prayer:



Here’s my prayer:



Here’s my prayer:

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, gather various nutrients that are known to promote health. These would include multivitamins, nutritional supplements, and foods (or pictures of foods) that are good for you. You could also bring plant food or a small bag of fertilizer (ammonium nitrate). Discuss how foods and vitamins give strength to the human body, and how plant food and fertilizer give strength to vegetation. Make the point that in the same way, prayer gives spiritual strength to followers of Jesus.

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Divide the group into small groups of three or four members. Allow groups time for members to share prayer needs. Encourage all members to take several minutes to pray for each other. Afterward, invite members to tell the larger group what having someone pray for them meant to them. Close with a prayer of commitment to pray for one another more intentionally and consistently.

SESSION 3

We Support One Another

THE POINT God gives the church spiritual gifts to accomplish His work.

THE PASSAGE Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE The English poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself.” An interconnectedness exists between us all. No one survives and thrives without assistance from others, not even in the church. However, when we examine the behaviors and attitudes of most Americans, it looks like a sea of islands.

Western culture in the 21st century surely stands out as the most radically individualistic culture in human history. It seems like every person makes every decision with one thing and one thing alone in mind: “What’s best for me (or for my family)?” Too often we give little consideration to how our lives and choices impact other people.

When we come to Christ, we don’t come to Him alone; we are joined with other believers in His church. Our individual lives and relationship with Christ are not just about “me”; they are about “we.” We must leave individualism at the door when joining Christ’s church. Why? Because God saves us not only for our own benefit, but also to bless and support others—especially fellow Christians.

THE SETTING Although Paul referred to the work of the Holy Spirit in many of his letters, he highlighted the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12–14; Romans 12; and Ephesians 4. In these letters he especially noted the gifts provided by the Holy Spirit to enable the ministry of God’s people. While the lists of spiritual gifts differed a little in each book, the main purpose of the gifts was to support ministry for the “common good” (1 Cor. 12:7).

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 10, the “Grace” poster, at the front of the room. As group members enter the room, direct them to use the acronym to list ways they have benefitted from God’s grace.

Discuss: Question #1 on page 97 of the PSG: “When has being part of a group helped you accomplish something big?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 98 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of spiritual gifts by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 98 of the PSG: “God gives the church spiritual gifts to accomplish His work.”

Activity (optional): Use the workplace brainstorming option on page 125 of this Leader Guide to help your group understand how our spiritual gifts work together to strengthen the church and impact God’s kingdom.

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for spiritual gifts. Ask Him to give group members wisdom to know how to use their gifts to

accomplish His work.

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 4:1-7

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the unifying principles upon which the body of Christ is built.

Recap: Many Americans think about church almost exclusively in terms of their spiritual needs and what services the church might provide them. These expectations lead them to search for a church with the most palatable preaching, most enjoyable music, and most relevant programs. They basically approach church like shopping for a car: surf the web, visit the dealerships, go on a test drive, and sign on the dotted line.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 99 of the PSG: “Why is unity so important for a church?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Whataresomewaysdivisioncanbeharmfultoachurch?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 100 of the PSG. We see at least two different ways to do this:

God empowers us to pursue relational unity. Verse 2 describes the mindset that fosters unity among people. In humility, we should consider others in addition to ourselves. With gentleness, we should give others the benefit of the doubt. Through patience, we should show others the mercy we’ve been shown from Jesus. And in love, we should forgive the faults of others, knowing we have plenty of our own failings that need to be forgiven.

God empowers us to profess doctrinal unity. Paul summed up some of the most unifying major doctrines of the Christian faith. There is one God in three Persons. There is one Savior of our faith. There is one spiritual baptism by which we’re saved. There is one spiritual body of Christ—the church. Christians may disagree on minor doctrines and issues, but Paul’s words remind us that believers have far more to unite us doctrinally than divide us. The very core of our faith unites us.

Transition: Our calling is to use our God-given spiritual gifts for the unity of the church. In the next verses, we also learn that some people are gifted specifically to equip the church for ministry.


[VERSES 1-2] Christians are called to use their spiritual gifts to build up the unity of the church. Paul urged his readers to live worthy of the calling they had received from the Lord. All Christians have a calling to serve Christ. The sharp distinction between clergy and laity should not be read into Paul’s message here. The word live could be translated “walk” (ESV), which captures the idea of a lifelong relationship with Christ. A Christian should live, think, and act in a way that is “worthy” of Christ. Paul launched into a discussion of some of the characteristics of a distinctively Christlike way of life. He named four traits that can be considered Christian virtues. First, he noted humility.

Although humility was not considered a positive trait in the Hellenistic world, Christian behavior should follow the example of Christ’s humility (Phil. 2:5-8). Second, Paul mentioned gentleness. A similar Hebrew term was used for Moses (Num. 12:3). Third, Paul highlighted patience, a characteristic of God (Rom. 9:22). Fourth, Christians should display forbearance, treating one another in love. How we relate to other people is crucial for ministry. These four character traits are not the only ones important for Christians, but they are a good checklist for Christian maturity.

[VERSE 3] Paul had already addressed the unity between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians (Eph. 2:11-18). Although typically first-century Jews and Gentiles disliked each other, their relationship in Christ should manifest itself in their ability to work together in the community of faith. Paul encouraged his readers to make every effort to manifest this new-found unity in Christ. The relation of church members should be marked by the bond of peace. The Greek word rendered “peace” reflects the Hebrew term shalom—not the mere absence of conflict; peace in Christ was the deeper, richer experience of reconciliation.

[VERSES 4-6] Paul accented the unity that should mark the church. He used the word “one” several times to reinforce his point! The church is one body, the body of Christ. The spiritual unity of fellowship in Christ should transcend superficial ethnic, economic, and gender differences (Gal. 3:28). A key ingredient in Christian unity is God’s Spirit. Our decisions and actions as individuals and as a community should reflect the guidance of God’s Spirit. Christians are called to one hope. Our experience of the Spirit in our lives today is a foretaste or anticipation of our fuller encounter with God at death or the end of time. Saying Christians have one Lord might be a reaffirmation of monotheism—belief in one God, not many gods such as was common in many ancient cultures. Since Paul next referred to Christians having only one faith, the apostle might also have been pointing to the lordship of Christ. The word “faith” basically refers to trust and commitment, not mere intellectual belief. “Jesus is Lord” was a basic Christian confession of faith (Rom. 10:9). Paul reaffirmed the importance of claiming Jesus as Lord. Paul’s reference to one baptism might puzzle some readers. Paul again highlighted the unity believers should experience by their common commitment to Jesus, symbolized in their baptism. Paul reaffirmed common Jewish belief in one God and Father of all. God revealed Himself in history as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but Paul was not inspired to develop a full-blown doctrine of the Trinity. He highlighted the transcendence and immanence of God, and especially His omnipresence. Paul used spatial language as he referred to God being above all and through all and in all.

[VERSE 7] Having covered several factors that unify Christians in the body of Christ, Paul then shifted to the topic of spiritual gifts. All Christians have experienced God’s grace. Here, “grace” means more in the general sense of God’s gracious dealings with His people. Paul explained that God’s grace was given to each one of us. All Christians have at least one spiritual gift, and they should exercise that gift wisely and creatively to the glory of God. The spiritual gifts are distributed according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Christians cannot pick and choose the gift they would like to have.

EPHESIANS 4:11-13

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.


Recap: At conversion, God gives each believer grace to be used for the benefit of His church. God has given various gifts to church members, but He has especially gifted some people to lead and equip the church for ministry. The leaders God has given the church are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Some of these leaders hold more authority than others—especially the apostles and prophets. The apostles included Paul and the Twelve who walked closely with Jesus—all of whom Jesus personally called and sent out. These men led the early church and authored much of the New Testament. Through their writings, they are still building us up two thousand years later!

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the types of leaders Paul describes as being given to the church.

Recap: The truths in these verses should transform our expectations of our churches and our leaders. We should expect church leadership to work hard, but they should not have to work alone. They have a biblical responsibility to faithfully walk with Jesus and diligently use

their gifts to train the body. The body, then, should follow their example and join them in the work of the ministry. When we all join together in the work of ministry, the entire body grows in maturity and looks more like Jesus.

Discuss: Question #3 on page 101 of the PSG: “How have you seen church leaders equip the saints in a way that brought or maintained unity in the church?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

HowhasyourparticipationinministryhelpedyoumatureinChrist?

Transition: In the next verses, we also learn that all spiritual gifts are used to help believers grow in Christ, in unity, and in love.


[VERSE 11] Paul continued to discuss spiritual gifts by identifying some of the leadership positions in the first-century church. In Romans 12:6-8 he offered a somewhat different list of gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul gave another list. In 1 Corinthians 14 the apostle focused special attention on prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Paul did not intend for any of these lists to be comprehensive but rather representative of the ways the Holy Spirit empowered God’s people for ministry.

Paul named four (or possibly five) types of leaders in Ephesians 4:11. He started with apostles. An apostle was someone appointed and sent out with a message or task. Jesus chose twelve apostles. Acts 1:15-26 describes the selection of a replacement for Judas, with the requirement that the new apostle had seen the risen Jesus and followed Him throughout His ministry. Others in the New Testament are also called apostles, including Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14). Paul had mentioned “apostles” in Ephesians 2:20. The category of prophets would include people such as Agabus, who appeared in Acts 11:27-28 and 21:10-11 predicting the future. Old Testament prophets, however, had been primarily proclaimers of God’s message, not merely predictors of the future. Christian prophets resembled contemporary preachers who proclaim the gospel. Paul dealt with the gift of prophecy in more detail in 1 Corinthians 14. The term evangelists is based on the Greek word frequently translated “good news.” Philip and Timothy exercised this gift (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5). The phrase pastors and teachers may refer to the same group of church leaders who both exhorted and taught. Paul had instructed the leaders of the church at Ephesus in Acts 20:28. Today, however, some Christian leaders may be led to focus their ministry on either pastoring (shepherding) the church or teaching.

[VERSE 12] Paul began to address the purpose for spiritual gifts. Gifts were given primarily to equip the saints for the work of ministry. The word translated “ministry” is also the root for our word deacon. Here it refers to service or ministry in general. Paul used it for his own work in Ephesians 3:7, where it is translated “servant.” Paul often used the word “saints” (translated “his people” or similarly in NIV) for all Christians, not just those who acted in a saintly way (according to popular usage today). The ministry of Christians should result in building up the body of Christ, the church. Paul mixed together a couple of metaphors. Building up sounds like construction work, but Paul’s favorite word picture for the church is a living body. Although Paul identified many spiritual gifts in this letter as well as in 1 Corinthians and Romans, he never forgot to underscore that all gifts focus on the church’s well-being. For instance, he told Corinthian believers the gifts should contribute to the “common good” (1 Cor. 12:7); “Everything is to be done for building up” (14:26).

