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week one
Because
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of love ...
What treasures unfold in your life when you are loved?
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X e , Go
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More importantly, what happens when God loves you? The
letter to the Ephesians opens like a treasure chest, spilling out
rich wonders of love.
Because of love, God’s love expressed through Jesus
Christ, we are adopted as God’s children, chosen and
redeemed, blessed, saved, even made useful to God. Because lo v
of His love, we have peace with Him, and we’re brought into
His new family, the Body called the Church.
And because of love, we’re given a new way to walk, a
better way to live in relationship with God, with our family
and other believers and in our place in this world.
Loved by God
What do you gain because of love? Take a Each day, take a moment to think about all God has
look at Ephesians with us this month and done to show you just how much He loves you.
discover these treasures for yourself.
What do you do when you’re “in love”? Everything you
P.S. Do you use Meet with God with your Sunday school
can think of to demonstrate or prove your affection. Sometimes it
might get a little goofy or over the top, but you want the best for
class, Bible study or in a group setting? Then look for
the one you love.
the icon. It marks a suggestion for group discussion There is a “divine romance” with God who loves us. And
or assignments. Feel free to use them as you choose. Thank what does God do “in love”? Well, in Ephesians 1, Paul unveils
you for your continued feedback and suggestions for Meet an amazing list of God’s lavish acts of love, starting with Christ
with God.
DAY 1: Chosen
makes it possible for us to be forgiven for our sin (v. 7).
Verse 8 even uses the word “lavish” to describe the
overflowing generosity of God as He pours out “the riches of His Well, holiness doesn’t mean being perfect; it means being
grace” (v. 7), giving wisdom (v. 8) so we can know the mystery of “set apart for God’s use.” Do you see yourself as chosen
His will (v. 9) and see the full scope of His plan and purpose (vv. and set apart for God’s use? Why or why not?
9–10). In love, God gives us a new inheritance (v. 11), a new hope
(v. 12) and the seal of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).
Why this lavish demonstration? Because of love—God’s great,
generous, unfathomable love. You’ll notice that this love starts with What will you do differently this week knowing you are
God; we don’t initiate it. We’re the recipients, the beloved. As John chosen?
put it, “we love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We do not
earn this love and we certainly don’t deserve it. But we can respond
with grateful and loving hearts, living in such a way that we honor
His love. Here in Ephesians, we’re shown what it looks like to live Adoption Certificate
fun zone
presented to
(or walk) that way. But it all begins with God’s love. Because you believe in Jesus, God has
adopted you into His family.
As you walk through Ephesians, look for the ways God has
Ephesians 1:5
March 2010
brought you to Himself and everything you now have as one of for kids or the kid in you ...
His beloved children with a new family of faith. None of this Ephesians 1:5 tells us God “adopted” us into His
would be possible without the simple fact that God loves you. family when we believed Christ. Make your own Adoption Certificate
adoption certificate to show you’re part of God’s
presented to
family. Go to http://www.backtothebible.org/adopted
adopted you into His family.
Ephesians 1:5
March 2010
Keep your certificate to show that because you believe Adoption Certificate
presented to
in Jesus, God has adopted you into His family. Because you believe in Jesus, God has
adopted you into His family.
4
Ephesians 1:5
Ephesians 1:9–10 What did God do to demonstrate His power (vv. 19–20)?
DAY 4: Blessed
Ephesians 1:11
How have you experienced these riches in your life? Using Paul’s requests for the Ephesian Christians, pray for
the people in your church.
How does Jesus’ description of the Holy Spirit’s role in the world
encourage you?
God’s
Chosen People
According to verses 13–15, what is the source of God’s Word? (See This week, consider how your life is affected because you
also 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21.)
are a “partaker of the promise in Christ Jesus through the
gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
by special revelation (v. 5). Paul saw it as an act of God’s grace (an
undeserved favor) to have the opportunity to share this mystery
with the Gentiles, and it was worth any amount of suffering.
Compare with Ephesians 2:8–9.
How would you describe the mystery in 3:1–6?
We have __________________________ with God. (5:1)
Through Him we have also ____________________. (5:2)
We __________________________ in hope. (5:2)
How might you share this mystery?
We rejoice in __________________________. (5:3)
While we were __________________________. (5:6)
While we were still sinners, _____________________. (5:8)
What do you think you might have to suffer in order to make this
We have now been justified by __________________. (5:9) mystery known?
We are __________________________ to God. (5:10)
We shall be _______________________. (5:10)
DAY 3: Christ in the Middle How does this definition apply to Christ’s relationship to the Church?
Read Ephesians 2:14–22
Ephesians 2:20 tells us that Christ is the “cornerstone” of the
Church. When buildings were made of large stones laid on top
of one another, the cornerstone was the first stone placed. All
the other stones were aligned with the cornerstone to make sure How does it apply to your relationship with Him?
that the walls were straight and strong. Any deviation from the
cornerstone could cause the walls to buckle and fall.
