LifeChangeEphesiansStudy_Ephesians3ThanksgivingandPraise by NavPress

Life Change: Ephesians Study Lesson: Ephesians 3: Thanksgiving and Praise

Lesson Overview Biblical Passages Ephesians 1:15-23 Supporting Passages Ephesians 1:1-15; Romans 1:8 Memory Verse Ephesians 1:17 Biblical Truth Paul demonstrated his love for the believers in Ephesus by continuing to pray for them. Learing Goals Learners will examine the structure of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers. Learners will identify how they can begin to pray for other believers using the structure of Paul’s prayer. ● ●

Commentary Interpretation Ephesians 1:15-23 God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in His Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for, and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the soul? Do we not for a little pleasure often part with our peace? And if we dispute less, and prayed more with and for each other, we should daily see more and more what is the hope of our calling and the riches of the Divine glory in this inheritance. It is desirable to feel the mighty power of Divine grace, beginning and carrying on the work of faith in our souls. But it is difficult to bring a soul to believe fully in Christ and to venture its all, and the hope of eternal life, upon His righteousness. Nothing less than Almighty power will work this in us. Here is signified that it is Christ the Savior who supplies all the necessities of those who trust in Him and gives them all blessings in the richest abundance. And by being partakers of Christ Himself, we come to be filled with the fullness of grace and glory in Him. How then do those forget themselves who seek for righteousness out of Him! This teaches us to come to Christ. And did we know what we are called to, and what we might find in Him, surely we should come and be suitors to Him. When feeling our weakness and the power of our enemies, we most perceive the greatness of that mighty power which effects the conversion of the believer and is engaged to perfect His salvation. Surely this will constrain us by love to live to our Redeemer's glory.

Teaching Plan Interactive: Patterns (3-5 minutes, easy setup) Provide paper and pens for learners. Divide learners into groups of two or three. Distribute paper and pens. Lead learners to look around the room for patterns. Encourage learners to write a brief description or draw a sample of the patterns they see. Prompt learners to look for patterns in clothes others are wearing, in the textiles used to decorate the room, in the materials used to construct the room, and even in small things like the leaf of a plant. Call on volunteers to point out and describe the various patterns. Ask: Is there anything in the room that does not have some kind of pattern? Explain that today’s lesson will focus on the pattern of Paul’s prayer. Life and Times: Hudson Taylor's Secret (3-5 minutes, easy setup) Share the following story: Hudson Taylor arrived in China in 1854 with a desire to take the gospel to the unreached people there. According to his biographer, Taylor later emerged from a Chinese junk (boat) transformed from a burdened Christian to a happy one. “God has made me a new man! God has made me a new man!” he told a friend. “Whereas I was blind, now I see.” What caused this change? Taylor, in his ongoing failure to grow in holiness and

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION(r). NIV(r). Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) NavPress, 2011. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of LifeChange curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.