[VERSE 13] When spiritual gifts are exercised wisely and fully in the church, the church will move toward unity in the faith. Paul often noted his concern for the unity of the church. When he wrote to a church such as the one at Corinth, which had many problems, he dealt in depth with their divisions. He did not identify similar concerns at Ephesus, but he had mentioned the unity of Jewish and Gentile Christians in the church (Eph. 2:11-16). Paul’s concern was unity, not uniformity. He knew Christians have different spiritual gifts, but all members are essential to the well-being of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-25). Believers should also increase in their knowledge of God’s Son. Paul did not refer to mere factual knowledge about Jesus’ life and teachings, although biblical literacy is a legitimate concern. Paul presumed a deepening relationship with Christ that would improve the individual Christian and the community of faith as well. Paul was concerned that Jesus’ followers demonstrate maturity. The standard for Christian maturity is Christ Himself. Christians are not mini-Christs in the sense that we, too, are God incarnate. But Paul stressed the need for us to imitate Christ in our decision-making and actions.

EPHESIANS 4:14-16

14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way

into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.


Recap: The church is a body with Jesus as the head. God gives every believer His grace in the form of spiritual gifts. These gifts include abilities and qualities empowered by the Holy Spirit. Both Paul and Peter recorded lists of various gifts that are manifested in God’s people (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11,27-31; and 1 Pet. 4:11). Some believers are gifted to serve in leadership roles, for example. Others are gifted to demonstrate greater acts of mercy, service, and generosity, while others have a greater inner sense of faith, wisdom, and discernment. Regardless of the specific gift(s) we possess, God has given all spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Discuss: Question #4 on page 102 of the PSG: “What do you appreciate about the way our church is fitted and knit together?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Whatdoesspeakingthetruthinlovelooklike?

Recap: As we serve the body with our gifts, we are to speak “the truth in love.” God’s Word is the source of truth, so speaking the truth to one another in love means that all our gifts, all our serving, and all our ministry activity is to be united around Scripture. All ministry service must be united around the Word of God. On our own, we might believe anything; with the Word, we’re grounded in the truth. On our own, divisions fester; with the Word, unity grows. Under the direction of His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, we in the body of Christ work together to accomplish His work.

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the significance of speaking the truth in love.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 102 of the PSG: “What steps can we take as a group to promote the growth of the body and build it up in love?”

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “My Spiritual Gift,” on page 103 of the PSG (page 125 in this Leader Guide) to help them consider their own spiritual gift.

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “God gives the church spiritual gifts to accomplish His work.”


[VERSE 14] Having just presented maturity as a goal for Christians, Paul addressed the issue of immaturity. He hoped his readers would no longer be little children in their faith. Paul did not give any details about immaturity in Ephesus, but he highlighted the immaturity of the Corinthian Christians in more detail (1 Cor. 3:1-4); he said they were not yet ready for spiritual solid food! The Book of Hebrews also addresses our need for maturity (Heb. 5:11–6:2). Defining maturity is challenging today. We often use chronological age as a marker for becoming an adult, a mature person. Paul, however, wanted a spiritual, distinctively Christian maturity that may be harder to quantify.

Paul warned his readers that as infantile Christians they were susceptible to every wind of teaching. The word translated “wind” refers to a strong wind that stirred up waves on the ocean, not a gentle breeze. The more believers were grounded in the written Word of God and sound Christian instruction, they would be protected from theological heresies. Without identifying specific types of heresy Paul challenged the motives of false teachers. The heretics were cunning and clever or crafty, using techniques of deceit. Christians today need to be strong in their knowledge of the Bible and basic Christian doctrine. Paul’s concern was not particularly academic achievement but spiritual maturity.

[VERSE 15] Paul gave more details on the Christian life later in this letter, but in this verse he provided a valuable guideline for Christians. The phrase speaking the truth in love balances two key ethical principles. Christians should be truthful, not deceitful. Of course, lying was forbidden in the Old Testament law (Ex. 20:16). But some people are tempted to be brutally honest, to use a popular phrase. Paul wanted honesty to be tempered by Christian love. He was not promoting a loving lie, but a mature Christian sensitivity to different situations.

A maturing Christian will move more and more toward the model of Jesus, who is the head of the church, His body. Our culture today highlights self-expression and self-fulfillment to a fault. Like the church at Ephesus, we need to remember that our standard for behavior is Christ.

[VERSE 16] This verse is complex and potentially confusing. Paul explained that our growth toward maturity ultimately comes from Christ. The whole body is Paul’s familiar image for the church as a whole. Paul used a medical term, ligament, to illustrate the way a human body is linked together. The apostle used a similar word picture in Colossians 2:19, where he mentioned that the body is “nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons” and thereby “grows with growth from God.” Paul’s main concern in both Colossians and Ephesians was the growth of the body.

Individual spiritual maturity is important, but that maturity occurs in the context of the church. Paul was not encouraging a kind of “Lone Ranger” spirituality, to use an old figure of speech. Christians grow and mature best in the context of a community of faith. Again, love is a key ingredient in Christian maturity. Younger, less mature Christians can benefit from association with older, more mature Christians. Mature Christians can often serve as role models for younger Christians. Paul complimented some churches for doing well at mutual encouragement and support. For instance, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).

Read the article “Textile Production in the First Century” in the Summer 2020 issue of Biblical Illustrator.

Previous Biblical Illustrator articles “Every Wind of Doctrine F’19,” (Fall 2019), “ ‘One Baptism’ What Did Paul Mean?” (Fall 2014), “Unity: The Meaning” (Summer 2003) and “Comparing the ‘Gifts of the Spirit’ Lists” (Spring 1997) relate to this lesson and can be found in the Leader Pack’s digital files or can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life.

LIVEITOUT


Reflect. Consider the contrast between some of the cultural expectations of church with the biblical expectations studied in this session. Confess and turn from any misconceptions about life in the church. Ask God to unite your heart with His regarding His church.

Discover. If you’re not sure what your spiritual gift is or how you can be of service in the church, ask other believers to help you. Many times, people see our strengths before we do. Discuss with a church leader your desire to serve.

Serve. If you’ve identified your spiritual gifts, look for opportunities to exercise them in your life and in your church. Invest your time, passions, and strengths in building up others in the church.


Many people approach church for how it benefits them alone, but the biblical approach is to consider how we might benefit one another. Let’s use our spiritual gifts to grow, unify, and love Christ’s church.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for blessing the church with spiritual gifts. Ask Him to give wisdom and courage for group members to use their gifts well.

ENGAGE

My Spiritual Gift. Put a check beside the spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture that you recognize in your life. Then answer the questions.

____ Prophecy (Sharing God’s truth)

____ Serving (Meeting practical needs)

____ Teaching (Helping people know Scripture)

____ Giving (Finding joy in giving to others)

____ Mercy (Showing compassion to others)

____ Ruling (Providing leadership)

____ Exhortation (Encouraging others’ faith)

Share how you are already using one of these gifts in your church:

Describe some other ways you could serve Christ’s body:

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Lead the group to brainstorm ways various workers perform different tasks in their workplaces. Write answers on a whiteboard or poster. Ask the group to discuss how every type of worker is needed to support the activities of the organization. Make the point that members of the church have different functions, but all are needed to support one another.

SESSION 4

We Encourage One Another

THE POINT We need the encouragement of others—and they need ours.


THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE In 1895, sixteen-year old Edward Steichen bought a camera with money his mother gave him and started snapping pictures around the house—50 of them, in fact. When the film was developed, he had forty-nine bad pictures and only one good one: a picture of his sister at the piano. His father thought that was a poor showing, but his mother insisted that one photo was beautiful and more than compensated for forty-nine failures. Her encouragement convinced the boy to stick with his new hobby.

Edward pressed on to become one of the world’s most renowned photographers. But, in the beginning, he almost gave up. What pushed him forward were his mother’s encouraging words in the midst of a lot of failure.8

The Christian life can be hard. Temptations abound and we sometimes struggle to honor God. Encouragement from fellow believers is a great help. Their words of support push us forward when we might be tempted to give in. We need the encouragement of other believers—and they need ours.

THE SETTING Paul was an expert in encouragement. When Paul (Saul) became a Christian, some of the other Christians seemed slow to welcome him. But Barnabas, a nickname meaning “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36), reached out to Paul and introduced him to the Jerusalem church (9:26-27). Paul often stressed Christians’ need to encourage one another. For example, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 7, the “Why Do I Need the Church?” poster, to review the major theme of this study, and to give context for this session.

Activity (optional): In advance, prepare to show a video clip of an encouraging moment. Then ask Question #1.


Discuss: Question #1 on page 105 of the PSG: “When have you benefited from a little encouragement?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 106 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of encouraging one another by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 106 of the PSG: “We need the encouragement of others—and they need ours.”

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for allowing others to be an encouragement to us. Ask Him to help us be more aware of opportunities to encourage others.

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 4:17-22

17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires.


Recap: Becoming a Christian is not about improving yourself, becoming more spiritual, or “turning over a new leaf.” It’s a radical transformation, a rebirth. It’s about receiving a new identity—one that produces new longings, godly dispositions, and fruitful behaviors. The Christian life is marked by contrasts; it’s a life that distinguishes between “what I used to be” and “what I am today.” God saves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. Through our new identity, He produces a new way of living.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 107 of the PSG: “What makes taking off the old self so difficult?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

HowwouldyoudescribethefutilityoflifeapartfromGod?

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 11, the “New Life in Christ” poster at the front of the room. As group members enter the room, direct them to list aspects of the old person and new person under the appropriate column.

Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 107 and 108 of the PSG. We are to shed our former way of living because . . .

. . . Christians aren’t to do the same things non-Christians do (v. 17).

. . . Christians aren’t to be ignorant to God’s commands (v. 18).

. . . Christians aren’t to allow their hearts to become hardened to the things of God (v. 18).

. . . Christians aren’t to increasingly pursue impure living like non-Christians do (v. 19).

. . . living in sin is not how Jesus has taught us to live (vv. 20-21).

