Good morning! If you are like me, you may already feel overwhelmed with all of the things you have to accomplish this week. The unfortunate thing is that the first thing to go in the midst of our busy lives is our time with God. Most of us would not skip class, miss a sports practice, or forget to spend time with family and friends. So, why does our time with God get so easily crowded out of our lives? I can only speak for myself, here, but I believe that it is because we do not hunger and long to be with God. We do not see the time slot as valuable enough or precious enough. I pray that God will give each one of us an unquenchable desire to spend time with God in His Word so that even if life is busy, our “God and I time” is still the most vital part of our day.
This week we get to see Christ's redemption for us, the mystery of His will, and the comfort of knowing that He is control! Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. I encourage you to continue following the plan of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication as you spend time on your knees, worshiping the Lord. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.
As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: redemption, grace, mystery of His will, fullness of the times, after the counsel of His will.
Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:7-12 (NASB)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8 Which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
10 With a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him,
11 Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
12 To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
DIGGING DEEPER
Monday:
What is redemption and who does it come from? How do we get redemption and forgiveness from our sins according to verse 7?
What does the blood of Christ accomplish for you?
How does the Apostle Paul describe the grace of God in verses 7 and 8?
Wednesday:
What is the mystery of God’s will? According to verse 10, what person is Paul referring to when he talks about the mystery of God’s will?
So we can better understand verse 10, let’s take a look at the New Living Translation: “And this is the plan: At the right time He [God] will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” What does it mean when Paul says that God will bring everything under Christ’s authority?
Read Philippians 2:9-11. These verses tell us more about what is happening in Ephesians 1:10 and the importance of Christ’s authority. According to these verses, who is going to bow the knee when Christ’s name is spoken? Who will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? How should this truth change the way we live since Christ has authority over everything and everybody?
Friday:
What is the inheritance that God has given us?
Do you really believe that God is in complete control and works ALL things according to His plan? How should this truth comfort you and change the way you live?
CHEW ON THIS:
The words “redemption through His blood” related to paying the required ransom to God for the release of a person from bondage. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid that price for every person – buying them from the slave market of sin and giving them true freedom in Christ! This is all accomplished by the riches of His grace - and it never runs out! It the end of this world’s history, God will gather all the believers in the millennial kingdom. After that, God will gather all things to Himself and the new heaven and new earth will be created. This new universe will be totally unified under Christ. We know that Christ will have complete authority over everything and everybody! It is also interesting to point out that Christ is the source of our salvation, and that this was something that was decided beforehand by Christ Himself. Within this plan, God works all things according to the counsel of His own will. This means that everything works according to God’s plan and that He is in control. And, as we are used by God to carry out His plan, it is all to be done to the praise of His glory.
I hope that these verses will be an encouragement to you as you consider your salvation and what you have in Christ. I also pray that we will be spurred on by these verses to live to the praise of His glory and not for ourselves!
For His Name,
Pastor Stephen
We are set to get into the book of Ephesians by looking at the first six verses this week. I encourage you to follow the prayer plan of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.
Let’s dig into the Word and see what God has to teach us!
As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: grace, peace, spiritual blessing, chose, holy and blameless, predestined, and praise.
Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:1-6 (NASB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love,
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
DIGGING DEEPER
Monday:
In verse 1, who does Paul say that he is writing to (try to recall what you read last week in Acts 19)? What is significant about these people (hint: see the last 5 words of this verse)?
How does Paul greet these believers in verse 2? What is grace and peace? Explain your answer.
Explain how comforting it would be to know that grace and peace come from God the Father and Jesus Christ. How does God's grace and peace help you in your life?
Wednesday:
What are the spiritual blessings that Paul is referring to in verse 3? What has God blessed you with personally? What are some practical ways that you can praise God for these things on a regular basis?
What are the heavenly places in Christ referring to in verse 3?
According to verse 4, what is the end result of God saving us? In other words, what kind of Christian does He want you to be?
Friday:
How did God adopt us into His family according to verse 5?
According to verse 6, how should we be living our lives?
CHEW ON THIS:These verses are a HUGE source of encouragement for us as believers! These verses tell us about how much the Lord has done for us and how He has given us so many wonderful blessings. We can also find assurance in the salvation God has given us since He Himself secured our adoption into His family. But it does not stop there. The Apostle Paul tells us that we have been chosen by God to be holy and blameless, to the praise of His grace. And, all of this has taken place as a result of the “kind intention of His will.” We have so much to be grateful for in the blessings God has given us and for His gracious salvation that He has so freely given us. We were not seeking Him, but He sought us and made us His children by the power of His grace! Spend some time reflecting on that grace today and embrace the life of righteousness that God has planned for you.
