Ephesians Curriculum jethrotools.org
Teaching Text: Ephesians 4:7-16
Teacher Study Notes:
Discussion: How can we practice and imitate the grace that God has shown to us? Application: Use your spiritual gifts to encourage and help other believers grow spiritually.
Copyright © 2020 Ken Gibbs jethrotools.org
Teaching Text: Ephesians 4:7-16
Teacher Study Notes:
- Note: The last half of the book is now focused on how to live as a result of God’s grace. Paul made the directional change from God’s working in the Ephesian believers (chapters 1-3) to God working through the Ephesian believers (chapters 4-6). The first part of chapter 4 is dealing with the relationships that the Ephesian believers have with each other. Paul challenges them to walk in unity that is based on the one foundation which is Christ (4:1-6).
- Paul’s focus on unity becomes more specific as he helps the Ephesian believers understand how they can use the gifts that God has given them for building up their local church body. The practice of unity is built on the foundation of unity that was discussed in the previous verses. Paul notes that there may be different jobs and functions of the various gifts but they all have the purpose of preparing God’s people for service to build God’s body, the church.
- GRACE: Again Paul brings up a well known word in the book of Ephesians. This is a word that is repeated in the book so it should stand out as important in your study. Think through the issues of grace again. Notice how Paul is using grace in verse 7. Grace is once again a gift that is given to every believer. Once again Paul emphasizes that grace is not measured by human standards, but only by God’s superior overflowing standard.
- Attraction of the audience to your Bible lesson with an illustration.
Everyone in the room could stand in a circle and give the person in front a shoulder rub. If we did that everyone would be doing something that would benefit the others. If this was done we would be doing it together as a group to benefit the group.
Transition: In this lesson we will see that God wants the church to practice unity by
serving and building each other up, using the grace that God has given to each person. - Read the Bible passage
Read the Bible passage out loud or ask someone else to read it out loud, open in prayer Make general important observations about the passage and the context.
Briefly review by telling what has been presented up to this point in the book. Summarize for the group what will be covered in this section. - Examination of the Bible passage with the group
(These questions are to guide your thinking and development of your Bible lesson.) Why does verse 7 start with a but (contrast)?
How does grace differ in verse 7 from chapters 1-3?
How is it the same?
Describe the gift of God in verses 8-9. Why is it important?
How does this relate or connect with chapters 1-3? Define the gifts that are listed in verse 11.
How does the use of gifts bring unity?
How does unity help the body? Why is this important? What is the importance of faith and love in verses 15-16?
How do these ideas connect with the rest of the book? - Application of the Bible lesson
Discussion: How can we practice and imitate the grace that God has shown to us? Application: Use your spiritual gifts to encourage and help other believers grow spiritually.
Copyright © 2020 Ken Gibbs jethrotools.org
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