Transition: We are to put away sinful habits. In the next verses, we also learn that we are to encourage others to live consistent with their new life in Christ.


[VERSE 17] Paul insisted his readers put away sinful habits. He began this section with therefore, a word signaling a transition to a new topic. Here Paul emphasized the radical change his readers had experienced when they became Christians. First Paul noted believers should no longer live as the Gentiles. The church at Ephesus had some Gentile members. Earlier he called them “Gentiles in the flesh” (Eph. 2:11). In verse 17 Paul referred to Gentile pagan, immoral behavior more than ethnicity. Although some were intellectually brilliant, in

general Paul highlighted the futility of their thoughts. They had rejected the revelation of God in nature, so they failed to have the right relation to the true God.

[VERSES 18-19] Paul continued to describe the spiritual condition of Gentiles before they became Christians. They experienced spiritual darkness because they did not receive the spiritual light available to them. They were excluded from the life of God. In their sinful state, the Gentiles were ignorant of God and the salvation He offered to them. No matter how intellectually bright they might have been, they needed the good news about Jesus. Paul also pointed to the hardness of their hearts. In the Bible the word heart typically refers to the inner person or a person’s identity, not the muscle that pumps blood. Hardness of heart is a word picture for a steady resistance to the revelation of God to a lost humanity. One scholar said the Greek could be translated as the person’s heart was “petrified.”1 Paul continued to describe the spiritual and moral situation of Gentiles before salvation. In this verse Paul highlighted the immoral lifestyle and sinful habits of non-Christian Gentiles. Such persons became callous. One result of this insensitivity was a promiscuous lifestyle. Paul referred to their impurity in a more general way. He also noted the pagans were marked by a desire for more and more. The Greek word could be rendered “greedy.”

[VERSES 20-21] Paul began his transition to the comparison between the spiritual and moral state of the unsaved person and that person’s new situation in Christ. His readers became Christians when they came to know Christ. Paul did not offer details on how they came to know Christ as Lord and Savior. Perhaps they were converts from the time he ministered in Ephesus. He previously had been there about three years on a missionary journey (Acts 20:31). Paul might have meant they had been instructed about Jesus and Christian morality by church leaders in Ephesus. They probably had not met Jesus during His earthly ministry. Paul said his readers had been taught by him, apparently still referring to Jesus. Paul likely meant they had learned the truth about Christ and now knew how to live for Him. Before they were saved, as pagans they were spiritually ignorant, but now as Christians they had become enlightened about God, sin, and salvation.

[VERSE 22] Paul depicted the radical change believers had experienced in becoming Christians with an analogy. The word picture involves taking off old or soiled clothes and putting on new or fresh clothes. At first this analogy might seem a little weak to some readers. But as Paul unpacked the analogy, we can see it is appropriate for the life-changing experience of salvation. As a pagan encountered the good news about Jesus, he or she would take off your former way of life. Paul did not mean a person could do anything to save himself or herself. After all, earlier in this letter he had stressed salvation is by God’s grace, not human deeds (2:8-9). Paul presented what should be the natural consequence of being saved. New Christians should realize their “former way of life” had become obsolete. The old self designated the unsaved person enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17). Paul never suggested salvation was a self-help project for sinners. Deceitful desires characterized the old self. Paul often depicted conversion with before and after analogies. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul had used the picture of being spiritually dead but becoming alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1-5). Later he used the difference between darkness and light to point to the radical change in salvation (5:8).

EPHESIANS 4:23-28

23 To be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain our darkened understanding before we are saved.

Recap: In the Christian life marked by contrasts, we’ve seen what we’re supposed to “take off” (our old sinful habits). Now, let’s consider what we’re to “put on.” We are “to put on the new self.” In saying this, Paul painted a stark contrast between the old self and the new self. The “old self” (v. 22) was “excluded from the life of God” (v. 18) while the “new self” was “created according to God’s likeness” (v. 24). The old self was characterized by darkness, ignorance, and impurity (vv. 18-19) while the new self is characterized by “righteousness and purity of the truth.” Jesus saves us in order to change us. This does not mean we will always be perfect, but it does mean that we should

not intentionally return to our “former way of life” (v. 22) or knowingly make room for old besetting sins. We are to persistently pursue attitudes and actions consistent with our new life in Christ.

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “The Power of Words,” on page 109 of the PSG (page 135 in this Leader Guide) to help them discern the power of words to either build up or tear down.

Recap: If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you know that growing in Christlikeness can be difficult. Some life changes come easier than others, but as a whole, “putting on the new self” can be challenging. Like young Edward, our many failures might tempt us to throw in the towel. We need encouragement from others—and they need our encouragement for the same reason. Let’s help one another to live consistently with our new life in Christ.

Discuss: Question #3 on page 110 of the PSG: “Who has inspired you to live consistent with your new life in Christ?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Whataresomepracticalstepswecantaketoseeourmindsrenewed?

Transition: In the next verses, we also learn that we are to take every opportunity to encourage others with our words.


[VERSE 23] Paul moved on to explore more about the saved person’s new life in Christ. Unsaved Gentiles had been “darkened” (4:18) in their understanding, but a saved person is renewed in the spirit of your minds, or the attitude of the mind. Paul knew that the total person was transformed by salvation. Here he mentioned the “minds,” but he did not mean salvation was limited to our intellect. Throughout his ministry and writings Paul noted that the total person was changed (2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 2:5). Paul was a profound thinker. He never demeaned serious thinking, but he opposed pagan philosophy.

[VERSE 24] Since new Christians had taken off the “old self,” Paul remarked that they put on the new self. The phrase “new self” refers to the transformation experienced in salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Pictures today that show a before and after transformation, such as extreme weight loss or cosmetic surgery, barely suggest the serious point Paul made. Some Bible scholars point out the Greek language had two words for “new.” One word suggests something new in a chronological sense. Today is a “new” day, but it might be essentially the same as yesterday. In verse 24 Paul, however, used the second Greek word, which denotes a qualitative change. The “new self” is not the same old person. Salvation has brought about a radical change in the person’s nature. The new person has been created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. According to Genesis 1:26-27, God created humans in His image and likeness. That image was damaged by sin, but the saved person has a renewed image.

[VERSE 25] Having highlighted the new nature and position of a saved person, Paul offered several examples of practical expressions of Christian behavior. He did not intend to cover every aspect of everyday Christian life, but in general he wanted to show readers how their lives should be consistent with the new life in Christ. Paul began by emphasizing the need for truth-telling in the Christian life. He quoted Zechariah 8:16 from the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament. Jews in general already knew truthfulness was a legal and moral expectation (Ex. 20:16). Paul was not concerned with the mere letter of the Old Testament law. He knew any kind of deception or lying would harm the Christian community. Because we are members of one another, we should be truthful. If we cannot trust other believers to be honest, the fabric of the community of faith quickly unravels.

[VERSES 26-27] Paul briefly turned to the topic of anger, quoting Psalm 4:4. Translations disagree on whether the verse is commanding anger (Be angry) or granting that most of us typically get angry (“In your anger” NIV). Either way, Paul warned readers about the danger of inappropriate anger. No matter what prompts our anger, we should be careful. Paul said do not sin in our anger. Emotions easily get out of hand and lead to verbal outbursts or even physical violence. Paul offered some wise advice for the angry. Don’t let the sun go down sounds a lot like the advice to married couples, “Don’t go to bed angry.” Ideally, we will deal with whatever prompted our anger as soon as possible. Paul knew an angry outburst could give the devil an opportunity. Early Christians were very aware of the role of the devil or Satan in tempting both Jesus and Christians (Jas. 4:7). The word “opportunity” literally means “place,” but here it has the meaning of “foothold.” Our anger, justified or not, might become a foothold or opportunity for the devil to work in our lives.

[VERSE 28] Paul next tackled the issue of stealing. Jewish law and many legal systems condemn stealing. Like anger, stealing can disrupt any human society, including a church. Paul, however, moved beyond a general criticism of stealing. He declared the thief should do honest

work with his own hands. Paul would probably have recognized that honest labor might not always be manual labor. He encouraged work rather than laziness (2 Thess. 3:6-12). Able-bodied people should work in order to be able to share with needy people.

EPHESIANS 4:29-32

29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain what it means to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Recap: We receive encouragement in a variety of ways. Sometimes, it comes through the presence of a friend or a pat on the back. Other times, we feel it as we are quietly meditating on the Lord. But most of the time, encouragement comes from the words of others. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to imagine how one might be consistently encouraged in life without words. Whether typed in a letter, written in a card, sent via text message, or spoken in person, the words of others serve as a primary means by which the Lord encourages His people.

Discuss: Question #4 on page 110 of the PSG: “What do these verses communicate to us about the influence of our speech?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howdoweapplytheseversestoourinteractionsonsocialmedia?

Recap: While unwholesome talk leads to a flurry of interpersonal sin, life-giving words produce just the opposite: a well-spring of interpersonal joy. Verse 32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Speaking life-giving words both encourages our brothers and sisters in Christ and emulates our perfect Father in heaven. So, let’s depend on the Holy Spirit and build each other up with our words.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 111 of the PSG: “What role can our group play in encouraging one another as these verses describe?”

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “We need the encouragement of others—and they need ours.”


[VERSE 29] Christians should encourage others with their speech; they should not use foul language (“corrupting talk” ESV). James devoted a lot of attention to the ethics of speech. Paul and James, as well as the Book of Proverbs, agree we should control our tongues (Jas. 3:1-12). Rather than using degrading language, we should say what is good for building up someone in need. Earlier Paul had encouraged “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Paul wanted readers to be truthful and honest in their dealings with others, but those conversations should be seasoned with love, compassion, and sensitivity to the needs of others. Sometimes we are tempted to be honest to a fault. Constructive criticism, for example, will be accepted by many people who would turn off a loud, abusive statement of the same information.

[VERSE 30] Paul added that our behavior might grieve God’s Holy Spirit. Sometimes we think of the Holy Spirit more as an impersonal force or power than a personal reality. Paul may have been thinking of Isaiah 63:10 here. Paul spoke of the key role of the Spirit in our salvation. The Spirit seals us for the day of redemption. Earlier Paul had utilized the imagery of a seal in relation to the Spirit; the Spirit is a “down payment” for the eventual culmination of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14). Since Paul mentioned grieving the Spirit at this point, our improper speech must be one thing that disappoints God. Although Paul was highlighting ways we relate to other believers in this section, he acknowledged our behavior with others impacts our relationship with God as well.

