By
Ephesians
Jim McCracken and Rich Kao © Five Stones Impact 2024
O B S E R V A T I O N S
1. What do we have as a result of the riches of God’s grace, which he lavished on us? (CHAPTER 1)
2. What is the seal that marks salvation through belief in the gospel? (CHAPTER 1)
3. How were we dead previously, and what is our position now, which makes us so alive? (CHAPTER 2)
4. As God’s workmanship, what did he create us to do? (CHAPTER 2)
5. What is the mystery of how Gentiles became part of God’s household though they were aliens before? (CHAPTER 2 & 3)
6. What dimensions of Christ’s love does Paul pray they will grasp, and how can they know this if it is past knowledge? (CHAPTER 2 & 3)
7. How do we keep the unity of the Spirit and what things are already “one?” (CHAPTER 4)
8. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, prepare God’s people for what purpose and what result? (CHAPTER 4)
9. Paul says to be wise, not unwise, walk in the light, and not darkness. What things are we to get rid of and what do we embrace, when we put off the old self and put on the new? (CHAPTER 4 & 5)
10. What is the powerful alternative to getting drunk? (CHAPTER 5)
11. What is the spiritual principle that should guide children, parents, masters, and slaves in how they act toward each other? (CHAPTER 6)
12. What does each piece of spiritual armor represent? (CHAPTER 6)
D E E P E R T H O U G H T
1 How does being chosen and predestined relate to God’s pleasure and will? (CHAPTER 1)
2. Paul continually prays that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened. What does he want them to see and know? (CHAPTER 1)
3 What is the foundation of the apostles and prophets on which God’s household is built and how is Jesus the chief cornerstone? (CHAPTERS 2 & 3)
4. How can we approach God with freedom and confidence and be strengthened with power? (CHAPTER 3)
5 When each part of the body does its work, what is the result? (CHAPTER 4)
6. What wisdom does Paul share about anger when he quotes Psalm 4:4? (CHAPTER 4)
7 As Paul compares husbands and wives to Christ and the church, what amazing counsel does he give? (CHAPTER 5)
8. What does God’s full armor equip us to do? (CHAPTER 6)
9 Paul is very hard on the agitators What does he wish upon them and what does that picture? (CHAPTER 5)
10. Why does Paul say we should carry each other’s burdens, but then say each one should carry his own load? (CHAPTER 6)
11 If we don’t grow weary in doing good, what will happen? (CHAPTER 6)
C O
N S I D E R A T I O N C O R N E R
ANSWERS TO LESSON 24
OBSERVATIONS
1) Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. (1:7)
2) The Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (1:13-14)
3) We were dead in our transgressions and sins but now are alive with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms. (2:1-6)
4) Good works, which he prepared in advance for us to do. (2:10)
5) Gentiles were separate from Christ, not included in Israel or the covenants of promise, and without hope in God. Now through the gospel, Gentiles are also saved and heirs to the promises through Christ Jesus. (2:113:13)
6) They could know how wide, long, and high Christ’s love is by being strengthened with his power through his Spirit in their inner being. (3:14-19)
7) We keep unity through the bond of peace by being humble, gentle, and loving. There is one body, one, Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (4:1-6)
8) For works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. (4:11-12)
9) We rid ourselves of falsehood, unwholesome talk, bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice, sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking. We embrace righteousness, holiness, truth, encouragement, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and goodness, (4:17-5:11)
10) Being filled with the Spirit. (5:18)
11) Everything should be done as “unto the Lord.” (6:19)
12) The belt is truth, the breastplate is righteousness, the shoes are readiness from the gospel, the shield is faith, the helmet is salvation, and the sword is the word of God. (6:16-17)
Consider this:
Paul uses many examples to paint a clear and full portrait of the church The church is like a body with Christ as the head The church is a household where Jew and Gentile have become one The church is a temple that God is building and inhabits by his Spirit God uses the church to display his manifold wisdom to rulers and authorities in heavenly realms Christ and the church are like marriage and he loves the church like a bride, laying down his life for her
QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT
1) It is God’s pleasure and will to choose people to be holy and blameless in his sight, and predestine them to be adopted as his sons. (1:4-5)
2) To know Christ better, and his hope, riches of his inheritance, and incomparably great power. (1:17-20)
3) The foundation is the mystery of the gospel revealed to the apostles and prophets concerning the Gentiles and Jews both becoming heirs together through salvation in Christ Jesus, the cornerstone of the dwelling God inhabits by his Spirit. (2:19-3:6)
4) In Christ Jesus and through faith in him, and out of his glorious riches through his Spirit in our inner being. (3:12-16)
5) The whole body builds itself up in love. (4:16)
6) Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. Don’t sin with anger and let the devil get a foothold. (4:26)
7) Men should love their wives as Christ loved the church and wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord who laid down his life for the church. (5:2233)
8) Take our stand against the devil’s schemes. (6:11)