Relax, pray for strength to understand

Eph 3

Groups of 4

Eph 3:8-10 read

(What was given to Paul? and why?)

Take 2 minutes

facts

What three results did Paul write about that were to come about as a result of the grace he had received?

How did Paul see himself, and how does that compare with how he saw his mission?

(What is the mystery? read Ephesians 1,3.)

According to Paul, what is God's purpose for the church? Are you hearing that?

What's God's point in creating a church or raising up a people?

Not for us to spend our time proving everyone else wrong!

Not to make everyone a Seventh-day Adventist!

What are some other common (and possibly erroneous) reasons we think the church exists?

control people

make me feel good--put on a show

so I can attend to think I am a good person/ salvation by attendance.

keep God appeased and safe for life to go on here

Is there some questions about God's wisdom in the heavenly places?

How does God intend to show His wisdom through the church?

(Does this help explain why it has been hidden in God for so long?)

What three characteristics of the saints (church) does Paul pray will become evident in the Ephesian believers? (hint read: 16-19)

What is implied if you do not comprehend and know Christ's love or even let Him live in You in the first place--Miss being filled with all fullness!! What a terrible thing to miss out on!!

Why does Paul pray for strengthening in order to comprehend? What does this imply about our ability to comprehend the love of Christ?

Who can sum up what the wisdom of God is?

God has chosen to reveal through fallen humanity His love.

I don't have to fight back.

What a call to ministry, to offer love in the face of evil

Brian's pouting

Conflict with PC?--Curtis toward me!

What is the wisdom of God? To be shown by the church? "Love in action!" Sinful human beings living God's love. How does this answer the questions about God's wisdom in the universe?

In the light of this what should we pray for?

strength and power to comprehend the Love of Christ!

Perhaps I can speak from my weakness. "How many of you are sick and tired of reacting in the same old way to evil. How many are sick of being ruled by "self-interest," and cornered by self-
protection into doing the most foolish and petty things to the people you love, and people you don't even know? That's where I'm at. Here is a vision and a prayer that you and I will grow up into all the fullness of God, into maturity instead of childishness where we can concern ourselves with uplifting Christ instead of downing the worship credit system. What are some of the schisms we would see done away with if we weren't so childish to each other, if we had a sense of the love of God for each of us! How would that change us? Why must we know the love of God? Why must we be strengthened on the inside to know the love of God?

Driving the other day--12 was backed up as people merged. I got over where it was still wide, the guy behind me raced ahead on the right. What do you suppose I did? That's right, tailgate all the way, baby! It wasn't until after the fellow in front of me let him in that I realized, this is dumb! I'm letting someone else's selfishness ruin my day! Would I be embarrassed if my wife was here and saw my attitude? Would I have done the same thing? God said to me, "Grow up!" "In the light of how much I have loved you, what does it matter if someone here does not give you your rights, your place in line in the traffic jam of life. If you were stuck here all night because somehow that car got in front of you, the things that really matter won't change a bit!

Deli example!

Pray for strength, to understand God's love. Are you letting God love you? Who here is saying, alright, God, I may have pushed you out before, but I'm hearing you talk to me today, and I want to let you love me! 'cause that's the starting point for being free from my fears, my immaturity, from being controlled by what other people do to me.

What does this say about our priorities? Should we be more concerned with the brother who falls into sexual sin or with the brother who is divisive and argumentative.

How is all this different from what we've thought the mission of the church is? -- spread the gospel, stop sinning. Does it leave us with more responsibility or less? Does it make you less comfortable or more? Which is harder, to be unified in living the love of Christ or to stop doing a list of bad things?

3.(context)What is the wisdom of God in Eph 3? If the church is supposed to reveal it to the universe, what is the mission of the church in Eph 3?

According to Ephesians 3, how will the church show the wisdom of God? What vision does Paul have for the church in chapter three?

What are the two prerequisites to the church fulfilling its function? Eph 3:8-10 gospel presented and mystery seen

What is the mystery? What made this so hidden for ages? (no church to show it?)

(Find the three main verbs and write down how Paul's audience is connected to each one. Where does the action take place in relation to his audience?