[VERSE 31] Paul mentioned several forms of inappropriate speech for Christians. This verse might not be a checklist for all kinds of sinful speech, but it helps us see how serious the issue of speech is for the Christian life. Although Paul dealt primarily with the spoken word here, the application today would include all kind of communication (telephone, email, texting, and social media). Any kind of sinful speech or

other communication can harm others and impact our Christian witness.

Paul warned against bitterness, anger and wrath. This kind of talk is the natural result of a lack of control of anger (4:26). When our emotions control us, our speech can be negative rather than positive. We should also avoid shouting and slander (blasphemia, from which our English blasphemy comes). Contemporary examples of rude and crude language or rhetoric are too numerous to mention. Many public figures seem to be over the top in their language. Paul’s last example of inappropriate speech is malice. Any speech that is motivated primarily by self-centeredness or some other bad motive is wrong for Christians.

[VERSE 32] After focusing on several negative examples of behavior, Paul turned to what he expected from believers. The phrase one another appears twice (from two different Greek terms) in this verse and many more times in Paul’s writings. Christians always need to recall that they are part of a community of faith. Their behavior, good or bad, impacts other people.

We should be kind and compassionate. Our behavior should reflect a genuine concern for the needs of other people. Because our culture generally promotes self-centeredness, we need to work hard at identifying needs of others and responding in a distinctively Christian way. In another letter Paul taught that because God has comforted us, we should reach out to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Paul described the new person in Christ as someone who puts on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col. 3:12).

Paul concluded this discussion by reminding readers that they should forgive others, since God also forgave you in Christ. Here Paul echoed the teaching of Jesus Himself in many ways. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant highlighted the relation of divine forgiveness and human forgiveness (Matt. 18:21-35).

1.WilliamBarclay,TheLetterstotheGalatiansandEphesians,rev.ed.(WestminsterPress:Philadelphia,1976)152.

LIVEITOUT


Talk to God. Through prayer, ask God to bring to light any words, phrases, or patterns of speech that you need to “put away.” Ask God for the grace needed to speak words of life and encouragement instead.

Talk to yourself. One of the best ways to “talk to yourself” is speaking the Word of God to yourself. In that light, consider memorizing Ephesians 4:29: “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.”

Talk to others. Identify three people who might be encouraged by your words. Write cards, craft emails, send texts, or meet with each of them face to face to encourage them in their walk with Jesus.


No one grows as a Christian in isolation, and very little spiritual growth happens without the encouragement of other believers God has placed in our path. Be that person who encourages with both words and actions.

Activity (optional): Use the old coat option on page 135 of this Leader Guide to review putting off the old man and putting on the new.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for the encouragement that we receive from Him and others. Ask Him for wisdom and strength to be ready encouragers of others.

ENGAGE

The Power of Words. Below, list examples of loving words and hurtful words you can find in today’s text. Then answer the question.

Loving Words Hurtful Words

____________________________ ____________________________

____________________________ ____________________________

____________________________ ____________________________

____________________________ ____________________________

How has someone used loving words to encourage you this week?

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, obtain an old, worn out, dirty coat and a nice, new, clean coat. Display the two coats. Announce the size of each. Invite a volunteer to answer which coat he or she would choose to wear to the worship service that day. Invite members to comment on how they might choose and why. Review by pointing out that when we become Christians, we put off the old life like a worn-out coat and put on the life of Christ.

SESSION 5

We Strengthen One Another

THE POINT We strengthen one another to live as God desires.


THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE I was so embarrassed. I was at the gym, but at that moment I was hardly doing anything productive. I was lying flat on my back with heavy barbells pressing against my chest. No matter how much I tried to push, my arms refused to cooperate. They had given up under exhausted protest. I knew the first commandment of strength training and gym etiquette, but I had broken it—and now I sheepishly faced the consequences.

When lifting weights, always enlist a spotter—someone who both pushes you to persevere and intervenes if your arms give out. Yet here I was, imprisoned by the weights on my chest because I foolishly thought I could do it on my own.

I also need a spotter in my Christian life—and you do too. God gave us the church to be that help. Fellow Christians embolden us to persevere, and they intervene when our souls are discouraged and we feel beaten and weighed down by life’s troubles. As God’s Spirit works through us, He uses us to strengthen one another in a world that calls us to follow a different path.

THE SETTING In Ephesians 4–6 Paul dealt in general with the Christian life. He laid out the practical application of the first three chapters’ theological truths about Christ, salvation, and the church. Chapter 5 addresses how Christians relate to the larger society. The issue of the proper relation of Christians to culture (or the church to the world) provided a larger context for discussion of specific issues. At times Paul’s teaching resembled John’s instruction about not loving the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15).

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Activity (optional): In advance, prepare to show a video clip of someone supposedly having another person’s back. Then ask Question #1.


Discuss: Question #1 on page 113 of the PSG: “When has someone shown that they really had your back?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 114 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of strengthening one another in the church by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 114 of the PSG: “We strengthen one another to live as God desires.”

Activity (optional): Use the rope option on page 145 of this Leader Guide to demonstrate how we strengthen one another.

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for the people in our lives who have strengthened us in our walk with Christ. Ask Him to give

group members a better understanding for how we can strengthen one another..

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 5:8-14

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light—9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.


Recap: From the beginning, people have tried to convince Christians that we can pursue Jesus while still sinning like the world. That cannot be! Note the contrast in verse 8 from the darkness we once were to the light we now are in Christ.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 115 of the PSG: “What are some ways our culture calls the light darkness and darkness the light?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howcanwegoaboutexposingthefruitlessdeedsofdarkness?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 116 of the PSG. From this passage, we see several ways we can strengthen one another in standing against the sinful ways of the world.

We can affirm the fruit of the gospel in one another’s lives (v. 9). When we see our Christian brother or sister exhibiting Christlike character traits like goodness, righteousness, and truth, we should verbally recognize and affirm it.

We can help one another discern what pleases the Lord (v. 10). We don’t always see things as clearly as we should. Each of us brings our own biases to the table, and we can tire out spiritually on any given day. All of these things skew our discernment.

We can help one another expose darkness rather than participate in it (vv. 11-12). The ways of the world are very popular, and the truth of the gospel is not. Few people enjoy being in the minority, but we find strength in numbers.

We can help one another shine the light of Christ (v. 14). It is remarkable how much darkness just a little bit of light dispels. Like a candle, a Christian must be different from those he seeks to influence. Let’s help one another shine in the world.

Transition: We can help one other stand against the sinful ways of the world. In the next verses, we learn that we can help one another make wise use of our time.


[VERSE 8] Christians can encourage each other to stand against the sinful attitudes and behaviors of the world. In Ephesians 5:1-8 Paul continued to point to the clear difference between non-Christian and Christian lifestyles and values. Christians can’t be “partners” with the pagan lifestyle (5:7). Paul used a classic word picture to present the Christian and non-Christian approaches to life: light and darkness. When a person is enslaved to sin, that person is in darkness. This “darkness” included spiritual blindness and ignorance (4:17-18). Christians, though, are light in the Lord. They live as children of light.

[VERSES 9-10] The light Christians experience is manifest in several ways. Paul described these characteristics as fruit of the light (although some old manuscripts have “fruit of the Spirit”). Paul named goodness, righteousness, and truth, general moral virtues or character traits. For instance, earlier Paul portrayed the purity of truth as an expression of the “new self” and the need to avoid lying (Eph. 4:24-25). Paul knew his readers needed to develop their moral discernment. He offered some ethical guidelines. Christians should engage in testing or assessing the moral options facing them. The ultimate standard for their decisions should be what is pleasing to the Lord. Paul was not inspired at this point to dig into specific issues, but in other letters he tackled many first-century moral issues. He did mention examples such as sexual immorality and greed, which were characteristic of the pagan world (Eph. 5:3).

[VERSE 11] Christians should produce certain fruit, such as goodness and truth (v. 9). Those who remain in the darkness have a different lifestyle. Rather than producing fruit, they are fruitless. Paul developed this kind of contrast between good and bad lifestyles with two lists in Galatians. The vices or sins were the works of the flesh and the virtues or Christian character traits were the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:19-23). Christians should not participate in the sinful practices of the darkness. If Paul had stopped there, we might mistakenly think we are pure or holy simply by avoiding sins. We might call that a mud-puddle view of holiness. Paul knew our avoiding sin is crucial; he urged the young minister Timothy to flee temptations to sin and to pursue Christian virtues (1 Tim. 6:11). In Ephesians 5:11, however, Paul encouraged us to expose evil actions. Paul did not offer any specific instructions here. Some Christians might consider the actions of whistle-blowers to be a good contemporary application.

[VERSES 12-13] Paul was not inspired at this point to give his original readers any examples of the sins or vices they needed to avoid and expose. The apostle sprinkled examples of immoral pagan practices throughout his writings. Earlier in this chapter he had mentioned sexual immorality, greed, and crude joking (Eph. 5:3-4). Paul did not give a comprehensive list of sins in Ephesians 5, but he clearly knew some first-century activities were extremely shameful. Paul knew exposing sins could lead to positive change. When we turn on a light in a dark room, everything in the room becomes visible. At least the light enables us to avoid tripping over something. Paul might have had in mind the emphasis in Isaiah’s prophecy on the role of the nation Israel as a “light for the nations” that would announce the good news about the true God to others (Isa. 49:6). Paul might have learned of Jesus’ identifying His followers as the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). Ultimately, “God is light” (1 John 1:5), but Christians can help illuminate a dark world as witnesses to that light.

[VERSE 14] This verse has perplexed many readers. Paul quoted some poetry. He did not identify his source. Some scholars think Paul was quoting an early Christian song or hymn familiar to his original audience. Verse 14 is not a direct quotation from the Old Testament, but it echoes texts such as Isaiah 60:1. He used the analogy of a sleeper awakening and meeting Christ who would shine on that person. Paul used awakening from sleep as an analogy for salvation in Romans 13:11. He used the imagery of light and darkness to contrast moral and immoral lives in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8.

EPHESIANS 5:15-17

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.


Recap: Few commodities are more precious than time. We appreciate its value because once it’s gone, it can never be replaced. What distinguishes us is not how much time we have, but what we do with the time we’ve been given.

Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the Christian’s use of time.

