Lesson 20 Ephesians Continuing from our last study

Transcription

1 Lesson 20 Ephesians Continuing from our last study Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. Scripture Meditation/Memorization One of the most fundamental and rewarding Christian disciplines that pays back in full spiritual dividends is Bible meditation/memorization. It is an absolutely fundamental in the formation of your spiritual development, spiritual walk and faith growth. In Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), the Psalmist warrior, King David said, Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Memory Verse Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. Ephesians 5:18 19 NLT ~ 1 ~

2 Ephesians 5:21-33 Marriage: Christ and The Church 1. *Why is verse 21 an excellent opening statement to this section on marriage? 1 I have heard several uninformed feminists complain that Christianity demeans women when it fact it elevated them far above their status in contemporary culture. The women of Paul s day had virtually no rights and could be divorced for trivial reasons and left with no assets or future. Even a cursory reading of this passage will prove this point. 2. Submit, in verse 22, is a military term meaning to be under the authority of a superior officer. It has nothing to do with value or worth of the individual submitting. It merely describes position, order, or rank. As you read these verses with respect to the wife: a. What is required of her? b. What blessings or benefits will she receive? 3. Paul raises the standard for husbands far above anything in Greek, Roman, or Jewish culture. As you survey these verses: a. What is required of the husband? 1 Question taken from Ephesians Building a Community in Christ, John Stott Bible Studies, InterVarsity Press-USA, 1998 ~ 2 ~

3 b. What blessings or benefits will he receive? c. How is his behavior an illustration of Christ s love for the church? 4. Many today, even within the church, would redefine marriage. a. However, based on this passage along with Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:5 how does God define marriage? b. As marriage between a man and a woman is a type or illustration of the marriage between Christ and the church, why is it important that we maintain our biblical definition of marriage? ~ 3 ~

4 Ephesians 6:1-4 Parents and Children World-renowned New Testament interpreter and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at Glasgow University in Scotland, the late William Barclay commented that Christianity did as much for the status of children as it did in elevating the status of women in the first century. Roman culture gave the father complete autocratic life and death control of his children (patria potestas or father s power). By contrast, in our passage, a child s obedience is balanced with parental discipline intended to nurture godly offspring. The diagram at the below shows the relationship between parental love and discipline. 1. The first four of the Ten Commandments deal with the relationship between man and God while the next six deals with human relationships. Paul is referring to the fifth commandment in Ephesians 6:1 2, and the original is found in Deuteronomy 5:16. a. What is required of children in the commandment? What does it mean to honor? b. What is the promise or blessing to children following this commandment? c. As adult children, how are we to respond to this commandment? ~ 4 ~

5 d. Can you think of an instance when it would be acceptable for a child to disobey this commandment? (The principle found in Acts 4:19 would apply here as well.) 2. Some commentators (such as J. Vernon McGee) feel that Paul is speaking strictly to fathers in verse 4 while others (such as MacArthur) feel that this is addressing both parents in context of verse 1 3. Either way this is a very important passage on parenting; for greater insight read the expanded verse in the Amplified Version. a. What is the warning to the father/parents? b. What is meant by training (NKJV) which is translated discipline (NASB)? c. What is meant by admonition (NKJV) which is translated instruction (NASB)? d. What is the purpose or goal of admonition and instruction? ~ 5 ~

6 3. What can you glean from these two parallel passages that helps shed light on the subject of parenting? a. Colossians 3:21 b. Hebrews 12:6 11 Ephesians 6:6-9 Servants and Masters Historians estimate that no less than 60% of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves when this epistle was written. Individuals became slaves through conquest (their country lost a war to another), economics (they sold themselves as slaves for food), or inheritance (children of slaves belonged to the master). Because of the pervasiveness of slavery, it encompassed all social strata from teachers and physicians to unskilled laborers. This was not a blanket endorsement of slavery (see 1 Corinthians 7:20 24). The vast majority of commentators feel that the instructions to masters and servants in this passage are directly applicable to us today in the workplace as either employers or employees. 1. No single activity occupies more of our time than work. In the workplace, we act as ambassadors for Christ as our behavior will either serve as a bridge or barrier to faith for unsaved fellow workers. Paul sets the bar extremely high for us in verses 5 8. a. How are we called to act? ~ 6 ~

7 b. What should and should not be our motivation for our work ethic? c. What blessing(s) are we promised? d. What practical steps can you take in your workplace to better align yourself with this passage? 2. What additional information can you glean from these two parallel passages? a. Colossians 3:23 b. 1 Peter 2: Slave masters in the Roman Empire had absolute control of their servants even to the power of life and death (without a trial). Paul s appeal to masters would have been a revolutionary statement in his culture. For an extended passage on the responsibility of masters, read the tiny book of Philemon. In this book, Paul pleads with the master (Philemon) for consideration towards a returning ~ 7 ~

8 fugitive slave named Onesimus, who was now also a believer. What do you learn in the following two verses? a. Ephesians 6:9 b. Philemon Lesson 20 Summary/Take Away To avoid walking in circles when lost in the wilderness, survival instructors teach their students to pick out the most prominent point in the distant landscape and walk toward it. In a similar sense we need to pick out the single most important truth in this week s study and apply it in our life as we walk toward Jesus and out of the wilderness. Please share with your group what that truth is for you, and how will you apply it this week: Memory Verse Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. Ephesians 5:18 19 NLT ~ 8 ~

9 Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. How would these phrases instruct or encourage us today? Submitting to One Another (Ephesians 5:21) Admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) As to Christ (Ephesians 6:5) ~ 9 ~

10 MESSAGE NOTES Teacher: 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. *Added questions by Warehouse Christian Ministries, Sacramento, CA ~ 10 ~