Are they doing the action? Receiving it? What?

What is the progression or motion?)

1.to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ (happens outside of us--we are the Gentiles)

2.to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God (we must respond inside in order to see, what does this really mean? understand!)

What is this mystery in eph 3:9? Read chapt 1:9,10 (NIV is fairly clear) all things together in Christ--do you know what this means? Ever tried to unify two groups at loggerheads? God is going to do something unheard of. He's going to bring harmony to the universe again, but through a crucified Savior!--through love not fear

3.who created all things so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Now we turn around and act from the inside out.)

What an awful place to put a semicolon!! Why did God create all things!

Why did God create all things? 3:9-10

What's the only thing Paul refers to in this book as being created? The church!! 2:10

What's God's point in creating a church or raising up a people?

Not for us to spend our time proving everyone else wrong!

Not to make everyone a Seventh-day Adventist!

What are some other common (and possibly erroneous) reasons we think the church exists?

control people

make me feel good--put on a show

so I can attend to think I am a good person/ salvation by attend.

keep God appeased and safe for life to go on here

What are some other Biblical examples of manifestations of this reason for raising up a people?

helping the poor, visiting the prisoners, helping the sick--
basically loving people.

Show his wisdom.	through whom?	Through the church

to whom?	rulers and the authorities

interpretation

1.Is there some question about his wisdom? Who has questioned it? (obviously the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms have)

What are some of the major questions about the wisdom of God?

earth-suffering--fair to allow wickedness?

heaven-safe to save us?--fair to condemn wicked

How could the church, made up of fallen human beings ever show God's wisdom to anybody? What is God's wisdom?

What is universe's major question about God's wisdom?

Can God's law be obeyed?

The root of questions is an accusation that God is (what?) arbitrary.

How can sinful human beings (the church) refute that accusation or claim of Satan?

When the people in the church start to love each other, then no one can claim that God is arbitrary any more. If sinful people can know the genius of God's love the benefits of serving each other rather than themselves, then surely the universe where there is no sin cannot argue that selfishness is better. If people who have tried selfishness turn back to unselfishness at the realization of God's love and unselfishness, then who is left to defend selfishness?

God has chosen through fallen humanity to reveal His love--to the universe!

3 effects on the church in Paul's prayer in 3:14-21

I pray that, I pray that, so that

1.	God will give inner strength by Spirit (by indwelling of Christ through the spirit)

be strengthened by having Have the strength that comes from having Christ alive in you (His love as a starting point)

2.	be able to comprehend the love of Christ (which is beyond comprehension

3.	in order to be filled with all the fullness of God!

Does anyone here see the significance of Paul's phrase "Rooted(plant or point of pen) & Established(foundationed)" in love--Paul's prayer is for both!

He goes from the love that is

1.outside us--God the Father grant strength by spirit through indwelling Christ's love, to the love that is

2.in us--by faith, not necessarily in our experience--to love that we understand with our minds, to love that actually

3.radiates from us changes our actions--when we are full of the fullness of God and He is glorified!

Family theme by contrast to coercive government

What can I pray after reading this? For strength to understand the love of Christ so I can be changed! (the parking lady, or the deli man)

Boy on train

I went from disgust to interest to compassion through prayer

God gave me His love that wasn't naturally in me.

Can I also get some sort of survey going? What sort of questions should I include? Effectiveness? Ease of understanding? Ability to challenge? Ability to overcome preconceived ideas? Did you find principles? Will you act on them? Can you see the need for group interpretation? Are you encouraged that right interpretation can be discovered as the Holy Spirit guides believers gathered together in the name of Christ?

Mike's comments: very good, preparation showed,

Esther's comments: nice job

Andy also?

In what ways did this inductive Bible study challenge you?

The stated purpose of this study was to find principles in the Bible in order to act on them. Did you find Biblical principles through this study? Will you act on them?

How did this study increase your confidence in God's trustworthiness and in the Bible as His inspired message to humans?

Two years from now, how well do you think you will remember what we studied together from this passage. How do you think the inductive method will contribute to you retention?

ref Zechariah 2:2 Jerusalem, long and wide

Measuring imagery in Eph 3.