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Life Change: Ephesians Study Lesson: Ephesians 3: Thanksgiving and Praise faith, began meditating on all that Christ is along with the blessings that were his in Christ. He learned that everything he needed, he already had in Christ. He described the way to holiness as, “Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power." He described the way to greater faith, saying, “Only by thinking of all that Jesus is and all He is for us: His life, His death, His work, He Himself as revealed to us in the Word, to be the subject of our constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith . . . but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need, a resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity” [Taylor, p. 156]. Discuss: What was the root of Hudson Taylor’s newfound joy? Emphasize that in today’s passage, Paul prayed that believers would know God better and see all that was theirs in Christ. Interactive Core Study: Thanksgiving and Prayer (15-20 minutes, easy setup) Provide paper, pens, a dry erase board, and a marker. Pass out pens and paper. Summarize that so far in Ephesians 1, Paul had greeted believers as faithful saints and praised God for the amazing spiritual blessings both Jewish and Gentile believers have in Christ. Say: Today’s passage begins with the words, “For this reason.” Explain that these words look back to Paul’s praise. Say: In today’s lesson, we will consider how Paul’s praise moved into thanksgiving, developed into intercession, and ended with confession of God’s powerful work in Christ. 1. Prayer for believers grows from thanksgiving (Eph. 1:15-16a). Lead learners to discuss their answer to question 2 on page 29 in the learner book. Emphasize that faith and love for others are two characteristics of a true believer [MacArthur, Kindle lines 1001-1022]. Call on a volunteer to read the explanation of “Faith” on page 29 in the learner book. Say: Although this “moral attitude of faithfulness” in Jesus requires understanding and agreement with the facts of the gospel, true saving faith is an ongoing resolve of the whole self that results in an attitude of dependence on and commitment to a person, Christ the Lord, as the means for God’s forgiveness of our sins and everlasting fellowship with him [Grudem, pp. 710, 712]. Ask: Why do you think Paul’s previous praise for spiritual blessings, when combined with the news of the believers’ faith and love, caused him to burst forth in thanksgiving for believers? Point out the phrase “all God’s people” in verse 15. Suggest that one reason for Paul’s thankfulness may have been that believers had overcome difficult barriers in order to express love for “all God’s people”—both Gentile and Jewish believers [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2758-2779]. Remind learners that years of hostility had existed between Jews and Gentiles. Draw attention to verse 16a. Ask: To whom was Paul expressing thanks for believers? Conclude that Paul understood that believers’ attitudes of faith and their actions of love had originated with and come from God. 2. Prayer for believers includes intercession (Eph. 1:16b-19a). Emphasize the phrase “remembering you in my prayers” in verse 16b. Explain that as a Jewish convert, Paul most likely prayed regularly at least three hours each day: morning, noon, and night [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2769-2788]. Ask: How important was prayer to Paul? Do you think Paul’s prayer time was a dreaded duty? Read verse 17. Ask: What was Paul praying that God would give believers? Call on a volunteer to read the explanation of “Wisdom and Revelation” on page 30 in the learner book. Clarify that revelation means information God has disclosed [MacArthur, Kindle lines 1127-1137]. Emphasize that God’s revelation about Himself and His plan is in His Word. Point out the capital “S” in the word Spirit in the NIV translation. Explain that some translations translate the Greek word pneuma as “spirit” with a lowercase “s.” Share that the capital “S” indicates that Holy Spirit is the one who imparts or gives wisdom [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2838-2849] and the lowercase “s” indicates the attitude of wisdom that is received [MacArthur, Kindle lines 1127-1137]. Emphasize that God is the source of true wisdom and revelation. Ask: What is implied by the fact that Paul “keeps asking” for wisdom and revelation? Conclude that as God’s Spirit continually imparts wisdom and revelation through His Word, we continue to grow in God’s knowledge throughout our lives––there will always be more to know [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2849-2859]. Read verses 18-19a. Divide learners into groups of two or three to discuss their answers to question 3 on page 30 in the learner book. Write the following phrases on the board: Know God better, Know hope, Know riches, and Know power. Remind learners that both wisdom and revelation are needed to know God better. Ask: What is needed to know your hope, His riches, and His power? Call on a volunteer to read the explanation of “Heart” on page 30 in the learner book. Instruct learners to continue to work in their small groups as you assign each group one of the “For Thought and Discussion” questions on page 30 in the learner book to discuss. Allow two or three minutes for discussion before calling for responses. Conclude that the heart must be taught by God what the brain, left to itself, cannot comprehend. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION(r). NIV(r). Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) NavPress, 2011. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of LifeChange curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.

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Life Change: Ephesians Study Lesson: Ephesians 3: Thanksgiving and Praise Call on a volunteer to read the explanation of “Hope” on page 30 in the learner book. Ask: What is the basis and content of this hope? Conclude that our hope is based on God’s calling and includes our righteousness, our salvation, our resurrection, eternal life, and God’s glory [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2883-2893]. Explain that there are two main ways of thinking about “the riches of His glorious inheritance” in verse 18. Share that one interpretation is that Paul was referring to the magnitude of believers’ glorious inheritance in being chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, saved, and sealed [MacArthur, Kindle lines 1168-1187]. Share that others see “the riches of His glorious inheritance” as God’s inheritance in those He has chosen and now loves in the same way He loves His own Son [O’Brien, Kindle lines 2893-2915]. Ask: Who is God’s great power for? What kind of power is it? Direct learners’ attention back to the statements on the board. Ask: Why is God’s help needed to know these things? Why did Paul think it was important to know these things? 3. Prayer for believers includes confession (Eph. 1:19b-23). Divide learners into groups of two or three. Distribute paper to each group. Instruct groups to create three columns on the paper labeled Christ’s Resurrection, Christ’s Exaltation, and Christ’s Authority. Challenge groups to read verses 19b-23 and list what Paul confessed about God’s work in Christ’s resurrection, exaltation, and authority in the appropriate columns. Review verse 22. Ask: For whose benefit is Christ head over everything in the cosmos? Lead learners to discuss their answers to question 7, parts a and b, on pages 33-34 in the learner book. Compariative Study: The Body (5-8 minutes, easy setup) Provide a dry erase board and marker, and paper and pens for each group. Call on a volunteer to read Ephesians 1:22-23. Ask: What metaphor is used to describe the Church? Share these other metaphors also used to describe the Church: ● ● ● ● ● ●

