A Study in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians Friends & Fellowship Community Group McLean Bible Church

Study Overview Session Date Session Title Applicable Verses 1 05/14/2017 The Road to Salvation God Did All the Hard Work Our Part is Easy Ephesians 1:3 – 12; Romans 8:28 – 30 Eph. 1:13 – 14; John 11:25 – 26; Romans 10:8 – 13; 1 Cor. 12:3 2 05/21/2017 Our Identity in Christ Ephesians 2 & 3; 1 Peter 3 05/28/2017 Discipleship Empowered by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12 4 06/05/2017 Disciple's Walk with Christ Ephesians 5:1 – 6:9 5 06/11/2017 Disciple's Place in God's Army Ephesians 6:10 – 18; Job 1 & 2; Joshua 5:13 – 6:5; Revelation 19:11 – 21 6 06/18/2017 The Rise and Fall of the Church in Ephesus: A Warning to Make Disciples Acts 18:18 – 19:41; Ephesians 1:15 ; Revelation 2:1 – 7

Session 4: Disciple's Walk with Christ (Continued)

Disciple as Helpmate of Christ Emulating Christ's Love Reading: Ephesians 5:22 – 33 Christ's unconditional love for His Wife Focus is Christ's love for His wife, the church The disciple's love for the church should be as Christ's love As part of the church we show love of the Husband by being obedient to Him. Discussion (5 min.) What responsibilities do disciples have by being part of the wife of Christ, the Church? As disciples of Christ, how do we emulate the Husband with respect to the church?

Disciple as Helpmate of Christ Emulating Christ's Love Reading: Ephesians 5:22 – 33 Christ's unconditional love for His Wife Focus is Christ's love for His wife, the church The disciple's love for the church should be as Christ's love As part of the church we show love of the Husband by being obedient to Him. Discussion (5 min.) What responsibilities do disciples have by being part of the wife of Christ, the Church? Show through our life and our words what submission to Christ means As disciples of Christ, how do we emulate the Husband with respect to the church? Love the church as Christ love the church Help sanctify and cleanse the church with the word

Disciple as Helpmate of Christ Being Christ's Helpmate Reading: Genesis 2:18 Genesis 2:21 – 24 Discussion (5 min.) What is the significance of God taking a rib bone to form woman (՚ishshah)? Why did God form woman? What “responsibilities” do we, as disciples, derive from the passage?

Disciple as Helpmate of Christ Being Christ's Helpmate Reading: Genesis 2:18 Genesis 2:21 – 24 Discussion (5 min.) What is the significance of God taking a rib bone to form woman (՚ishshah)? Woman is also the created image of God Woman is a partner with man ('yish) Why didn't God take dirt and form woman in the same way He had formed man? God only needed one image of Himself Why did God form woman? To be a partner helper, a helpmate What “responsibilities” do we, as disciples, derive from the passage?

Disciples in the Family of God Disciples as both children and parents Reading: Ephesians 6:1 – 4 Discussion (5 min.) In what way are disciples as children? Who are the parents? In what way are disciples as fathers? What guidance does Paul provide for disciples to be like fathers?

Disciples in the Family of God Disciples as both children and parents Reading: Ephesians 6:1 – 4 Discussion (5 min.) In what way are disciples as children? We are under the authority of God. Who are the parents? Father – God Mother – church In what way are disciples as fathers? We have the responsibility of training others We have the responsibility of admonition those that stray What guidance does Paul provide for disciples to be like fathers? Don't provoke our “children” to wrath

Disciples in the Service of Jesus Disciples as Slaves and Masters Reading: Ephesians 6:5 – 9 Discussion (5 min.) What traits should disciples learn from slaves and develop? 1 2 3 4 5 6 As disciples, how are we like “masters” or “lords”? How does Jesus expect His disciples to act in a leadership position?

Disciples in the Service of Jesus Disciples as Slaves and Masters Reading: Ephesians 6:5 – 9 Discussion (5 min.) What traits should disciples learn from slaves and develop? 1 Be obedient to our leaders 2 Obey with sincerity of heart 3 Do the will of God from the heart 4 Serve with goodwill 5 Serve for the Lord 6 Don't serve for the praise of others As disciples, how are we like “masters” or “lords”? We have the responsibility to lead others How does Jesus expect His disciples to act in a leadership position? We should emulate our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ

Conclusion Disciple's Walk Disciple's Nature Walk with God's unconditional love for others Walk in the light of Jesus Christ Walk in wisdom, not just knowledge. Disciple's Nature Emulate Jesus' love for His, wife the church Be Jesus' Helpmate Show the positive attributes of being both an obedient child and a caring father. Show the positive traits of being both a slave in Christ and a lord under the Lord.

