As Paul continues to share and encourage the people of Ephesus on how to live out a healthy, wholesome life, we can also directly relate to our daily lives. Paul opens chapter 5 with well-known directive of living in the light. A fact we can each relate to is that we cannot add darkness to…
After several weeks of learning who we are from Paul in the first three chapters of Ephesians, we begin to engage with how to live out the plans for us and the church. In the Message translation by Eugene Peterson, he opens chapter 4 with… In light of all this, here’s what I want you…
As we begin this weeks session, it will be apparent that we are picking up right in the middle of Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians. We are reminded once again that the chapter and paragraph breaks that we experience in the Bible are not defined by content or context. This chapter starts off with “For…
“Tell it like it is” is a phrase that became common in the decade of the sixties, and carried on into the seventies. It had its origin in the personal growth movement, i.e., sensitivity training, when the emphasis was on personal confrontation, honesty, and no-holds-barred sharing of feelings and responses. It spilled over into other…
As we kick off the year 2019, we are grateful for all the time we have shared together, and the hope that our faith in Jesus provides. Today we begin in the scriptures of the book of Ephesians. We have done a lot of review and research of Paul, the city of Ephesus and the…
Rejection, it is rooted in fear. It is associated with feelings such as helpless, discouragement, confused, bewildered, insignificant that can lead to insecurity, embarrassment, inadequacy, and shame. Recently a friend shared on a social media platform the following insights, and challenges… One quality I’ve been told I have is connecting with people. I’m genuine and…
As we read through the section in the book of Acts about Paul’s third missionary trip, we learned that the region was far from a peaceful Christian oasis. It was a populous area that was essentially a melting pot. The area was a prime seaport and economic center, much like what Corinth was like in…
As we prepare to go through the book of Ephesians we attempt to put into context the cultural and economic status of Ephesus at the time Paul wrote the letter, but it was not always a Christian-centered region. If we recall, last week we noticed how the letter of Ephesians is unlike other letters in…
We begin our travel through the book of Ephesians and we take this session to learn about the setting and background and the special characteristics of the book of Ephesians. What are some of the basics that you know about the book of Ephesians? The origin The book written by the Apostle Paul around 61-62AD,…
Bear and Share the Burdens 1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he…