Ephesians

I. Introduction To Ephesians A. History 1. The City Of Ephesus a. A great city of Asia Minor: A Roman capital. Chief city of the area. b. A center for the worship of the false goddess Diana. The temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and...

I. The Gospel V. 13a A. The Message Of Gospel 1. after you heard the word of truth…the gospel of your salvation… a. There is a particular message that is called “the gospel”. b. It is translated “good news” in the Greek language. c. It is called “the gospel of your...

I. Who Paul Prayed For V. 15 Paul has just explained what God has done for the Christian (Ephesians 1:3-14) Paul now re-identifies and re-describes what a Christian is. A. Those Who Had Faith In The Lord Jesus 1. Paul prays that the Ephesians would realize how much...

I. The Hope Of His Calling A. What Is Hope? 1. Hope- Not wishful thinking, fanciful imagining, wishing for luck, etc. 2. What Christian hope is: a. A sentiment & a thought: a desire for good, with an expectation of obtaining it. b. The object or goal; a thing...

Three possible meanings of this verse: The passage speaks of the blessings of the Christian after this life. The glory of Heaven. The word in tells us that God’s inheritance is found in us. We are His inheritance. The word in also points to location. It could mean in...

The Progression Of Paul’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:18, 19) V. 18a Prayer For Our Ability To Have Spiritual Understanding V. 18b, c Prayer To Understand The Calling Of God (Heaven, Glorified Body) V. 19 Prayer To Understand God’s Power To Accomplish These Things I. To Whom...

1:3a Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Blessed-eulogetos- to speak well of. Paul exhorts us to bless God, who has blessed us. God has blessed us by what He has done. We bless him with our words of praise. There is another word for “blessed”-...

I. He Has Redeemed Us V. 7a A. What Is Redemption? 1. Redemption- apolutrosis- a releasing effected by payment of ransom 2. Jesus described living under the influence of sin as slavery. (John 8:31-36) a. How do we know that statement is true? b. Try to stop sinning on...

I. About Spiritual Deadness A. What Is Spiritual Deadness? 1. Death is not extinction, or inactivity. 2. Death is separation. a. Physical death is separation of the spirit and soul from the body. b. Spiritual death is the separation of spirit & soul from...

I. Gentiles (The Unsaved, Unchurched, & Irreligious) Vs. 11, 12 A. The Jews 1. God spoke first to the Jews a. Abraham- called to be used by God, from a family of idol worshippers b. Isaac- son of Abraham who fathered Jacob c. Jacob- Nicknamed “Deceiver, Heel...

I. The Accomplishment Of The Cross Vs. 14, 15 A. One New Man 1. The text speaks of the cultural and spiritual difference between Jews and Gentiles. 2. Verses 11-13 speaks of the contrast between Jews and Gentiles. 3. Add to that the great hatred that Jews had towards...

I. Saved A. Our Unsaved Condition 2:5a even when we were dead in trespasses, B. God’s Attitude Towards Unsaved Man 1. 2:4a But God, who is rich in mercy… a. Rich-abounding, abundant. (Rich is a relative term; “compared to…”) b. If I am merciful after you steal my $1,...

I. Only Two Choices For Life A. The World Says We Have Many Choices 1. Many religious choices, all which lead to truth and “rightness”. a. One current study says that there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups,...

I. Negatives To Overcome A. Prison V. 1 1. Paul wrote this letter from a jail cell in Rome. 2. He had been imprisoned by Rome at the urging of the Jewish leader of Israel. 3. Paul had been given the responsibility of preaching Christ to the Gentiles. 4. This brought...

I. The Christian Life Includes Inner Strengthening A. The Gospel Had Come To The Gentiles V. 14 1. 3:14 is a continuation of what Paul started in 3:1 2. Paul had been called to preach to the Gentiles. 3. They had received the forgiveness of God. The Ephesians had...

Martin Lloyd Jones- We are here face to face with the highest heights of the Christian life and for what is possible for us as Christian people. It is therefore not an easy portion of scripture. But there is nothing which is more glorious. People who climb mountains...

I. Our Foundation… that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  A. What Paul Doesn’t Say 1. Rooted & grounded in church attendance (though that is good and important). 2. Rooted & grounded in trying harder (though effort is needed in a life of faith). 3....

Chapter 4 begins the second section of Ephesians. Section 1- doctrine. Chapters 1-3. Section 2- application. Chapters 4-6. Importance of understanding doctrine before making application to our lives. Wrong to emphasize Christian behavior before you understand what a...

I.     The Spiritual Life Of An Unbeliever Vs. 17-19 A.      The Way They Think V. 17 1.      Therefore- refers back to the exhortation which began in 4:1-3. 2.       and testify in the Lord- An appeal made by Jesus through Paul. 3.      that you should no longer walk...

I. Lying A. Put It Away V. 25a 1. Because of all that Christ had done in them….“therefore, put away lying…”. 2. We are always exhorted to respond to God’s goodness toward us. 3. Since He has done so much in you, and plans to do so much more, “therefore…” 4. Though...

