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
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