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 117 of the PSG. Here are three ways Christians should rethink our use of time:

Live wisely. Our lives matter, so we should “pay careful attention, then, to how you live” (v. 15). We should use time wisely so our lives reflect the wisdom of God. While the world generally lives only thinking of today, Christians should live today while also thinking of eternity. The world wakes up each morning and gets to work on the day’s business. Christians, though, prioritize devotions with God before getting started on the rest of the day’s activities.

Live intentionally. When Paul told us to make the most of the time, he challenged us to take advantage of every opportunity we have to do good. That means we should live life “on purpose.” Many people mindlessly approach life simply checking off the “to-do list” and

moving on to what’s next. But Christians should seek to leverage every opportunity, every task, and every relationship for the sake of the gospel.

Live obediently. Rather than being foolish, Paul commanded us to “understand what the Lord’s will is.” In other words, we should know God’s Word. And knowing God’s Word always means obeying God’s Word too. In everything we do, every place we go, and every choice we make, we should strive to obey God and not to blend in with the norms of culture. This doesn’t mean everything we see the world doing is wrong, but it does mean we live by a different set of priorities.

Discuss: Question #3 on page 117 of the PSG: “What are some ways we can honor God with our time?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howcanabiblicalviewofeternityimpacthowyouviewyourtime?

Transition: In the next verses, we also learn that we strengthen one another as we’re filled with the Spirit and live in mutual submission.


[VERSE 15] Paul observed that the Christian view of time differs from the world’s view of time. His readers needed to give careful attention to how they lived. Becoming a Christian had been a life-changing experience. They had moved from an “old self” to a “new self” (Eph. 4:22-24). They were now Christians, and as such were disciples or learners. They needed some instruction in the basics of Christian ethics. Christians with a Jewish background could draw on the moral lessons of the Old Testament, but Christians with a pagan background would especially need to unlearn some bad habits. Paul’s audience needed to be wise rather than unwise. Paul knew the Old Testament included wisdom books (Job–Song of Songs). The Book of Proverbs was an especially good source of practical wisdom. Paul also knew pagan philosophies claimed to be a source of wisdom, but he criticized such pagan wisdom when it conflicted with God’s wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18-31). Indeed, Christ is “the wisdom of God” incarnate (1 Cor. 1:24). Wisdom differs from knowledge. Genuine wisdom and knowledge are both based on factual truth, but wisdom has a practical dimension that helps us make decisions that are right and moral.

[VERSE 16] Christians need to demonstrate wisdom is their use of time. The Greek language had at least two words that might be rendered “time.” One word refers to clock time or calendar time, the kind of time that can be measured objectively. Our words chronological and chronic come from that word. Paul, however, used the second word here, which refers to a time or a moment that is significant. Contemporary examples of this kind of time might be a child’s birth, a wedding day, and other pivotal life moments or opportunities. Paul urged us to make the most of the time. Other versions offer “making the most of every opportunity” (NIV) or “making the best use of the time” (ESV). The popular phrase “seize the day” (based on the Latin carpe diem) is close to Paul’s meaning here. Paul emphasized the wise, appropriate use of time because the days are evil. Paul might have had in mind the opposition Christians faced in the first century. Paul, for instance, was a Roman prisoner as he wrote this letter (Eph. 3:1; 4:1). Christians generally did not face severe persecution from the Romans until years later, but public suspicion and criticism of believers was common. Christians today still need to be aware of the value of time. Our approach to time should differ from popular, non-Christian views. For example, many people spend an inordinate amount of time each day on social media. While social media can be helpful for maintaining connections with family, friends, and coworkers, for many, social media steals their time.

[VERSE 17] The opposite of wisdom is folly. Paul warned his readers against being foolish. In the Bible folly and wisdom are not primarily intellectual categories. Wisdom includes a person’s worldview and value system. An intellectually brilliant person, a genius, might be a criminal. According to Paul, true wisdom is understanding what the Lord’s will is. Discerning the will of God and doing the will of God are central to biblical wisdom. Many readers today have likely struggled with discerning the will of God when making major decisions such as those regarding marriage, career, and other momentous options. Paul did not tackle those issues here. Sometimes Paul highlighted God’s will in a general sense, which is valid for all believers. For example, he said, “For this is God’s will, your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). In that context he went on to explain what holiness or sanctification involved and how it differed from pagan lust among the Gentiles. In our culture many worldviews or philosophies challenge Christian values. One that was current in Paul’s time as well as now is commonly called hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure. The ancient Epicureans popularized this view, and they were in Athens when Paul visited (Acts 17:18). Paul warned that across time many people would be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4). Hedonism still tempts people today with a rival value system.

EPHESIANS 5:18-21

18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the contrast between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit.

Recap: We shouldn’t think our culture is the first to personify such bad behavior. People have mistreated one another and resisted authority since the beginning. Because of sin, none of us perfectly thinks of others before ourselves or naturally defers to another’s authority. That’s what makes Ephesians 5 remarkable. It speaks as radically to our culture today as it did to the first-century Ephesians.

Discuss: Question #4 on page 118 of the PSG: “What does it look like for us to submit to one another as believers?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howhaveyouseentheteachingsintheseversesstrengthenrelationships?

Recap: To nurture right relationships with people, the Spirit transforms selfish living into submissive living: “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” (v. 21). Living submissively is how God desires church members to live together. God doesn’t want His church filled with self-centered people who seek to advance their own personal agendas. Instead, He desires for us to speak to one another with holy words, songs, and prayers. And He wants us to treat one another with grace. The church is strengthened when believers live submissively by the Spirit.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 118 of the PSG: “What does being filled with the Spirit look like in the life of a church or a believer?”

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “Better Together,” on page 119 of the PSG (page 145 in this Leader Guide) to help group members process how we strengthen one another.

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “We strengthen one another to live as God desires.”


[VERSE 18] Paul moved to another contrast between a Christian view of life and an immoral view, accenting both the role of the Holy Spirit and the need for mutual submission in our relations. He warned against the abuse of wine. Although wine was a popular drink in the ancient world, biblical writers were aware of the dangers of alcohol abuse. The Book of Proverbs frequently mentioned this concern. For example, Proverbs 23:29-35 gives a graphic depiction of the consequences of being drunk. By contrast, a Christian should be filled by the Spirit. Paul often noted the significant role the Holy Spirit plays in the Christian life. All Christians have the indwelling Spirit, and all Christians have at least one spiritual gift. In his Letter to the Galatians, Paul contrasted the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:19-23), and he urged his readers to “keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25). Some Christians today struggle because they are in step with our culture rather than with God’s Spirit. We are to fill our time with activities that honor God or contribute to the cause of Christ.

[VERSE 19] This verse seems to reflect the context of public worship. We do not know all the details of a typical house-church worship event, but singing was involved. Many scholars suggest that psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs might not be totally separate categories. The “psalms” are likely from the Old Testament Psalms or are based on them. The other compositions might be early Christian creations. Some Christians today debate how much time believers should spend listening to non-Christian music. Music and other art forms are central to many ongoing discussions about the relation of Christ and culture. At least Christians should be cautious about artistic elements that would undermine Christian character. The old computer slogan, “Garbage in, garbage out” is still relevant.

[VERSE 20] This verse might still reflect the context of public worship, but it also might be about the Christian life in general. We know that giving thanks, for instance, is more than a prayer before a meal. Paul understood the Christian life to be an expression of gratitude to God for the gift of salvation. When he was raising money for the Jerusalem church, Paul complimented some Christians for giving themselves

first and then giving money. He concluded that appeal with “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (9:15). Paul reminded the church at Ephesus that we express our gratitude to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul did not dig into the details of the relation of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit here, but our gratitude is primarily based on the grace of God expressed through our salvation in Jesus.

[VERSE 21] This verse both wraps up Paul’s discussion so far and introduces the next major topic, the family (Eph. 5:22–6:9). Paul presented a general principle that could be applied in many life situations. The principle is mutual submission by all Christians. Paul described it as submitting to one another. Paul’s emphasis on submission is not unique in the New Testament. Simon Peter, for example, offered a similar instruction on submission (1 Pet. 2:11–3:7). Paul developed this principle especially in relation to the family in this letter, but he applied it to the political arena in Romans 13:1-7. Many people today, both Christians and non-Christians, struggle with the notion of submission. Paul did not promote groveling or a totally passive lifestyle. He did not mean that only some Christians should be submissive. The phrase “mutual submission” tries to capture the distinctively Christian nature of human relationships. As Christian we are to have a submissive spirit toward all believers. Paul noted that our submission to others should be based on our fear of Christ. This phrase is sometimes rendered “out of reverence for Christ.” The word “fear” might be bothersome to some readers today, but first-century readers would have seen it as an appropriate response to the Son of God. The Old Testament often recognized that wisdom was grounded in the fear of the Lord.

Read the article “Drunkenness, Excess, and Bacchanalia” in the Summer 2020 issue of Biblical Illustrator.

LIVEITOUT


Identify. Through prayer and introspection, identify recurring sins and temptations that weigh you down. Confess those things to God and ask Him to bring others into your life to strengthen your walk.

Influence. As you experience strength and victory in your own life, look for opportunities to influence others by being a selfless and submissive member of your church.

Invite. Invite another Christian or group of Christians to be a part of your fight against temptation. Confess your temptations to them and allow them to confess theirs to you. Stand together against those struggles.


God employs His Spirit and His people to strengthen us against the ways of the world. Let’s be sure to let His desires become our desires and to let them be lived out in our lives.

Activity (optional): Use the timer option on page 145 of this Leader Guide to emphasize the urgency with which we must live each day and strengthen others to live theirs.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for strengthening us through His body, the church. Ask Him to help us turn to one another when we need help and to stand ready to help others when they are in need of strengthening.

ENGAGE

Better Together. Choose one of the following images that best illustrates how we strengthen one another. Explain your choice.

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, find a piece of rope at least five feet long. A jump rope will do, but make sure it’s strong and flexible. Give the rope to a couple of group members and let them have a little tug-of-war (don’t let them get too carried away!). One of the players should be substantially bigger and stronger than the other, so the bigger player will win easily. Let them try it again, but this time allow three or four other people to join the smaller player. Explain to the group that there is strength in numbers, and sometimes Christians need one another to help fight our spiritual battles.

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, obtain several clocks or large time-pieces. Set each to different times representing places around the world. If possible, also obtain a sand-filled hourglass or egg timer. Ask members to call out cities or nations that might be in each time zone. Then, turn over the hour glass or egg timer. Point out that the one consistent factor in every time zone is that time is limited and running out. Pray that each member might strengthen other believers to live for Christ at all times and to reach others for Him.

