LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

The Apostle Paul prays for Christians to be strengthened that Christ may dwell in their hearts with the result that they may be rooted and grounded in love. He prays that they would be able to comprehend Christ’s love so that they may be filled with all God’s fullness. Thus, as we continue pursuing love, we understand not only what has already been done for us, but we also show to others that love which is paramount in the life of the Christian.

Ephesians 3:14-15 To name is to exert power over, often as the creator. The Father is the supreme source of everyone on earth as well as the spiritual powers in heaven. It’s always helpful to remember to whom you’re praying at the start of your prayer.

Ephesians 3:16-17 Here God’s spirit strengthens so Christ can dwell in our hearts with the result that we become rooted and grounded in love. God’s love shown through Christ is the most powerful redeeming force in the universe, capable of turning enemies into family (John 3:16; Rom 5:6-8). As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Love is the absolute power” (Love Your Enemies Sermon, March 7, 1961, Detroit, MI).

Ephesians 3:18-19 Paul prays that Christians would be able to grasp a truth so deep and profound that it surpasses knowledge—the love of Christ. Loving others when they’ve given you reason to hate them doesn’t make sense, but it follows Christ’s example and can result in total transformation. When we finally experientially know the love of Christ, we can be filled

Ephesians 3:20-21 God is capable of doing so much more than we can ask or even imagine. He is worthy of our devotion and dedication. In fact, our lives are to bring Him glory, not only individually, but also as a group. Is your life bringing glory to God?

The great mystery was hidden throughout the ages until revealed to the Apostle Paul. If it was known, the evil rulers

Ephesians 3:1-9. What Christ accomplished for humanity was kept secret until Paul received it by revelation.

Luke 9:44-45. God wanted the information concealed.

Luke 18:31-34. Many things are written in the OT foretelling what Jesus would do and accomplish; however, much of it was hidden until Paul.

Mark 8:31-33. Not only did Peter not understand what Jesus said, he also thought he was wrong.

1 Corinthians 2: 6-8. Had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Ephesians 3:2. The word “stewardship” and “administration” in verse 9 are the same Greek word oikonomia.

3:4-5. Before, no one understood; now, we can understand.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

Ephesians 3:6. Gentiles were now fellow heirs, members, partakers of the promise.

Ephesians 2:12-22.

3:8. The riches are so deep, vast, and profound they can never be fully discovered until Christ returns. They are infinitely rich and abundant.

Colossians 1:27. Christ in you

Ephesians 3:10. Rulers and the authorities – 1:19-21; 6:12

3:11. The mystery explains God’s purpose of the ages.

3:12. Only the high priest once a year had access to God. Now every disciple has direct, bold, and confident access to God.

3:13. Do not be discouraged I am in prison; rather, accept it is actually a glorious thing

Ephesians 2:11-12. Before Christ, the nations were hopeless because they had no Messiah and no real, solid hope for the future. Because of this, sin reigned and darkness increased in these nations. We too were lost. Those who had no Jewish

Ephesians 2:13-14a. Christ has brought us near to God. He is our peace and the source of our hope.

Ephesians 2:14b-16. Christ has made something entirely different out of the two groups. He did this through his death on the cross. His body dying gave life to us gentiles and Jews in God. He destroyed the hostility between the two groups. He did

Ephesians 2:17-18. Jesus preached to Jews and gentiles alike while he was on the earth but integrally after he left through his followers. He gave access to God to all who believe both Jews and gentiles.

Ephesians 2:19-21. Gentiles are fellow partakers of the promises of God. This was something planned long ago and was built upon the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:21-22. In Christ, we are the new temple of God. We are being built into something new, God’s new temple on earth. God dwells in human hearts, especially when we gather together in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is a master text for understanding our need for salvation, God’s gracious offer of salvation, and how to live out our salvation in deed and truth. Living out of a grace narrative rather than a moral performance narrative makes it possible to avoid religious judgmentalism and persevere with joy.

