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

2. 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

3. Session 3: Discipleship Empowered by the Holy Spirit
(Continued)

4. Recap of Session 3 The Oneness of Jesus & His Disciples
One God, One Father, One Lord, One Spirit
One Body, One Faith, One Baptism, One Hope
Jesus Gave Spiritual Gifts
To help us attain spiritual maturity and not be tossed to and fro by false doctrine
To equip us to be His disciples so we can help build His church, His Body
The Holy Spirit is the Key to the Spiritual Gifts
“ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things (spritual gifts), distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)

5. Examples of the Spiritual Gifts at Work
Given to the Service of God
Miracle of Samuel's birth (1 Samuel 1:1-2:11)
Samuel's mother dedicates Samuel to the Lord's service (1 Samuel 2:18-21)
Samuel called by the LORD (1 Samuel 3:1-18)
Reading: 1 Samuel 3: 19-21
“... And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” 1 Sam 3:1
“...and the Lord was with him [Samuel] and let none of his words fall to the ground.” 1 Sam. 3:19
Obvious: v 19 is stunning! Whatever Samuel proclaimed, God fulfilled.
Implication: Samuel never said anything that did not come from God.
Derived: Samuel was guided by the Holy Spirit.

6. Examples of the Spiritual Gifts at Work
The Day of Pentecost
Reading: Acts 2:1-13
Peter preaches his first sermon (Acts 2:14-40)
Reading: Acts 2:41
Discussion (5 min.)
What happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus? 1 2 3
What was the result of the events of Acts 2:1-13?
What was the result of Peter's sermon?
What was the end result of the Holy Spirit's manifestation?

7. Examples of the Spiritual Gifts at Work
The Day of Pentecost
Reading: Acts 2:1-13
Peter preaches his first sermon (Acts 2:14-40)
Reading: Acts 2:41
Discussion (5 min.)
What happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus?
1 They spoke out boldly concerning Christ Jesus
2 They spoke in languages they did not know
3 They captured each listeners' attention
What was the result of the events of Acts 2:1-13? The disciples got people's attention.
What was the result of Peter's sermon? People were convicted in their hearts, i.e. their conscience .
What was the end result of the Holy Spirit's manifestation? 3000 were added to the church.

8. SO WHAT!?! We develop the wisdom:
So that success comes through obedience.
To understand that the spiritual gifts are not ours to use as we chose, but as the Holy Spirit directs!
To rejoice that God chooses us to be His vessel.
To participate in God's building of His church.
Why Spiritual Gifts are important to us
The Holy Spirit gives us power, authority, & boldness to serve our God and Father through Christ Jesus
We are brought closer to God, because God acts through us … we get to help our Spiritual Daddy.
It is no longer what I do, but what God and we do together in unity.

9. Session 4: Disciple's Walk with Christ

10. Walking behind Jesus The Disciple's Walk
Ephesians 5:1-7 Walking in Love (άγάπη – ag ah' pay)
Evidence: Jesus gave Himself for us
Discussion (5 min)
How do we show Love? 1 2 3
What “un-love” acts does Paul admonish us to avoid? 4 5 6

11. Walking behind Jesus The Disciple's Walk
Ephesians 5:1-7 Walking in Love (άγάπη – ag ah' pay)
Evidence: Jesus gave Himself for us
Discussion (5 min)
How do we show Love?
1 Be like children imitating their Father
2 Sacrifice yourself for others
3 Give thanks
What “un-love” acts does Paul admonish us to avoid?
1 Fornication
2 All uncleanness
3 Covetousness
4 Filthiness
5 Foolish Talking
6 Coarse Jesting

12. Walking behind Jesus The Disciple's Walk (continued)
Read: Ephesians 5:8-14 Walk in His Light
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
What happens in the light?
Fruit of the Spirit grows in the light
Read: Galatians 5:22-23
In the Greek (καρπόζ) fruit is singular
Paul describes the fruit by naming 9 attributes of the fruit.
Highlights goodness, righteousness, truth
Exposes unfruitful works

13. Walking behind Jesus The Disciple's Walk (continued)
Ephesians 5:15-21 Walk in Wisdom
From knowledge seek understanding
From understanding find wisdom
Discussion (5 min.)
How do we develop wisdom? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Wisdom
Understanding
Knowledge

14. Walking behind Jesus The Disciple's Walk (continued)
Ephesians 5:15-21 Walk in Wisdom
From knowledge seek understanding
From understanding find wisdom
Discussion (5 min.)
How do we develop wisdom?
1 Walk Circumspectly
2 Redeem the time
3 Understand what the will of God is
4 Seek not the euphoria of this world
5 Be filled with the Holy Spirit
6 Speak to each other in psalms, hymns & spritual songs
7 Sing & make melody to the Lord in your heart
8 Always give thanks for all things to our Father
9 Give thanks through Jesus Christ
10 Submit to one another in the fear of God
Wisdom
Understanding
Knowledge

15. 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?

16. 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

17. 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 didn't God take dirt and form woman in the same way He had formed man?
Why did God form woman?
What “responsibilities” do we, as disciples, derive from the passage?

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. 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

21. 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?

22. 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

23. 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.