Hideeho! It’s great to be here with you for Bible Study. We’re going to have a great time today. This book is so wonder-filled. So welcome back to afaithtalk.com and let’s just see if we can grow our faith a little bit more today.
Ephesians 3
August 18, 2020
Read Ephesians 3:1
God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
What is that wonderful subtitle for this chapter?
__________________________________________________________
God’s plan is, (rewrite the adjective) ________________________
And we get to read about it too! That is Wonder in case you need an example, chapter one was full of it. It truly is marvelous.
Have you ever begun a paragraph with “For this reason” and then took an aside while you explain something first? That’s what Paul is doing here. It can seem confusing but this is what he’s doing.
Who does Paul say he is first? _____________________________________________________
And why is he this? _____________________________________________________
Read Ephesians 3:2-3
2 Surely you have heard about the __________________ of God’s ________ that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the _________ made known to me by ________________, as I have already written briefly.
Does that last phrase make you laugh? _______________
The administration of God’s _____________ that was given to him for __________. Yes, this book is so very much about the grace of God and how praise worthy He is because of His immeasurable grace he bestows on us.
Read Ephesians 3:4-5
4 In ____________ this, then, you will be able to ___________ my insight into the mystery of __________, 5 which was _____ made _________ to people in other generations as it has now been ____________ by the _________ to God’s holy ___________ and ______________.
“In reading this” Wow. Even Paul expects us to read his letter. And not just read it, but understand too.
Read Ephesians 3:6
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Rewrite that verse staring with “Through the gospel…”
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Heirs together with Israel. Praise Him for his glorious Grace, Praise Him for Jesus through whom all the promises are Yes and Amen.
Evidence by Josh Baldwin and Bethel Music.
Never Been a Moment by Micah Tyler.
Read Ephesians 3:7-9
7 I became a _________ of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his ________. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this _______ was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make ______ to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
What was Paul supposed to preach? _________________________________________________________
Yes, I do expect you to see the adjective. If you didn’t write, it, circle it.
Read Ephesians 3:10-12
God’s what? His _________. What was it? That ________ through the church, the manifold wisdom of God ______________________________
To whom: ____________________________________________
Which ones?__________________________________________, according to his ___________ purpose
That he ________________ in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Him and through ________ in Him we may approach God with __________ and ________________.
Let’s repeat that… In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. In Jesus and through faith in Jesus, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. There’s something wonderful here. Do you see it?
Read Ephesians 3:13
Paul’s sufferings for them are there ________. So he asks them not to be _______________.
Ooh look! Paul’s going to pray again! That’s part of why I think his writings are so much fun and so wonder-filled to read. His prayers are so powerful, so beyond anything anyone but God can do.
Read Ephesians 3:14-15
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
For this reason I kneel… Pay very close attention. He’s kneeling for this prayer. He’s praying for us too.
Read Ephesians 3:16-19 slowly
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
He has __________________ riches which can ________________ us with _______________ through his ___________ in our inner being, and _______________ dwells in our heart through _______. We’re to be __________ and ____________ in love, and have __________ together with all the Lord’s holy people, to _______ how ______ and _____ and ______ and _______ is the love of ________, and to ______ this ______ that ________________ knowledge—that we may be ________ to the ___________ of ____ the __________ of ______.
That is powerful. And because God answers these kinds of prayers, audacious and powerful prayers, He deserves all the glory in the world, let alone the praise coming in the next two verses.
Read Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
To Him who is _______ to do ___________________ more than all we _______ or even _______________, according to His power that is at work within us.
To Him be _________. All the __________ in the church and in Christ _________ throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
If all you read were the last two verses of Ephesians 3, you could still feel the glory and the power. Go ahead and repeat them, out loud.
Praise God! Praise God! From Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him! Praise Him! For the wonders of His love.
His amazing love.
Thank You, Father, for every word in this chapter. The wonder and the power and the amazing love that pours out in this chapter is all because You made it to be so. So we praise you and we thank You and we ask, yes, please, answer this prayer in our lives as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.