Session 5: Disciple's Place in God's Army

Recognizing We Are at War Recognizing the enemies of God Reading Ephesians 6:10 – 13 Discussion (5 min) Who are the enemies of God that are attacking us? 1 2 3 4 5 What do we need to do?

Recognizing We Are at War Recognizing the enemies of God Reading Ephesians 6:10 – 13 Discussion (5 min) Who are the enemies of God that are attacking us? 1 the devil 2 principalities 3 powers 4 rulers of this world, of the darkness of this age 5 spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places What do we need to do? 1 Be strong in the Lord 2 Be strong in the power of His might 3 Put on the whole armor of God

Jesus Has Equipped His Disciples “Put on the full armor of God ...” (v 11a) Read Ephesians 6:14 – 17 Discussion: Identify each part of the armor of God and why they are necessary (10 min.) e.g. “shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” - Allows a soldier of God to take a stable stance and have power to stand firm 1 2 (See next slide)

Jesus Has Equipped His Disciples “Put on the full armor of God ...” (v 11a) Discussion: Identify each part of the armor of God and why they are necessary (10 min.) 3 4 5

Jesus Has Equipped His Disciples “Put on the full armor of God ...” (v 11a) Read Ephesians 6:14 – 17 Discussion: Identify each part of the armor of God and why they are necessary (10 min.) e.g. “shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” - Allows a soldier of God to take a stable stance and have power to stand firm 1 “Girt our loins with the Truth” – Helps us to stand straight and not be bowed down by lies, gossip, and false doctrine 2 “Breastplate of Righteousness” - protects our heart against “emotional sins”, such as lust, covetousness, jealousy, and hate … to name a few. (See next slide)

Jesus Has Equipped His Disciples “Put on the full armor of God ...” (v 11a) Discussion: Identify each part of the armor of God and why they are necessary (10 min.) 3 “Helmet of Salvation” - guards our mind against vain imaginations, doubt (of God, of our salvation), fear of worldly events or people. 4 “Shield of faith” - false teachings, sins of non-believers, accusations of non-believers, guilt imposed by Satan or non-believers, derision, mockery, etc. 5 “Sword of the Spirit” - Defense: parry the attacks of Satan to mislead, defend against subtle trickery. Attack: drive Satan away through the Word, through prayer & fasting. Jesus defended Himself after fasting & praying 40 days (Matthew 4:1 – 11) Jesus parried Satan's “attack” 2 times Jesus in the end attacked and drove Satan away.

A Disciple Is God's Champion The Champion for God in Spiritual Battle Exceptional warrior standing forth to battle the enemy God holds forth Job as His champion against Satan Read Job 1:6 – 12 Read Job 2:1 – 6 Discussion (5 min.) What is the conflict between God and Satan? Why did God hold forth Job? What clues reveal that God had control … always!

A Disciple Is God's Champion The Champion for God in Spiritual Battle Exceptional warrior standing forth to battle the enemy God holds forth Job as His champion against Satan Read Job 1:6 – 12 Read Job 2:1 – 6 Discussion (5 min.) What is the conflict between God and Satan? Satan arrogantly saunters before God, and brags that he had dominion over the worlds. God forced Satan to admit that he had not power over Job. Why did God hold forth Job? God already knew that Job would prevail. What clues reveal that God had control … always! God set limits on what Satan could do to Job, AND Satan had to comply.

The Disciple As God's Champion The Champion for God in Spiritual Battle Job's Response against Satan attack Read Job 1:20 – 22 Read Job 2:9 – 10 Discussion (5 min.) What was Job's response after suffering loss of all his property and children? What was Job's response to his wife?

The Disciple As God's Champion The Champion for God in Spiritual Battle Job's Response against Satan attack Read Job 1:20 – 22 Read Job 2:9 – 10 Discussion (5 min.) What was Job's response after suffering loss of all his property and children? He bowed before God in submission and worshipped He acknowledged God's sovereignty in all things “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:22) What was Job's response to his wife? He rebuked her, calling her a foolish woman. He reminded her of God's sovereignty and provision “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10b)

The Disciple as a Soldier in God's Army Disciples overlap shields of faith to form a wall. Swords of the Spirit to defend each other. More elaborate shield of faith wall Disciples standing on the firm Foundation of the Gospel of Peace Note the balanced stance.

So What! God's Protective Armor Disciples as Soldiers of God Breastplate of Righteousness protects our heart from lust, envy, hate, … Helmet of salvation protects our mind from false doctrine, pride, … Shield of faith protects us from Satan's fiery darts of guilt, doubt, ... Firm foundation of the gospel of peace, keeps us stable in times of turmoil Girt our loins with the Truth, Jesus is our Lord Sword of the Spirit to parry Satan's thrusts and counter strike to drive him away. (Matt. 4:1 – 11) Disciples as Soldiers of God As God's champion – standing forth As a member of God's army – mutually supportive