Keep in mind the overall context of this letter. These thoughts do not stand alone, but are an extension of what Paul said God was doing in them. See especially Ephesians 4:1 and 4:24 I. Stealing, Laboring, Giving V. 28 A. The Negative Command: “Discontinue Stealing”...

I. Sinful Attitudes & Behavior V. 31 A. Bitterness- a bitter root, & so producing a bitter fruit. 1. Acts 8:23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 2. Hebrews 12:14, 15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which...

I. Jesus, The Gift & Grace Giver A. Every Christian Gifted/Graced V. 7 1. Jesus gives gifts to every member of the Body of Christ, without exception. 2. The gifts are given according to God’s grace, not earned or deserved, but given. 3. Measured out (metron)...

I. Live As A Child Of God Vs. 1, 2 A. Dear Children 1. Even when correcting these Christians, Paul reminds them that they are “dear children”. 2. Dear- beloved, esteemed, favorite, worthy of love. 3. When God corrects, instructs, rebukes, discipline…we are still “dear...

Read also Luke 15:11-24; Acts 2:1-15 and do not be drunk with wine… When a man is drunk with wine, we could also say that he is full of wine. Wycliffe translated this verse as follows: be not filled with wine… Do not be drunk with wine… This does not speak of a man...

I. A Worshipful Life V. 19 A. What It’s Not 1. Not just a “singing life” of songs that have Christian lyrics or themes. 2. Not just an “enjoying Christian music” life. Even unbelievers can do that. 3. Not just coming to church and singing with the congregation. B....

I. Giving Thanks V. 20 A. Giving Thanks Is An Attitude 1. The opposite of a “thankful life” is a “complaining life”. a. Nowhere in Scripture is an “unthankful or complaining attitude” encouraged. 2. Unthankfulness is a defining characteristic of the unsaved or the...

Ephesians 5:21 “…submitting to one another in the fear of God.” I. Why Mutual Submission Is Important A. What Lack Of Mutual Submission Looks Like 1. F.B.I.- A woman is beaten every 15 seconds in the U.S. Result of a self focused man. a. 50% of women killed in U.S. is...

“Spirit led submission brings glory to God and blessings to people”. 5:22 NJKV Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 5:22 NASB- “be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord”. 5:22 ASV- Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord....

I. The Design Of Headship A. Established At Creation 1. God’s design of a husband’s headship over his wife predates Christianity 2. It was not a cultural arrangement or a bias of Paul, but was established in creation 3. We need to be careful to not assign blame to...

Before we are an earthly spouse, we need to learn to be a heavenly bride. Our experience as the Bride of Christ will greatly enable us to be a good earthly spouse. I. From Impure To Pure- The Corinthians A. Their Former Condition-Impure 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 1. The...

I. Some Christians Have A Wrong View Of Marriage A. Getting Back To The Truth Read 2 Chronicles 29:3-9, 16 1. Hezekiah was a king in Israel who brought revival and repentance to the nation. 2. They had forsaken God and turned to idols. 3. God’s judgment had fallen...

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Obey- to listen attentively; to heed or conform to a command or authority:--hearken, be obedient to. Children are to listen to their parents with the understanding that they are under authority....

In 1861, as the Civil War was starting, a famous battle was the First Battle of Bull Run. “On the day of the battle, carriages filled with spectators eager to see the Confederate defeated flocked from Washington to the battle site.” EyewitnessToHistory.Com A...

The Christian is called into a spiritual battle. ● We are reminded of the truth of the spiritual battle in Ephesians 6:10-13 ● Christian doesn’t fight for ultimate victory; we fight from ultimate victory. See Ephesians 1:19-23. ● And yet, though the final victory is...

I. Gospel Of Peace V. 15 A. The Roman Soldier’s Sandals 1. Roman soldiers wore sandals attached to their feet with leather thongs, & studded with short nails in the sole of the sandal, which gave them a sure footing. 2. This helped prevent slipping, being pushed...

I. An Interesting Comparison A. 1st Three Pieces Of Armor Are Spoken Of In Past Tense. “Having Taken…” B. The Next 4 Pieces Are That Which One Is “Taking Up”- Situational Usage II. The Armor We “Take Up” Vs. 16-18 A. The Shield Of Faith V. 16 1. Above all- in addition...

I. The Helmet & The Sword A.The Helmet Of Salvation V. 17a 1.17aAnd take the helmet of salvation- dechomai- to receive. Different than verse 16. 2. Literally- The helmet which is salvation. 3. The salvation that Paul speaks of could mean many things, but part of...

I. How A Christian Should Pray V. 18 A. Praying Always 1. On every occasion, at all seasons. 2. 1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you… (The prophet Samuel praying for the leaders of Israel)...

There are many opinions about how to raise children. ● Don’t force kids to believe what the parents believe. Kids must be free to make their own decisions. ● Be very strict and careful about letting your kids see or hear anything that might be contrary to what is...

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. The topic of parenting is something that should interest all segments of humanity. Regardless of social standing, political persuasion,...

I. History & Culture Bondservants- doulos- slaves. In many cities, the slaves were more numerous than freemen. Many of these slaves had heathen masters, others had Christian masters Many slaves were very intelligent, having been captured in war and sold into...