SESSION 6

We Stand Together in Spiritual Battle

THE POINT We stand strong with God’s armor and the support of others.


THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE A friend of mine recently prepared his house for sale. He cleaned, painted, and tastefully staged it. Pride of ownership was gleaming in every room. Buyers flooded the home and boasted of its beauty. Everything was going great until the home inspection revealed a significant problem: an army of termites was damaging the structural integrity of the floor. No amount of paint and redecorating could erase the unseen threat hidden deep beneath the visible surface. My friends eventually did sell their house. But they learned a valuable lesson in the process: things aren’t always what they seem on the outside.

Spiritually, things might look OK to the outside world, but below the surface a war rages. No one is immune to this conflict. It’s not a physical war; it’s a spiritual battle. Christians might not always think in those terms, but the battle is still there. Only by realizing we are in this fight can we stand against Satan and his wiles. Thankfully, God does not send His children into battle ill equipped. He provides spiritual armor by which we can engage the enemy and stand strong.

THE SETTING Paul knew a lot about Roman soldiers and their equipment. He wrote Ephesians while in prison (3:1; 4:1) and in chains (6:20). After being arrested in Jerusalem, he spent two years in prison in Caesarea (Acts 24:27) and another two years imprisoned in the city of Rome (28:30), guarded by a Roman soldier (v. 16). Some scholars believe Paul was chained to the soldier. When Paul wrote about armor and soldiers, he had firsthand experience!

GETINTOTHESTUDY

Activity (optional): In advance, prepare to show a video clip of someone being surprised. Then ask Question #1.


Discuss: Question #1 on page 121 of the PSG: “When have you been surprised by something totally unexpected?”

Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 122 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of standing together in spiritual battle by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 122 of the PSG: “We stand strong with God’s armor and the support of others.”

Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 12, the “Armor of God” poster, to help group members visualize the pieces of armor Paul describes as necessary for spiritual battle.

Activity (optional): Use the game option on page 155 of this Leader Guide to help group members consider strategies involved in spiritual warfare.

Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for equipping us for the spiritual battles we all face. Ask Him to give us the wisdom we need to employ this armor daily.

STUDYTHEBIBLE

EPHESIANS 6:10-13

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.


Guide: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the evil forces we battle against.

Recap: A lot of people, both inside and outside the church, view the Christian life as an effort to be better people, help others, and be good neighbors. But Jesus didn’t save us to make us better people; He saved us to make us new people. Jesus wants to radically transform everything in our lives. The life Jesus has called us to live is not a leisurely stroll down the religious boardwalk. The Christian life is a spiritual battle; it’s open warfare for our allegiance.

Discuss: Question #2 on page 123 of the PSG: “Where do you see spiritual battles raging in the world today?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Whathaveyoubeentaughtaboutspiritualwarfare?

Summarize: Christians are most assuredly involved in a war of eternal proportions, but it’s an invisible fight. Throughout church history, Christians have mistakenly taken up arms against all sorts of people in the name of Jesus. But our fight is not a fight against people of other religions. Neither is it a political fight against governments or political parties. And it’s not a provincial fight against another country. The fight we face is not a visible, physical war; it’s an invisible spiritual battle.

If anyone could feel justified in fighting against people, it would be Paul. He surely had earned the “right”! He had faced “far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death” (2 Cor. 11:23)—all at the hands of people. But this battered and bruised apostle pointed away from physical attacks against other people; he called us to be vigilant in a spiritual battle. Allegiance to God requires vigilance, but thankfully we’re not alone. The power of the gospel empowers us to stand.

Transition: We are in a spiritual battle. In the next verses, we learn that God equips us and protects us completely.


[VERSE 10] Paul’s Finally alerted readers he was about to wrap up his letter. The final major topic was a discussion of the spiritual battle they would fight. They needed to know about the spiritual war and how God would protect them. They would not need to fight on their own strength and resources. They would be strengthened by the Lord. Earlier in this letter Paul stressed “the immeasurable greatness” of

God’s power (Eph. 1:19). Although Paul was imprisoned at the time, he did not lose confidence in God’s power (3:13). God would stand on believers’ side in this spiritual struggle. As Paul noted in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?”

[VERSE 11] Paul illustrated the way God would strengthen and defend His people by using the imagery of a soldier’s armor. The apostle may have been influenced here by Isaiah 59:17, which refers to God’s armor. Isaiah might have meant the armor God provides to His people or the armor God figuratively wore. Both meanings might be true, but Paul probably was thinking of the armor God gives us. Paul emphasized we need to put on the armor provided. It will do us no good unless we use it! Putting on the armor is a word picture similar to our putting on our “new self” (Eph. 4:24). God’s people need to stand against the schemes of the devil. Paul used the word “stand” several times in the passage we study for this session. The connotation of this word is a strong resistance to the enemy. Paul named the devil as the opponent. Paul and other New Testament writers were clear that Christians would face temptations from Satan. In his discussion of the dangers of anger, Paul said that a lack of control of our anger could “give the devil an opportunity” to harm us (Eph. 4:27).

[VERSE 12] Paul elaborated on the challenge Christians face. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Paul’s readers might have had firsthand knowledge about the military, soldiers, and war. Christians, however, face supernatural spiritual forces arrayed against them. Paul identified several types of spiritual enemies, including rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. Although some Bible students try to identify each category in detail and place them all in a hierarchy, other scholars believe Paul used terms that overlap and are essentially synonymous. Paul’s main point is that we face cosmic, supernatural forces. Some of the terms, such as “authorities,” can also refer to human leaders (Rom. 13:1), but here Paul meant supernatural evil.

[VERSE 13] Paul repeated that we should take advantage of God’s assistance by taking up the full armor of God. Since many readers today are familiar with armor only through motion pictures, television shows, and visits to museums, Paul’s discussion of armor might not resonate with us. A church leader once delivered a children’s sermon on this issue and brought a football player’s uniform as an illustration. The football helmet, shoulder pads, and other clothing resembled armor! We would not want to play tackle football without that equipment. Paul would add we will not be able to resist the devil without the armor of God. Christians are facing an evil day. Paul might have anticipated persecution or tribulations at the end of time. In Ephesians 5:16 he mentioned that “the days are evil.” Paul understood that we must be prepared and ready to take your stand. Paul was not inspired to tell us in detail how we would be attacked by these evil spiritual forces. He probably knew the account of the devil tempting Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11). Paul experienced the thorn in the flesh, which was a ”messenger of Satan” (2 Cor. 12:7). He had exorcised an evil spirit in Philippi (Acts 16:16-18). Even if we do not have a military background, we can catch a glimpse of Paul’s teaching here. You or I might not have any of these life experiences, but we can appreciate Paul’s point in Ephesians 6. We are soldiers engaged in a spiritual battle, and we need to be prepared. God has provided the equipment we need to fight this battle!

EPHESIANS 6:14-17

14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.


Recap: Spiritual warfare certainly warrants an appropriate level of seriousness, but Christ-followers have no reason to be afraid. God hasn’t deployed us into battle wearing flip-flops and holding a broomstick. In addition to informing us that we are in a spiritual battle where the stakes are monumental, Paul also revealed that God equips us and protects us. Therefore, we can stand firm with no fear.

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 125 of the PSG. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the resources with which God supplies us.

God supplies His protection. Using a Roman soldier’s armor as a metaphor, Paul wrote that God sufficiently clothes us for battle through the spiritual resources Jesus provides. Paul didn’t tell us to put on our armor; this is God’s armor. Rather than shrinking back in fear before the enemy, we can stand in confidence because God protects us with His armor.

God supplies His people. From this passage, we can infer another resource God provides His people for battle—one another! God doesn’t deploy us into spiritual battle alone. We should not expect much success in winning the spiritual battle by ourselves. We need one another—the body of Christ—standing together against the schemes of the enemy.

God supplies His power. Let’s circle back to the earlier verses and remember that undergirding all the resources God has given us is His power. Nowhere was the power of God more evident than on the cross where Jesus died and in the tomb where Jesus was resurrected. Now consider this: through the power of the gospel, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the grave also lives inside of us! The same power that raised Jesus from the grave both saves your soul and empowers you to stand in the face of the enemy. You can stand against the enemy because Satan has already lost. Jesus won the battle the day He rose from the grave!

Discuss: Question #3 on page 125 of the PSG: “What can we learn from these verses about our role in spiritual battles?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howdoeachofthesepiecesofarmorhelpusfacespiritualbattles?

Transition: In the next verses, we also learn that we are to pray for one another as we stand in battle.


[VERSE 14] Paul repeated his exhortation to stand from verse 11. He began to itemize parts of the armor of God that would protect Christians. He started with truth like a belt around your waist. The belt was worn under what we might consider armor. In the ancient world the belt secured the soldier’s clothing. Paul often highlighted the importance of “truth” in the Christian life. The “truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21), and Christians should practice “speaking the truth in love” (v. 15). Paul next mentioned the armor on your chest or breastplate. The prophet Isaiah had referred to “righteousness as body armor” (Isa. 59:17). Often Paul used righteousness to point to God’s character. Our salvation is based on God’s righteousness, not any human good deeds (Rom. 4:1-5). In Ephesians 6:14, however, some scholars believe Paul might have referred to a Christian’s concern for righteousness and justice in human society. We see much injustice in our world, and we can work to oppose that injustice.

[VERSE 15] A Roman solider wore sandals on his feet. Paul said sandals represented readiness for the gospel of peace. Here again Paul may have echoed the message of Isaiah. Isaiah 52:7 refers to the beauty of the feet of those who proclaim peace. Paul, of course, focused on the fact Jesus brought peace to a sinful and broken world. Earlier the apostle proclaimed that Jesus is “our peace” (Eph. 2:14). Paul illustrated this truth by the way Christ reconciled the Jews and the Gentiles, two ethnic groups who usually were at odds (vv. 16-17). In the background of Paul’s comments is the teaching of Jesus (John 14:27). When Jesus and Paul referred to “peace,” they did not mean the mere cessation of conflict. The Hebrew concept meant a genuine reconciliation between warring parties. Paul recognized there were limits to what humans could achieve, but they should strive for peace (Rom. 12:18).

