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The Greatest Story Ever Told How To Read And Understand EPHESIANS (Part 1)

Bible Bowl Rules May 23  Bibles CLOSED! (ESV)  Level 1 -- Qualifying Round  20 questions seconds each  Teams of three (any grade)  Level 2 -- Competition Round  20 questions seconds each  Top 5 teams from each grade  Level 3 -- Championship Round  Top team from each grade  Prize: Team Trophy and $10 Gift Cards!

Big Words, Important Words Hermeneutics: The science and art of biblical interpretation. General Hermeneutics: Study of rules that are true for interpreting all of Scripture Special Hermeneutics: Study of rules that apply when interpreting specific types of Scripture (Parables, prophecies, etc.) Exegesis: Using hermeneutics to reach a correct understanding of Scripture.

Two Special Rules To Remember When Reading EPISTLES Letters with Limitations Written to a specific audience Written to address specific needs and questions The Question of Cultural Relativity Do some parts apply only to that culture? What parts are true for all people at all times?

Background Facts on Ephesians Author: Paul (writing as a prisoner in Rome) Date: 62 AD Audience: Churches in and near Ephesus (containing Jewish and Gentile Christians); Paul had spent three years preaching in Ephesus Purpose for letter: Unspecified Ephesus: A wealthy and influential port city famous for its practice of magic and worship of Artemis

Paul’s World

Ephesians 1-3: What God Does God chooses God saves God unites God reveals

God Chooses Paul for Apostleship “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1) “he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15) All Christians for Salvation and Adoption “he chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4)

Reflection: Ephesians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…”

God Saves Redeems Us From Slavery (Eph. 1:7) Gives Us An Inheritance (Eph. 1:11) Pardons Our Rebellion (Eph. 2:1-3) Gives Us New Life (Eph. 2:5)

Reflection: Ephesians 2:1-5 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved…”

Mad Gab Mania! Sample: Haste Robber Reap Eye Us Mell Ease Knee Grr!! Butcher Ed Stew Gather Dawned Hey Guinea Chants His

God Unites Sinners with God “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,… strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11-13) Christians with Christians “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one…” (Ephesians 2:14)

Reflection: Ephesians 2:13-16 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross…”

God Reveals The Mystery of the Gospel “To me…this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God…” (Ephesians 3:8-9) The Greatness of His Love “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19)

Reflection: Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith -- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

See What God Has Done! God has united us to himself and to other believers in the body of Christ…to the praise of his glorious grace

podium Table for water/OJ Table for coffee table Starting Point -- Revised 3/11/10 14 chairs (12 chairs) 14 chairs