Ephesians 2:1-3. Paul’s description of humanity is startling and offensive but true. A quick glance at the last two weeks in the news easily confirms that we are broken. There’s something wrong with us. By nature, we follow the ruler of the power of the air, living according to the passions of our flesh. We murder, rape, assault, steal, lie, and deceive each other. The Bible’s diagnosis is that we are already dead. Our trespasses and sins have killed us. We who are spiritually dead cannot save ourselves.

Ephesians 2:4-7. Because of his mercy and love, God makes the first move. Astoundingly, he looks at fallen humanity, mired in selfishness, despicable in character, hopelessly dysfunctional—he looks and says, “I want you!” By bringing us back to life in union with Christ and seating us in the heavenly places, he has saved us and given us a bright hope (Titus 3:3-7). If you have not yet believed in the gospel, today is the day. Don’t say no to God’s invitation to salvation!

Ephesians 2:8-10. Salvation is God’s free gift to you. He reaches down in grace, but you must reach up in faith. When you do, he pulls you out of the quicksand of sin and sets you on solid ground. Remembering who you were before Christ and how God saved you makes it possible to live out of a grace narrative rather than a moral performance narrative. God has prepared work for you to do. Are you doing it? If not, go to him in prayer and ask him to reveal what work he has for you to do

God desires that we know Him in a way that enlightens the eyes of our hearts, transforming how we see Him, ourselves, others, history, and our eternal hope. The prayer in Ephesians 1 centers on God’s calling, His glorious inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe. While God wants us to walk in this deep understanding, many remain unaware or disconnected from it.

Why is there so much emphasis on prayer in this very important and short epistle?

Acts 19 Break from pagan prayer to new covenant Christianity prayer

15-16 God-inspired prayers written in the Church Epistles reveal what God deems important to include in our petitions and intercessory prayers.

17 The prayer is addressed to God our Father. Ephesians 1:2, 3, and 17; 3:14 and 15; Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:1; John 14:13; 16:23

If we see what God wants us to see, our perspective of Him, humanity, history, and the hope will change. God wants us to know Him and His desires for His human family.

18 “Enlightened” is the difference between hearing the truth and having it come alive inside you, where it changes how you see and live. The prayer is not about knowing our calling, inheritance, and power, but His.

Genesis 1:26-28 God’s original plan has not changed. This is what He wants. Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3 In Jesus, we see what God wanted and still wants all humans to be.

His inheritance – Inheritance: 1:11, 13, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 8:16-17; Deuteronomy 32:9; Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 36:28; Revelation 21:23

Ephesians 1:19-23 We have the evidence of God’s power because He raised Jesus from the dead and ascended him to His right hand. That mighty power will do the same for us. Ephesians 1:13-14

Beginning our series on Ephesians, we’ll cover the first half of the first chapter (Eph 1:1-14). What emerges are three main

Ephesians 1:1-2 Since, the words “in Ephesus” are missing from several of our earliest manuscripts and the letter lacks any specifics about the recipients, Paul likely wrote Ephesians to be read by multiple churches right from the start. It is a comprehensive and masterful summary of Christianity and is well worth your time.

Ephesians 1:3-6 From our creation, God blessed us (Gen 1:28). Then after humanity’s initial rebellion, our world became cursed, and our flesh became fallen. God chose Abraham and then Israel so that through them He could bless the world. In Christ—the quintessential Israelite—we receive the blessings that result in holiness, adoption, and an inheritance (Gen 1:28; 12:2-3; Deu 7:6-14).

Ephesians 1:7-10 In Christ we have redemption through his blood, resulting in forgiveness of our sins. Grace may be freely available, but it is not cheap. It cost something: Christ was the price. To be redeemed is for a captive or slave to be set free. This was all part of God’s plan to unite all things in heaven and earth in Christ.

Ephesians 1:11-14 In Christ we have an inheritance. Guaranteeing God’s promise of this bright future, He’s sealed us with His spirit. In their world, a seal meant possession, like a rancher’s brand. The idea s not that you can live however you want and you will still be saved. Rather, it’s that God has marked you His own, giving you a new identity in Christ that you should live out joyfully.