[VERSE 16] Another piece of the soldier’s armor was the shield. Roman soldiers typically carried a shield made of wood with a leather covering, around four feet tall and over two feet wide. The leather covering protected the soldier from the flaming arrows shot by the enemy. Jewish Christians were likely familiar with “shield” as a metaphor for God, who protected His people. God identified Himself as Abram’s shield (Gen. 15:1), and the psalmist described God as his shield (Ps. 3:3). Paul compared the shield to faith. Our faith is our trust in God, including His power and His trustworthiness. We can depend on God to protect us in our struggles today. The “flaming arrows” were shot at Christians by the evil one. Earlier Paul had acknowledged enemies faced by believers (Eph. 6:12). Generally, the evil one refers to Satan.

[VERSE 17] Paul mentioned two more pieces of armor in this verse. First, he dealt with the helmet, which represents our salvation. Isaiah had also used this analogy in Isaiah 59:17. A helmet protected the soldier’s head from attack, much as a hard hat protects construction workers and a helmet protects various athletes today. Paul compared the soldier’s sword to the word of God. He reminded us that he was developing a word picture by calling the weapon the sword of the Spirit. “Word of God” in this context was the gospel message proclaimed by early Christians. The New Testament had not been completed when Paul wrote this letter. For us, both the written Word of God and the proclaimed word of God can help us deal with the forces of evil. Bible teachers who understand the written Word of God can help us see the relevance of this ancient message for today’s dilemmas. The power of God’s Word to change lives is suggested by Paul’s analogy. Hebrews 4:12 elaborates on this point: “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword.” The Word of God, spoken and written, can penetrate human hearts and lives. As a defensive weapon, a sword protects us from an attacker. When

Satan tempted Jesus three times, Jesus responded each time by quoting the Old Testament (Matt. 4:1-11). Christians today can use the Bible as a powerful resource in their battles with evil.

EPHESIANS 6:18-20

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.


Discuss: Question #4 on page 126 of the PSG: “What are some practical ways we can prepare for spiritual battle?”

ALTERNATE QUESTION:

Howwouldyousummarizetheprinciplesofprayertaughtintheseverses?

Summarize: Highlight the main points from page 126 of the PSG. We see several truths in verses 18-20 about the way we should pray.

Pray all the time. Prayer isn’t something we do only on Sunday mornings or before meals. We are to pray “at all times” (v. 18).

Pray in the Spirit. We pray “in the Spirit” because prayer is a form of worship, and God desires that His people worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Pray with engaged minds. As we pray we are to “stay alert with all perseverance.”

Pray for the church. Paul also told us to pray with “intercession for all the saints.” We have a responsibility to pray for the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pray for the gospel’s advance. Whether it’s for our church leaders, church members, or missionaries, we should pray for them as Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him.

Pray for the persecuted. At the moment of his writing, Paul was in prison, “an ambassador in chains” (v. 20). Believers all over the world today experience similar suffering. As the body of Christ, praying with and for one other is the greatest support we have to give.

Discuss: Question #5 on page 126 of the PSG: “How have you seen our group make a difference in a spiritual battle?”

Do: Direct group members to Engage with “Power, Protection, and People,” on page 127 of the PSG (page 155 in this Leader Guide) to help them process spiritual warfare personally.

Guide: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “We stand strong with God’s armor and the support of others.”


[VERSE 18] In these last three verses of our study, Paul turned to the topic of prayer. We should pray for fellow Christians as we engage in spiritual warfare. In the session on Ephesians 3:14-21 we saw Paul’s concern for prayer in the church. Here he again emphasized the need to pray for one another as we stand in this spiritual battle. Prayer is not identified explicitly as a piece of armor in Paul’s analogy, but clearly he saw Christian prayer as an important resource. Paul urged us to pray in the Spirit. Our prayers should be grounded in our relation to God. Sometimes people utter prayers that are designed to impress people rather than reflecting a genuine relation to God. Paul relayed that the Holy Spirit helps us in prayer, especially at those times we do not know how to pray. Paul urged us to pray at all times. Maybe he knew of the inclination of many to turn to God only in a crisis. We think we can solve our problems in our own strength and creativity, and turn to God only as a last resort. Since Paul depicted the Christian life as a wartime situation, he encouraged staying alert. Paul encouraged intercession for all the saints. Many Christians today have a prayer list handy, itemizing their ongoing concerns as well as new ones. Intercession is prayer for others, while “petitionary” is the traditional word for prayer for one’s own needs.

[VERSE 19] Paul asked his readers to pray for him as well. Although in jail when he wrote this letter, Paul didn’t explicitly ask for liberation. He wanted to continue his ministry while he was in jail, and he wanted to proclaim the message boldly. Paul’s message focused on the mystery of the gospel. Generally, a mystery was a spiritual truth initially hidden from humans. Now, though, God had revealed the mystery. For instance, from Colossians 1:25-27 the content of the mystery was that Gentiles and Jews alike could be saved. In Paul’s day a popular movement was mystery religions. These pagan religions required an initiation into the mysteries. Unlike these secret societies, Paul proclaimed the gospel of God’s grace to Jews and Gentiles alike.

[VERSE 20] Paul described himself as an ambassador in chains. He was literally in chains at times during his imprisonments. Paul referred to his chains when he defended himself before Agrippa (Acts 26:29). An “ambassador” was an official representative of a government. The ambassador would carry official messages to other rulers. Paul had described himself and other Christians as ambassadors in 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”Paul asked again that his readers pray for him. His specific prayer request was that he might be bold enough to speak about it as I should. From the Bible references mentioned in covering verse 19, Paul did remain bold in his ministry during his imprisonment. We do not have any written evidence of how the church at Ephesus responded to Paul’s prayer requests in verses 19-20. Probably Paul was confident of their support.

Paul expected the members of the body of Christ, the church, to help each other as they all faced spiritual battles with the supernatural forces of evil, such as the devil. Paul had itemized some examples of a Roman soldier’s armor to illustrate the severity of this conflict. But we are not individual soldiers facing an enemy. We are part of an army. Earlier in this letter Paul highlighted the unity of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:1-6). Christians then and now need to be united in Christ in their opposition to the enemy. Prayer is a major resource for all of us. We should pray for our own personal needs, for the needs of other believers, and for the needs of the entire world. Our prayers do not guarantee we are protected from every problem. According to early Christian tradition, Paul was eventually executed in the city of Rome. But his prayers were answered, since he continued to proclaim the good news about Jesus until the end.

Previous Biblical Illustrator articles “Armor as Biblical Imagery” (Fall 2019), “Of Demons and the Devil: A Historical Overview” (Spring 2018), and “The Heavenly Places” (Fall 2017) relate to this lesson and can be found in the Leader Pack’s digital files or can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life.

LIVEITOUT


Take your stand. Through prayer, commit yourself anew to standing firm in the strength of the Lord in spiritual battle.

Stand with your church. Take spiritual ownership of your church by praying regularly for your pastor(s), teacher(s), and fellow church members. Begin a prayer journal as a guide to help you pray.

Stand with the nations. Research the global church including missionary needs, unreached people groups, and persecution. The following websites are valuable resources to help shape your mind and your prayers: imb.org, joshuaproject.net, and operationworld.org.


When we come to Christ for salvation, He gives us a new identity and a new family in His church. In that family, we pray, support, encourage, and strengthen one another as we stand together in spiritual battle.

Activity (optional): Use the song option on page 155 of this Leader Guide to help group members better connect to the theme of spiritual warfare.

Pray: Conclude by thanking God for going before us in battle. Ask Him to help us have confidence as we face the enemy, knowing that He has already won the victory.

ENGAGE

Power, Protection, and People. Think about a struggle in your life. It might be a sinful habit, an anxiety, or anything else that’s keeping you from experiencing God’s desire for your life. Based on what you’ve learned in this session, answer these questions:

What power can I access to deal with this?

What protection has God given me to fight this?

Who is fighting this alongside me?

BONUSCONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, obtain some games like “Battleship” or similar games depicting warfare or military strategy. Ask members if they have ever played games like this, either as board games or perhaps pretending when they were children. Invite them to describe strategies they might have used to win. Then, turn the discussion to today’s session text. Ask them to consider what strategies God lays out for us in our spiritual warfare.

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, enlist someone to lead the group in singing Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress” or similar song that emphasizes the theme of spiritual warfare. Afterward, invite members to share how they have witnessed spiritual battles in their lives or the lives of others. Make the point that we can have confidence in spiritual battles because the Lord goes before us.

EPHESIANS’UNIQUEMESSAGEbyRodneyReeve

Ephesians reads like a collection of what Paul had written in his other letters. Every verse in Ephesians leads the reader to passages in Paul’s other letters that deal with the same subject. This is especially true since Ephesians is so similar to Colossians—they share the same outline, they develop the same topics in much the same way, and they even have the same instructions regarding Tychicus. What makes Ephesians unique, however, is the way certain ideas Paul mentioned in other letters are developed more fully in this letter, which was written toward the end of his life.

Although several topics in Ephesians could be explored, for the purposes of this article, I would like to feature what could be considered the main themes of the letter: the cosmic rule of Christ, how believers reign with Christ, and how believers can overcome evil.

PAUL’S MESSAGE Paul wrote about the implications of Christ’s resurrection for all creation in Romans 8:18-25. His main focus, however, was on believers. That Christ’s resurrection would affect all creation. In particular, Paul wanted “the eyes” of the Ephesians’ “heart to be enlightened” to realize the power of Christ’s victory over death, over the malevolent powers “of the air,” and over every named creature of this age and the age to come.1 Paul used quite a bit of “power talk” wrapped in royal imagery as he tried to get his converts to see the implications of Christ’s resurrection:

Christ ascended to God’s throne, was seated at the right hand, having put all creation “under his feet,” and was installed with the

highest name. Therefore, no power can oppose the Ruler of all things.

On the heels of making these claims regarding Christ’s resurrection power, Paul wrote about how believers share in Christ’s reign. Paul made the connection when he described the church as the body of Christ. Before they were saved, Paul’s converts were dead in sin—beholden to the ways of the world, to fleshly desires, and to the “spirit” that incites disobedience. But Christ’s resurrection is a power that is realized by those who have been saved by grace through faith. Believers are coregents of Christ’s kingdom, installed by God “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” because we are His body. This explains how believers live transformed lives. For Paul the best evidence of transformed lives was the peace of Christ found in the church. Ethnic strife between Jews and Gentiles—a wall erected by the law—was abolished through the work of Christ because God has reconciled the whole world, turning enemies into friends.

