Disciple Lessons from Ephesians -- an Online Bible Study

Disciple Lessons from Ephesians

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Rembrandt, "St. Paul in Prison" (1627), oil on wood, 72.8 x 60.2 cm., Stuttgart, Staatsgalerie. Larger image. His body may be in prison, but you can see in his face a contemplatioin of the heavenly realms that he opens for us in Ephesians 1.
Of all of St. Paul's Epistles, for me the Letter to the Ephesians is his masterpiece. Though written from prison in Rome, the first half of the Letter is full of praise and worship, an exalted understanding of Christ, and a transcendent view of the Church. He challenges us to leave our lowest selves and inspires us to seek our highest potential in Jesus, seated with him at the right hand of the Father. Here is salvation by grace through faith, as well as the unity and mission of the church. Paul's prayers are amazing in their breadth and scope!

The second half turns from doctrine to application. He spells out what unity looks like and how gifted ministry functions in the church body. Paul's condemnation of sinful attachments is matched by his conviction that the power of Christ can free us to become like "light in the Lord." He paints a portrait of a loving Christian marriage between believing spouses, and compares it to Christ and his Church. This prison epistle concludes with a challenge to "put on the whole armor of God" and to struggle in prayer for victory. All in all, it is an uplifting, glorious epistle, indeed!

I invite you to journey with me and thousands of brothers and sisters world-wide through St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians.

This is our 22nd online Bible study since 1996. If you've participated in one before, you know how God can use them in your life. If not, then you have a treat in store for you. I am an ordained American Baptist pastor, currently serving in a Covenant congregation. I'm here to serve you as your guide through Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. --. Dr. Ralph F. Wilson. About the leader.

Here's how we'll study together. We'll study the letter in two parts, 8 weeks for chapters 1-3, a several weeks break (November and December for the first "wave" of participants) and then 8 weeks for chapters 4-6 (with a couple of planned breaks in each segment).

Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the week. Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help you understand it better.
On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and maybe Thursday, you'll receive a question from that week's lesson to think about and answer. This is designed as a "total immersion" approach to Bible study, since I believe God wants to use it to work real and permanent change in your life. (You can opt out of the daily questions if you like, however, and just receive the weekly lessons.) You'll be thinking about these passages constantly for over these weeks -- long enough for God to work his Word into your life and lifestyle.
You can respond to the questions using the Joyful Heart Bible Study Forum -- and read others' answers to reinforce your own understanding.
With each lesson you'll receive a link to a 20- to 30-minute audio teaching that sums up the passage you've been studying that week. Some who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.

Here's an outline of the study:

Introduction to Ephesians
NIV Text of Ephesians
References and Abbreviations
Reprint Guidelines
Essay: Headship (kephalē) and Submission (hupotassomai) in Ephesians 5:21-33
Text of Ephesians (New International Version)
Pictures
   Artwork on the Apostle Paul
   Photos of Ephesians
   Ancient Christian Symbols

Part 1. Doctrine

Spiritual Blessings in Christ (1:1-6)
God's Gracious Plan of Redemption (1:7-14)
The Greatness of Our Christian Inheritance (1:15-23)
From Deadness in Sin to Coming Alive in Christ (2:1-7)
Salvation by Grace through Faith (2:8-10)
Scheduled one-week break
Fellow Citizens with the People of God (2:11-22)
The Mystery, Mission, and Ministry of the Church (3:1-13)
Paul's Prayer and Doxology (3:14-21)

two week planned break

Disciple Lessons from Ephesians, by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

All the lessons are now available as an e-book or printed book for your convenience.

Part 2. Application

One Body -- Unity and Diversity (4:1-10)
Preparation, Ministry, and Maturity (4:11-16)
Putting on Clean Clothes (4:17-32)
Imitate Your Father, Children (5:1-20)
Scheduled one-week break
Christian Husbands and Christian Wives (5:21-33)
Children and Parents, Employers and Employees (6:1-9)
Wrestling with the Enemy of Our Souls (6:10-18)
Prevailing through Prayer (6:18-24)

If you're planning to use this material in a small group study and want to operate on a faster schedule, the e-book and printed version of the entire 16-week study should be available by October 2006 for your use. As you are waiting for the study to commence, I encourage you to begin reading Ephesians in your own private devotions. Try to read it completely through in one sitting. Then read it chapter by chapter as you begin to absorb what God is saying to you in this wonderful book.

As of March 22, 2007, we've had 2,609 sign-ups from more than 106 countries, including: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Albania, Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brazil, Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Canada, Switzerland, Cote D'Ivoire, Chile, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cape Verde, Denmark, Dominica, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Fiji, Micronesia (Federal States of), France, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, HongKong, Croatia/Hrvatska, Indonesia, Ireland, India, Italy, Jersey, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of), Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Cayman Islands, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Saint Lucia, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Myanmar, Macau, Mauritania, Montserrat, Malta, Mauritius, Malawi, Mexico, Malaysia, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Sweden, Singapore, Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Sierra Leone, Turks and Ciacos Islands, Chad, Thailand, East Timor, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe 23% specify text format, 77% HTML format. 25% selected the weekly format, 75% the daily format.

Sign up today! You'll receive the first lesson this coming Friday. There is no cost to participate in the study, though donations are encouraged so we can create more studies and reach more people. We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our lists.
Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. Each of them is pretty intensive. Also, please don't sign up for your friends; let them decide for themselves.

Yes, please sign me up for the no-cost 16-week "Disciple Lessons from Ephesians" online Bible study. I understand that this also subscribes me to Dr. Wilson's occasional Joyful Heart Newsletter. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. I agree to abide by the Bible Study Forum Guidelines.

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Preferred Format Plain text HTML

Frequency Weekly lessons, daily questions
Weekly lessons only

Note: Most subscribers will want to receive the lesson plus all the week's questions each Saturday, with daily questions throughout the week to keep them thinking about the week's lesson. But you can select the "weekly lesson only" option above and skip the daily e-mailed questions if you like. If you'd like to switch from one option to the other, just sign up here for the one you like, and you'll be automatically dropped from the other option -- and started on week #1, lesson #1 of your new choice.

One big favor you can do for me: Please link to this Bible study in your blog, personal webpage, ministry or church website, as follows: Ephesians Online Bible Study www.jesuswalk.com/ephesians/ The number of people who will find this study on the Internet is directly related to the number of links you and others place. If you can't link, that's okay, too. I understand.

Disciple Lessons from Ephesians

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