Galilee Summer Book Series - July - Ephesians

June-July-August

summer book series

Galatians-Ephesians-Philippians

July

Book of Ephesians
Be Rich

Galilee Church
45425 Winding Road • Sterling, VA 20165
703-430-2203 • galileeumc.org • [email protected]

Galilee Summer Book Club
July - Ephesians
You Are Rich

“In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
tresspasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
- Ephesians 1:7

Galilee Church
45425 Winding Road • Sterling, VA 20165
703-430-2203 • galileeumc.org • [email protected]

Contents

Series Introduction................................................................................ 3
YOU ARE RICH: An Introduction to Ephesians ............................. 4
Suggested Outline of the Book of Ephesians...................................... 5
The Book of Ephesians.......................................................................... 6
Discussion Guides:
Rich in Christ............................................................................ 13
Rich in Peace............................................................................. 15
Rich in Love............................................................................... 17
Rich in Unity............................................................................. 19
Rich in Defense......................................................................... 21

Series Introduction

Have you got a stack of summer reading going already? Whether
you travel to the mountains, or the beach, or even enjoy a staycation,
the slow pace of the hot, humid months of summer afford us the
opportunity to read more—and to read more widely.
I encourage you to make room in your pile for the slim booklet that
you hold in your hands, which is Galilee’s Summer Book Club guide
to one book of the Bible. A whole book, because the Bible is not meant
to be read one verse at a time, out of order, and out of context. I may
preach one or two verses at a time, but imagine reading a David Balda-
cci novel like that!
The Summer Book Club is going to tackle three books in their entirety,
with three discussion guides like this one: Galatians in June, Ephesians
in July, and Philippians in August. The sermons you hear in church (or
online) will follow these guides, but you may also delve into the word
on your own. The complete Bible book is in here, along with a set of
questions and reflections.
This summer stay cool…keep reading…and remain free.
In Christ,

Jason Duley
Senior Pastor, Galilee Church

A good companion to Galilee’s Summer Book Club topics are the “Be”
series books by Bible commentator, Warren Wiersbe. BE FREE
(Galatians), BE RICH (Ephesians), and BE JOYFUL (Philippians) are
available in paperback or in a Kindle edition. Come by the church office,
if you would like to look at a copy.

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YOU ARE RICH:
An Introduction to Ephesians

Imagine that someone sent you a letter with good news—you’re rich!
At first, it might seem like welcome news. But then you notice that
there’s no check enclosed. Also, the letter didn’t come from your bank
or from the state lottery agency. It’s from a prison. Your correspondent
is a man in jail, writing to inform you that you are spiritually rich.
Spiritual riches? Be honest: would you take such a letter seriously?
From a jailbird? It doesn’t sound very convincing, does it?
Yet the letter that we are talking about—for it is a real letter, Paul’s
epistle to the church at Ephesus—is one of the most authoritative letters
in the New Testament. Unlike other letters that Paul wrote hurriedly in
response to practical concerns (like Galatians, in which Paul is at pains
to defend the gospel from those who were watering it down), when
Paul composed Ephesians, he had nothing but time. He was in prison
in Rome, facing charges brought against him by the Jewish authorities.
In Ephesians, Paul had “leisure” to think slowly and carefully and form
a full argument about the authority of Christ. He isn’t responding to an
emergency in Ephesus, and we don’t really know why tradition tells us
that he sent the letter to the church in that wealthy port city. What we
do know is that when Paul had time to say whatever was on his mind,
he thought it important to tell us that we are rich. He wrote to us about
the spiritual riches that come to us from the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, and our responsibilities to steward this unworldly wealth
responsibly.
Please enjoy this short book of the Bible, which we will be discussing
throughout the month of July. Know that the treasure that Paul speaks
of is credit in your account.

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Author Warren Wiersbe outlined Ephesians in his commentary, “Be Rich.”
He broke the book into two parts: doctrine, a summation of riches that
come from Christ; and duty, a list of responsibilities that guide our walk
in faith.