Christ’s bride (Rev. 19:7) Branches on a vine (John 15:5) A temple (1 Cor. 3:16) God’s household (1 Tim. 3:15) A flock of sheep (Acts 20:28) A priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5-9)

Further explain that Paul used the familiar metaphor of the Church as Christ’s Body in at least two ways [Grudem, p. 858]. List the following passages on the board: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and Ephesians 1:22-23. Divide learners into groups of two or three. Distribute paper and markers to each group. Assign some groups 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and other groups Ephesians 1:22-23. Lead groups to read, illustrate, and label carefully Paul’s description of the Church as the Body and its relationship to Christ. Invite groups to display and explain their illustrations. Confirm that in the Corinthians passage, individual members are parts of the head and body, and Christ is the Lord whom the Church worships and serves [Grudem, p. 859]. Confirm that in the Ephesians passage, Christ is the head and the Church is the rest of the body led by the head. Suggest that each metaphor helps us understand our relationship to Christ and to each other in different ways. Ask: How does the Ephesians 1:22-23 metaphor help you understand your relationship to Christ? To other believers? How does it impact your prayers? Building Faith Foundations: Three-Step Prayers (5-8 minutes, easy setup) Provide a dry erase board and marker. Write Thankfulness, Intercession, and Confession on the board. Remind learners that when Paul contemplated all the spiritual blessings that belonged to believers and heard about their faith and love, he was deeply thankful. Summarize that his thankfulness turned to intercession, which emerged into confession of who Christ is. Ask: Do you think thankfulness––intercession––confession was a superficial three-step formula Paul used for prayer? Suggest that thankfulness naturally emerged from meditating on God’s blessings (Eph. 1:3-14), and news about God’s work in believers’ lives spontaneously led to intercession and progressed to confession. Add Meditation to the board. Ask: How can you begin to pray like Paul without turning your prayers into a sterile formula? Read the “For Further Study” challenge on page 31 in the learner book. Lead learners to write down a phrase they will meditate on in the upcoming week. Encourage learners to notice how their prayer life changes as they meditate on God’s Word and consider His work in the lives of those around them. Dig Deeper into Faith: Confession (8-10 minutes, easy setup)

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Life Change: Ephesians Study Lesson: Ephesians 3: Thanksgiving and Praise Provide a dry erase board, a marker, paper, and pens. Remind learners Paul was in prison when he wrote today’s passage. Discuss: What enabled Paul to have such a concern for other believers and an apparent forgetfulness about his own troubles? Propose that prior to writing today’s passage, Paul must have spent long hours thinking about God, the hope and riches that were available to him through Christ, and God’s power. Conclude that what Paul saw with his heart’s eyes made him want other believers, who already had faith and love, to know God in a deeper way as well. Divide learners into groups of two or three. Distribute paper and pens to each group. Reread Ephesians 1:19b-23. Emphasize the phrase “that power is the same as” in verse 19b. Point out that, when giving an explanation about what God’s power was like, Paul’s prayer emerged into a long confession about God’s power displayed in Christ. Summarize that Paul’s confession gave fullness to what he meant by God’s power. Write the glorious Father, hope to which He has called you, and the riches of His glorious inheritance on the board. Challenge each group to choose one phrase and give it fullness in the form of a written confession. After two or three minutes, invite groups to read their confessions. Ask: Whom do you know that you want to know God better? Lead learners to write that person’s name down in the learner book. Encourage learners to pray that the eyes of these hearts will be enlightened and that God will give them His Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they can know Him. Prayer Option: Pray Praise (5 minutes, easy setup) Provide a dry erase board and a marker. Remind learners that Paul gave thanks for the faith and love that believers displayed. On the board, write, “Ever since I heard about __________ ___________, I want to give thanks.” Lead learners to fill in the first blank with a person’s name and the second blank with a way the person demonstrated faith or love. Explain that the person does not have to be a member of the class. Guide learners in praying their thanksgivings aloud.

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