This was the greatest promotion a man ever received.

Although often overlooked, Mary Magdalene was a faithful and true disciple of Jesus Christ. She and the other women supported Jesus’ ministry financially. She was at the crucifixion and burial. After God raised him from the dead, Jesus appeared to her first, making her the chief eyewitness of the resurrection.

Luke 8:1-3 Mary Magdalene and other women accompanied Jesus during his ministry, providing for him financially. After Jesus changed Mary’s life, casting out seven demons, she followed him.

Mark 15:40-41 Mary had seen Jesus cure the sick, teach in parables, and preach the gospel of the Kingdom from town to town. When the Roman government crucified him, she was there. She heard him utter his final words from the cross.

Mark 15:46-47 Mary was there when Joseph took him down from the cross and buried him in his tomb. It is because of her that the disciples knew where Jesus was buried.

Luke 23:54-24:1 Mary insisted on anointing his body. Apparently, she didn’t think it had been done properly. She approached the tomb early in the morning on Sunday.

Mark 16:1-7 Mary first discovered the empty tomb and heard the message that Jesus had been raised.

John 20:1-10 She ran and got Peter. He and another disciple confirmed the empty tomb but didn’t fully understand the situation. Mary remained behind when they left.

John 20:11-18 Jesus first appeared to Mary in his resurrected state. In a world when women’s testimonies were dismissed, Jesus picked a woman as his first eyewitness. She went off to proclaim to the apostles, “I have seen the Lord!

Through the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, Jesus publicly announced his claim to be the Messiah. The leaders of Jerusalem responded with a campaign to discredit him publicly that failed miserably. Knowing what would come, Jesus stayed the course until that fateful moment in Gethsemane when they took him into custody. Join us to relive the

Mark 11:1-2, 7 When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey, he enacted an ancient prophecy (Zech 9:9-10) and simulated the coronation of a king (2 Kgs 9:11-13). Even the palm branches were politically charged (1 Macc 13:51-52).

Mark 11:9-10 Even more striking was the proclamation of the crowd, associating Jesus with the coming Kingdom of David. Coming into Jerusalem this way crossed the line.

Mark 11:15-19 Cleansing the temple got everyone’s attention. Jesus interfered with the sacrificial system and the flow of money. The leaders of Jerusalem responded with a campaign to discredit Jesus publicly through stumper questions. Jesus answered them all and countered by confronting them with seven woes (Mat 23:13-16).

Mark 14:1-9 Allowing a woman to pour out an ointment that cost 300 denarii on his head provoked criticism from onlookers. Jesus defended the woman for her ostentatious display of generosity.

Mark 14:10-11 Judas went to the priests to betray Jesus. They needed an opportunity when Jesus was away from the crowds so a riot didn’t break out. Judas could tell them where Jesus was at night, so they could arrest him secretly.

Mark 14:32-36 At Gethsemane, Jesus knew his time was short. He had to stay the course, even if that meant he would face ridicule, torture, and death on a cross. He prayed and prayed and prayed, asking for a way out. The answer was, “No”. Jesus resigned himself to his Father’s will and pushed through courageously to face his betrayer and those sent to arrest him.

John 11:3 Phileo is a word that expresses deep friendship, affection, and warmth, love between close companions.

5, 11 They were more than disciples; they were friends.

8 Stone you – 10:31-32 Jesus, undaunted, knew that God would guide and protect him.

9 Look fellows, I am doing God’s will. Everything is going to be all right. I am not afraid, nor should you be. You are with me.

14 Sleep – focus your attention on the living and not the dead.

16 Thomas’ reaction could be interpreted as confidence or sarcasm and fear.

17 Four days

Yes, in the time of Jesus, the custom in Jewish culture was to bury the dead on the day of death, just as it is today.

One of the clearest prophetic signs comes from Jonah’s experience:

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 KJV)

Jesus himself referenced this as a prophecy of his own death and resurrection:

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so shall the Son of