P a u l m o ves from
oint, ing truth
.
At this p t o a p p ly
truth that
teaching he stops to pray
But first
,
i ll b e r o oted and
rs w
his reade o r s t r e ngthened
d
grounde
in C h r i s t , from the WEEKEND: Wisdom of Christ
inside ou
t. DAY 5:
Read 1 Corinthians 2:5–16
Rooted & Wisdom is more than knowledge; it’s the ability to apply what
Grounded we know to our lives. Paul says that the more we grow in our
relationship with Christ, becoming mature, the more we will
Read Ephesians 3:11–21 understand and accept what God is doing. To the person without
Christ, the choices we make will appear foolish. To the spiritually
On April 10, 1963, the nuclear attack submarine Thresher was
mature, however, they will make perfect sense.
performing test dives to determine the optimum depth at which
it could operate when a malfunction occurred which sank it to a
What is the “secret and hidden wisdom of God” (vv. 7–9)?
level of 8,400 feet. At that depth the hull could not withstand the
pressure of the water and within minutes the submarine imploded,
killing all 129 men aboard. Like water pressure on a sub, the trials
and tribulations of life can put you under tremendous pressure.
Without a corresponding pressure or strength on the inside, your
life can implode.
Who helps us to discern God’s wisdom (vv. 12–13)?
What is the source of the believer’s strength (v. 16)?
What is Paul’s desired outcome (vv. 18–19)? What wisdom has God shown you in this passage? How will you
apply it?
What do you need from Paul’s prayer to help you be strong today?
while this is important for all people, it is especially important within
week three the Church as the Body of Christ.
unity The community of the Church, properly built up in Christ,
is a powerful thing. For this reason, we all have a part in
This week consider what opportunities building the Body of Christ—the Church—“until
you have to build unity in the Body of we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
Sp
believers.
rd
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature
manhood ... so that we may no longer be
iri
What do the words “opportunity” children, tossed to and fro by the waves
Lo
and “community” have in common? and carried about by every wind of
t
love
The word “unity.” This is probably doctrine, by human cunning, by
just a coincidence, but spiritually craftiness in deceitful schemes”
these three words form the basis
p e (vv. 13–14).
of Paul’s message in Ephesians 4.
In Paul’s letter to the h o It is only when the church
Body
is operating by these principles
Galatians, he writes, “So then, that it can achieve the goal
as we have opportunity, let
r c h Paul mentions earlier in this
hu
us do good to everyone, and letter. “So that through the
especially to those who are
C church the manifold wisdom
tism
of the household of faith” of God might now be made
bap
(Galatians 6:10). Now here in
Ephesians, Paul gets specific:
“Walk in a manner worthy of
way known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly
places” (3:10).
the calling to which you have As we’ll find out later
been called, with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, fa in our study of Ephesians,
ith
there are a lot of spiritual
od
bearing with one another in love” forces dead set against unity in
(Ephesians 4:1–2). And later, “Let the church, and the results when
all bitterness and wrath and anger and they are successful are devastating.
G
or
Fa
clamor and slander be put away from The answer is unity. Paul reminds us,
you, along with all malice” (v. 31). “there is one body and one Spirit—just
Savi
the
We usually think of opportunities as as you were called to the one hope that
chances to better ourselves or our situation. But belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith,
Paul says that rather than improving ourselves, we
r
one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is
should seek opportunities to better each other. And over all and through all and in all” (vv. 4–6).
DAY 3: Renewed
Read Ephesians 4:17–24
Have you ever had a life-changing experience? Maybe you met When your life is changed by Christ, what are you to “put off ”
someone famous, moved to another state, got married or had your (v. 22) What should you “put on” instead (vv. 23–24)?
first child. Paul says meeting Christ should change our lives. How
does he describe life before meeting Christ (vv. 17–19)?
DAY 5: Grieving the Spirit Read Ephesians 4:25–32
Look up Ephesians
“Don’t use ____________
When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes or abusive language. Let
to dwell in us (2 Timothy 1:14). The word “dwell” implies 4:29–32 in the New
permanency. The Holy Spirit doesn’t come for a visit; He Living Translation everything you say be good and
comes to stay. When we commit a sin, the Holy Spirit and fill in these
spaces. ____________, so that your words
doesn’t leave us, but He is grieved and Paul warns against
that. What are some sins that will grieve the Holy Spirit? will be an ____________ to those
fun zone
Spirit helped you? of all bitterness, rage,
Spend time right now praying for yourself and for others in the Meet with God, an official publication of Back to the Bible
challenge to walk as imitators of Christ. Woodrow Kroll, President
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