Community Bible Study

At Western Branch

Engaging Ephesians
Lesson Two

Hope for the Hopeless Ephesians 1:1-14

Ephesians 1:1-3 Paul Greets the Saints and Praises God 1. Paul introduces himself in 1:1 as an apostle of Christ Jesus, and on the basis of that fact gives authoritative instructions to the Christians who will read his letter. What convinced Paul that he was an apostle? a. Acts 26:12-18

b. 1 Corinthians 9:1-2

c. 2 Corinthians 12:11-12

2. Ephesians is written to saints (1:1). This word comes from the Greek word for holy. According to Romans 1:6-7, how would you define a saint?

3. Read Ephesians 1:3 and list at least three spiritual blessings for which you could praise and thank God.

Ephesians 1:4-6 Believers Were Chosen Before the Foundation of the World. 4. What was Gods plan for us when He chose us? (See also Romans 8:29.)

5. What does it mean to be holy (Ephesians 1:4)? See Colossians 1:22; Titus 2:11-14.

6. Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that in love [God] predestined us for adoption by faith in Christ. On what basiss are we adopted (1:5)?

7. Read Ephesians 1:6 and 2:8. Define grace in your own words.

Ephesians 1:7-10 God Ordained the Cross as the Means of Grace 8. What does redemption mean? Use a dictionary if you like.

9. Using 1:9-10, record how you would explain Gods plan to a friend.

10. Read Colossians 1:15-20, and list some ways that Christ is head of all things in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:10)

Ephesians 1:11-14 The Inheritance of Believers Is Revealed 11. Ephesian 1:11 says we were chosen and predestined according to Gods plan. According to John 15:16 and Ephesians 2:10, what is our place in that plan?

12. According to 1:13, how can you be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit?

13. What assurance has God given us that He will forgive our sins and give us eternal salvation?

Apply what you have learned. As we travel through the joys and challenges of life, we sometimes have to pause and wonder what the deeper significance is to our existence. Jewish playwright Leo Rosten said, I cant believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful to be compassionate. It is above all to matter, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. This first chapter of Ephesians reveals that each of us, if we belong to Christ, is, indeed, part of a grand plan for the universe. We were worked into that plan before the foundation of the world (1:4). As you continue studying the lesson, let your Creator speak to you about your unique place in His plan.