For His Name,
Pastor Stephen
Greetings to everyone! Welcome to the Ephesians edition of “Chew On It.” We began this study back in June, but I think it would be good to re-start our journey, so we can all get back on the same page together.
I truly hope that it will be an encouragement to your daily walk with God. Some of you might be new to this, so let me explain. The “Chew On It” series is a way for us (teens and parents alike) to walk through a book of the Bible together as a Youth Group Family. As Christians, we need to see God’s Word as a necessary part of our life, not just an add-on to our busy day. It must be something we hunger for, instead of merely an item on our spiritual checklist.
So, my challenge to you and myself is to take a journey through the book of Ephesians together. My desire in all of this is to get us to go beyond just reading Scripture by spending quality time meditating on the Word and then seeking to apply it to our lives in obedience to Christ. In other words, I want you “chew on it” and think about what the Scriptures are really saying.
Here is how it’s going to work for this semester. I will be e-mailing all of you on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the Scripture reading for the week, some questions to answer, and some thoughts to chew on (on Friday) that will be designed to help us dig into the Scriptures. I encourage you to begin each time in prayer, asking God to open your eyes and mind to what He has to teach you through His Word and to supply you with the courage and grace to live out the truth. Please feel free to e-mail me and let me know what you are learning or any questions you might have so we can encourage one other in this study. I truly hope that you will come to treasure the Word of God and learn to find your ultimate joy in Him.
As we study the Word this week, think of it as your daily dose of fuel that will keep you going throughout the day. Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word and a desire to spend time with Him. Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. I encourage you to follow the plan we have been doing in our prayer focus times as a youth group - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.
Passage for the week: Acts 19:1-41 and Revelation 2:1-7
Before we get into the book of Ephesians, I believe it would be beneficial for us to take a look at the church and city of Ephesus itself. Take note of the challenges that Paul faced in the city and what he faced as he went into this as a missionary. We will take time to read through Rev. 2:1-7 on Wednesday and Friday.
NOTE: If you would like to listen to the book of Ephesians, I found a website that will allow you to download the whole book for free! Check it out at http://www.listenersbible.com/free_downloads/download_now .
DIGGING DEEPER
Monday:
What was Paul’s greatest challenge in going to Ephesus?
What it a difficult place to preach the gospel in? Would you want to go there on a mission trip during that time with Paul? Why or why not?
What kind of miracles did the Lord do through Paul? How did the people respond?
Wednesday:
Read Revelation 2:1-7. What happened at the church at Ephesus?
What was Christ’s evaluation of them? Explain whether it was positive, negative, or both.
If your life was under the same examination as the church of Ephesus, what would we discover about your walk with God? Would it be any different? Explain your answer.
Friday:
What was the thing that Christ had to say against this church?
What does it mean to leave your first love? How do you know if you have left your first love – are there any signs that will show up in your life?
How can we get back to loving Christ as we should according to verse 5?
CHEW ON THIS:
Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire and was the home to the goddess Artemis, also referred to as Diana. The temple of Diana was one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it stood on a hill in full view of the city. It was a place of immorality, sorcery, and devil-worship. Can you imagine coming into this city on a mission trip, like the Apostle Paul? I think it is safe to say that most of us would have been terrified! But the gospel of Christ can break through anything. God was able to do amazing things in that city for His glory to show those people who the true God really was. However, after the Apostle Paul left and the church was established, people began to drift in their spiritual walk. We see this in Revelation 2:1-7. They were doing a lot of good things, but they had neglected to do the main thing – love God! This should have been their first love, but they drifted away from it. This is so easy for us to do as well if we are not careful and intentional in our walk with God. Pray to God right now and ask Him to help you to live your life in light of who He is and to love Him with all of your heart!
I hope that by reading Acts 19 and Revelation 2 that you are now more acquainted with the people that Paul is writing to in the book of Ephesians. This will help us to understand why Paul wrote this letter and how we can apply it to our lives. It will also help us understand why the book of Ephesians deals with spiritual warfare and our secure position in Christ. We will begin next week by looking into Ephesians 1. Have a great weekend!
For His Name,
Pastor Stephen
