Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 1, 2023.

Main Theme: In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us how God’s grace protects us against the wicked powers in our community.

Read in Class: Acts 19:13-20. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What strange event leads to widespread reverence for “the Lord Jesus” in Ephesus?

Apply: What did the burning of their own books signify, even at such an expense to themselves? What does that say about a total commitment to the Lord?

Share: Your friend asks why the demons were able to overpower the people using the name of Jesus? What clues from the passage itself can you share with your friend? Also see Matthew 7:21-23.

Read in Class: Acts 19:21-Acts 20:1. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What lessons can we draw from this story?

Apply: At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul meets with elders of the Ephesian church. How would you summarize Paul’s concerns? (See Acts 20:17-38)

Share: After reading these warnings, you friend asks, “What do you think Paul would warn our church today about, and why?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 1:1-2 and Ephesians 6:21-24. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How does Paul begin and end his letter to the believers in Ephesus? What do we learn about his deepest desires for them? How does Paul worry about the effect his imprisonment will have on believers in Ephesus? See Eph. 3:13.

Apply: How can you use your personal tribulations as a witness to others about the goodness of God?

Share: Your friend says, “I thought the whole point of accepting Jesus as our Savior was so He would bless us and make us prosperous? If we still have tribulations what’s the point of having Jesus in our lives? How has God’s grace protected us from the evil in our community if we still suffer harm?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 1:9-10. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does Paul announce the theme of his letter?

Apply: In the church of which you are a part, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, God is drawing together a transnational, multilingual, multiracial, cross-cultural community (Rev. 14:6, 7) that points the way to the fulfillment of His plan to unite all things in Jesus (Eph. 1:9, 10). How can we work in concert with God’s grand plan?

Share: Can you think of a friend who would enjoy these studies on Ephesians? Can you invite your friend to Sabbath School?