Ephesians; April 9, 2020 Class 2: 1:15-23

          This part sets us up for a theme of the book: Holiness is a way of life that corresponds to a God revealed in creation.  

1: 15-23  Thanksgiving Prayer

            Paul is now talking to the congregation and thanking them for their efforts on strengthening, growing, and continuing the church.

            

15-16:  Paul talks about the reputation of the church.  It is known as a loving community.  One theme in Paul’s letters is the idea of church as a loving community which leads to evangelism.  The more people that learn how loving Christians are the more they will want to join the church.  

Q: How does a church show that it is a loving church?

            Sign saying “All Are Welcome.”       People can sit anywhere

            Making accommodations for the disabled                 

            When people go they are met by loving people

            People try to be compassionate to everyone

            Get out of the building with mission

17-19: Prayer: of Revelation

            That we may have wisdom 

            Revelation to know Christ better

            Once you know Christ your heart (mind) will be enlightened 
                  to know what your purpose/mission/ministry is for you.  (Eyes of your Heart)

            (The mind and the heart were often interchanged in the 1^st century – 
                         one couldn’t function without the other.)

            What the purpose/mission/ministry of other people around you, 

                        and how you can help them.

            And how his power can work within and through you

            19: God’s power is the source of our wisdom

            

Q: How do we balance our minds and our hearts?

            Talk to people about problems           
            Establish a support system

            Study and see how the Bible relates to 
                    the past, your present and future

            Keep on learning and expanding your mind

            When you become too emotional try to see the logic 
                    or reasoning behind something

Q: How do we evaluated with our emotions and our logic what our purpose is for us with God?

            What are our emotional tugs?  Figure them out and act on them.

Some personal examples:  

* LGBTQ issue for someone who heard about personal issues and how it affected them.

* Getting involved with the Masons and their work with physically disabled children.

* Someone who had cancer got involved with cancer groups

* Coming across people who need help and trying to help them.

20-23: Linking of Christ’s power with God’s

            This is why we should be following Christ and his teaching and take him on as our authority.

20: Coming back to the resurrection as proof of God’s Power but also the proof for us that we should follow Christ.

21:  Christ as authority – not only of us but also of all the rest of the world.  

            God is universal, not a local god.  Egyptians could worship their gods if they lived in Greece but they weren’t claimed by Greeks.   The God of the Hebrews has always had a claim in theology that it is the universal God of everyone.  Christ as God’s son has authority equal to God.  

22:  This extends not only the heavenly government but also for earthy government.  

23:  The church as Christ’s body.  The idea that what we do is a reflection of Christ.

Q: How does a Church reflect Christ?  When do we not reflect Christ?

            Reflect Christ when we do mission in the world.

            Be kind and helpful to those in need.

            Always be on the lookout to renew people and build a Kingdom.