If believers are seated in heavenly places with Christ, having authority over all powers, then what happens in the “real world”—for Christians who still face the reality of living on the earth “below” with the “ruler of the power of the air” above us? Paul encouraged his converts to put on “the new man,” wearing Christ like a garment. In this way, they would make “no provision for the flesh.” Paul expanded that idea in Ephesians 6, where he described the “whole armor of God.” By wearing Christ like armor, the believer does battle against evil powers, both in heavenly places and on earth. Like a bullet-proof vest, Christ defends His co-regents from the flaming darts of Satan. And Christ empowers believers to use God’s Word like a sword through prayer and the proclamation of the gospel.

PAUL’S MOTIVATION Why did Paul highlight these ideas in his Letter to the Ephesians? His reason had everything to do with what was going on in Ephesus at the time. Said one writer: Ephesus was the center of magic, astrology, and the mystery religions, and many converts to Christ in that city were once involved with these practices. They believed that their lives were under the influence of cosmic powers. Paul may have written to alleviate their fears by showing that Christ is sovereign in the cosmos.2

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was in Ephesus, the great Temple of Artemis. The temple had a reputation for trafficking in magic; priests who served sold magical amulets to protect devotees from malevolent powers. Sown into their clothes or worn around their necks and wrists, these charms protected parts of the body: head, heart, hands, loins, or feet. According to Luke, when the Ephesians believed Paul’s gospel, they burned all of their magical items. Once Paul left the area, evidently the Ephesians began to question their impulsive response to the gospel.

This makes Paul’s argument regarding the power of Christ’s resurrection even more poignant. Since Christ put all enemies under His feet, and since the church is His body, then all powers are—by the power and presence of Christ in us— under our feet. Believers reign with Him in their victory over every enemy of God: sin, death, flesh, and the devil. Raised with Christ, a believer wears Christ in His resurrection power like armor, protecting every part of the body: head, heart, hands, loins, and feet. So, no matter what happened, the Ephesian believers should have been inspired to proclaim boldly the good news of Jesus. More than for defense, Christ put into their hands His sword—the Word of God—to advance His reign against the forces of darkness. The Ephesians had everything they needed to stand because Christ was raised from the dead and His soldiers reigned with Him.

1.Scripturequotesarethewriter’sowntranslation.2.JohnMcRay,Paul:HisLifeandTeaching(GrandRapids:BakerAcademic,2003),348.

Rodney Reeves is professor of biblical studies and dean of Redford School of Theology at Southwest Baptist University, Boliver, Mo.

DOSOMETHINGFUNWITHYOURGROUPbyAlanRaughton

Effective Bible study groups do four things well. They reach, teach, minister, and fellowship. But building community through fellowship is more than simply enjoying coffee and donuts prior to the Bible study time.

My experience is that the more members of my group get together outside of group time, the stronger our community becomes. The fellowship/community during group time becomes an overflow of what takes place outside of group. Consider one or more of these ideas to build fellowship and strengthen community with your group.

1. Go to a movie together. Following the movie, see who wants to go get ice cream!

2. Work a ministry project together. Clean up an elderly or homebound member’s yard, serve a meal at a homeless shelter, or help

any ministry that involves your group serving together.

3. Go on a video or photo scavenger hunt. Divide the group into teams. Teams must secure video or photos of their group at certain iconic locations around town or with members of your church.

4. Plan a family picnic. Bring the kids and dogs and head to a park for a group picnic.

5. Have a theme party. Have a fun evening while the members dress fun attire, such as Hawaiian Luau, 80’s Day, Mexican Fiesta, or Old West Day. Food and game choices can match certain themes.

6. Arrange dinner for eight. Groups of eight meet at a member’s home or restaurant of their choice. The group consists of members and prospects. All of the groups end up together for games and desert is served to top off the evening.

7. Take me out to the ballgame. Have the group attend a sporting event together, such as a minor league baseball or college baseball game. Consider a tail-gate fellowship before the game!

8. Schedule women’s fellowships and men’s fellowships. Sometimes it’s good for the ladies to get with the ladies and the men to get with the men. Women could consider scrapbooking, paper crafting, spa, or shopping. Men could go hunting, fishing, or golf driving range. Some of these activities could be of interest to the entire group!

The important thing to remember is that it’s not what you do, but who you do it with! The purpose of any fellowship is to build relationships and have fun! AlanRaughtontrainsadultleadersinteachingeffectiveBiblestudygroups.HeisamemberofHermitageHillsBaptistChurch,Hermitage,Tenn.,whereheteachesanadultSundaySchoolclasstargetingEmptyNestersandprovidescoachingtootheradultSundaySchoolleaders.Marriedtohiscollegesweetheart,Ruth,theyaretheparentsoftwogrownchildren.FollowhimonTwitter@AlanRaughton.

SIXWAYSTOHANDLEADISGRUNTLEDGROUPMEMBERbyKenBraddy

It seems like disgruntled people are everywhere today. You don’t have to look very far to find them. What do you do when that disgruntled person is in your Bible study group and has an issue that’s causing the members of your group to be uncomfortable? You’re the group’s leader. What are you supposed to do? The disgruntled person may have an issue with the pastor, a decision made by the church, or someone else in the group. Or the disgruntled person could have an issue with you—the group leader. The flash point could have been a myriad of things, but nonetheless it’s yours to deal with. What are your options?

Option 1: Invite the person to “coffee and confrontation.” This will be the most difficult of all the solutions for most of us because confronting others is just not something we are comfortable doing. Meeting at a neutral location is a good strategy, and a public place may help reduce the likelihood of a “nuclear meltdown.” When you confront the disgruntled person, your goal is not to “win” but instead seek to listen and understand their viewpoint. See things through their eyes. Once you understand the true nature of what has caused this person to be unhappy, then you can design a solution that works best. Try walking in his or her shoes for a while to see if this individual has a legitimate issue.

Option 2: Pray for the disgruntled person. Whether or not you agree with the disgruntled person, pray for them. This individual obviously has something that is causing concern, and it doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with this person. They are a brother or sister in Christ who is hurting. Take the situation to Jesus, knowing that He is the Great High Priest. As we pray for people, God often softens our heart and our own receptivity to see things from the other person’s point of view. Remember that Jesus told us to “pray for your enemies,” and that He wants us to take the much higher road of prayer on the other person’s behalf.

Option 3: Help the disgruntled person see a different point of view. This option may be the most time consuming of all and could take you days, weeks, or months. To be effective, you’re going to have to excel at hearing and listening. Once you understand this person’s viewpoint, only then can you craft a response to help find a different path forward. Many times, people get sideways because of a false perception. Assumptions are made, feelings are hurt, and emotions get out of our control. Walking another person through the truth of the situation may be one of the most grace-filled things we ever have the privilege of doing for this individual. The truth can be very liberating. It sets us free.

Option 4: Be patient. It can be frustrating when dealing with a disgruntled group member. Remember that whatever has caused the situation to flare up probably didn’t do so overnight; the solution may not happen overnight either. Be long-suffering, like your heavenly Father is long-suffering. Help the group’s members adopt an attitude of patience and guide them well during the entire process, explaining how their patient attitude mimics that of Jesus.

Option 5: Be open to correction by the disgruntled group member. I know it sounds like a long shot but there may be a chance that your disgruntled group member, although not displaying a true Christ-like character, may have a legitimate reason for being upset with you. As you listen and process the situation, be open to the possibility that this person is right and you may have inadvertently done or said something that created the situation. Admit it if you did something wrong and repair the relationship. If the circumstance involves members of your group, help them to be open to the fact that they may be the instigators.

Option 6: Ask the disgruntled person to leave the group. I saved this one for last because it is a permanent (and divisive) solution for the individual and the group. If you’ve tried your best to work with the disgruntled group member and this person just will not be reasonable, he or she refuses to repent, or this individual is in any way comfortable with keeping things stirred up in your group, it may be time to politely ask this person to leave the group. There is no joy in asking a person to leave the fellowship, comfort, and safety of a group, but for the sake of the group’s other members, this has to be considered as a legitimate option.

If you have disgruntled group member, I encourage you to seek out your pastor’s wisdom and counsel. He may be aware of extenuating circumstances in the individual’s life that help to explain his or her odd behavior towards you or the group. Your pastor will almost certainly have experience in dealing with people who are disgruntled, and that experience could prove to be quite valuable to you. KenBraddymanagesLifeWay’sOngoingBiblestudies,leadshischurch’sGroupsministry,andblogsdailyonSundaySchoolandsmallgroupsatkenbraddy.com.

COMING NEXT QUARTER

AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART:

A FRESH LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Session 1 Place God First // Exodus 20:1-6; Psalm 16:1-4a,9-11

Session 2 Honor God // Exodus 20:7-11; Psalm 145:1-7

Session 3 Honor Parents // Exodus 20:12; 2 Samuel 15:7-14

Session 4 Honor Life // Exodus 20:13; 1 Samuel 26:7-11,22-25

Session 5 Honor Marriage // Exodus 20:14; 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Session 6 Honor All Relationships // Exodus 20:15-17; Psalm 37:1-6

ALL IN: A LIFE OF COMMITMENT

Session 1 Christ’s Commitment to Us // Romans 5:6-12,18-21

Session 2 Our Commitment to Christ // Mark 10:13-22

Session 3 Committed to His Word // Psalm 119:1-11

Session 4 Committed to His Church // Romans 12:3-16

Session 5 Committed to Pray // Colossians 1:3-12

Session 6 Committed to His Worship // Psalm 99:1-9

Session 7 Committed to His Mission // Romans 10:9-17

ENDNOTES 1RobertJ.Morgan,ThenSingsMySoul:150oftheWorld’sGreatestHymnsStories(Nashville,TN:ThomasNelson,2003),112-113.2JoniEarecksonTada,“ADeeperHealing.”https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/TM13-2/a-deeper-healing-joni-eareckson-tada.3DietrichBonhoeffer,TheCostofDiscipleship(NewYork:MacmillanPublishing,1979),91.4C.S.Lewis,MereChristianity(HarperCollins,1952)136-137.5www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution.6NiccolòMachiavelli,DiscoursesontheFirstDecadeofTitusLivius,Chapter9.7ChristinaGough,“Running&Jogging—StatisticandFacts,”Statista,October18,2018,www.statista.com/topics/1743/running-and-jogging.8AldenWhitman,“EdwardSteichenIsDeadat93;MadePhotographyanArtForm,”TheNewYorkTimes,March26,1973,www.nytimes.com/1973/03/26/archives/edward-steichen-is-dead-at-93-made-photography-an-art-form-edward.html.

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