Ephesians                           by Dr. Ralph Wilson

The Greatness of Our Christian Inheritance (Ephesians 1:15-23)

A Great Vision (Ephesians 1:17-19a)

1. Hope to Which He Has Called You (Ephesians 1:18b)

Q9. (Ephesians 1:18b) What do we Christians have to look forward to?

How should this hope be a major motivation in our present-day lives?

How should this hope affect our decisions and our lifestyle?

How does our great hope differ from the hope of the average non-believer?
 

2. His Glorious Inheritance in the Saints (Ephesians 1:18c)

Q10. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now?

How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns?

Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?
 

3. His Incomparably Great Power (Ephesians 1:19a)

Q11. (Ephesians 1:19) Why are we powerless sometimes?

Is it an inadequacy with the source or with our faith?

Why do some congregations and movements produce disciples with miracle-believing faith and others produce disciples with wimpy faith?

How can this be changed?
 

A Great Christ (Ephesians 1:19b-23)

1. God raised him from the dead (verse 20a)

2. Christ has been seated at God's right hand (verse 20b)

3. This "realm" (NIV) of the "heavenlies" (KJV) is a place of spiritual authority over every created being 

4. God has placed all things under Christ's feet (verse 22a). 

5. Christ has been appointed head of the church, which functions as his body (verse 22b-23).

Christ as Head (Ephesians 1:22)

Q12. (Ephesians 1:20-22) Why do we so often take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare?

Why is Christ's exaltation, demonstration of complete victory, and superior rank over all spiritual powers important enough for Paul to mention it to his readers?

Why do we tend to feel powerless in the face of spiritual enemies?

What was Paul assuring the Ephesians of? What does this encourage us to do?

A Great Church (Ephesians 1:22-23)

1. The church is the recipient of Christ's conquering and headship over all things.

2. The church is his Body..

3. We, the church, are the fullness55 of Christ,

Q13. (Ephesians 1:22-23) When we neglect to be an active part of a local congregation, what particular blessings do we miss out on according to Paul in this verse?

How do we, by our absence, withhold this blessing from others?
 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, open our eyes, too! Help us to be deeply dissatisfied with our own meager level of Christian understanding and practice. Help us to seek you, yearn for you, long to see and experience and enter into more. Help us to see and follow in the fresh footprints of the Victorious Christ as he walks in our world. Lord, open our eyes and hearts to you. Amen.

Key Verses

(Ephesians 1:22-23) "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."