A Suggested Outline of the
Book of Ephesians

Theme: The believer’s riches in Christ
Key verse: Ephesians 1:3

I. DOCTRINE: Our Riches in Christ (Ephesians 1—3)
A. Our spiritual possessions in Christ (Ephesians 1:4–14)
1. From the Father (Ephesians 1:4–6)
2. From the Son (Ephesians 1:7–12)
3. From the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14)
First Prayer — for enlightenment (Ephesians 1:15–23)
B. Our spiritual position in Christ (Ephesians 2:1–22)
1. Raised and seated on the throne (Ephesians 2:1–10)
2. Reconciled and set into the temple (Ephesians 2:11–22)
Second Prayer — for enablement (Ephesians 3:1—21

II. DUTY: Our Responsibilities in Christ (Ephesians 4—6)
A. Walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1–16)
B. Walk in purity (Ephesians 4:17–5:17)
1. Walk not as other Gentiles (Ephesians 4:17–32)
2. Walk in love (Ephesians 5:1–6)
3. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:7–14)
4. Walk carefully (Ephesians 5:15–17)
C. Walk in harmony (Ephesians 5:18–6:9)
1. Husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:18–33)
2. Parents and children (Ephesians 6:1–4)
3. Masters and servants (Ephesians 6:5–9)
D. Walk in victory (Ephesians 6:10–24)

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Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians

Chapter 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints
who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; 5 having
predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6 to the praise of the glory
of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, 7
in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made
to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 making known
to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
purposed in him 10 to an administration of the fullness of the times,
to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things
on the earth, in him; 11 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance,
having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works
all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be
to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13 in
whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of
your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the
redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus
which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
16 don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
him; 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know
what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of
his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the

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strength of his might 20 which he worked in Christ, when he raised
him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly
places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that
which is to come. 22 He put all things in subjection under his feet, and
gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23 which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Chapter 2

1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now
works in the children of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once
lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But
God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up
with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of
his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8 for by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared before that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who
are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” (in
the flesh, made by hands); 12 that you were at that time separate from
Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from
the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in
the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are
made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made
both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having
abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained
in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two,
making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God
through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17 He came and
preached peace to you who were fa-r7-off and to those who were near. 18

For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being
the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built
together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Chapter 3

1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you
Gentiles, 2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that
grace of God which was given me toward you; 3 how that by revelation
the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, 4
by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the
mystery of Christ; 5 which in other generations was not made known
to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets in the Spirit; 6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow
members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in
Christ Jesus through the Good News, 7 of which I was made a servant,
according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to
the working of his power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this
grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery
which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through
Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now through the assembly the
manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities
and the powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; 12 in whom we
have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 13
Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you,
which are your glory.
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that
you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward
man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strengthened
to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and

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height and depth, 19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who
is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us, 21 to him be the glory in the
assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 4

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the
calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and humility,
with patience, bearing with one another in love; 3 being eager to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is
over all, and through all, and in us all. 7 But to each one of us was the
grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore
he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts to men.” 9 Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that he also first
descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is
the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might
fill all things. 11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some,shepherds and teachers; 12 for the
perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of
the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we may no longer be
children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him,
who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and
knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the
working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to
the building up of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk
as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18
being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God,
because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of
their hearts; 19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust,
to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you did not learn

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Christ that way; 21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him,
even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your
former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of
deceit; 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and
put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in
righteousness and holiness of truth.
25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his
neighbor. For we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and don’t
sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 neither give place
to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor,
working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something
to give to him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of
your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be,
that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit
of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let
all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you,
with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Chapter 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love,
even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But sexual
immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be
mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather
giving of thanks. 5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral per-
son, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive
you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God
comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t be partakers
with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the
Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather even reprove them. 12 For the things which are done by them in
secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things, when they are
reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

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14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore don’t be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Don’t be
drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs;
singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks
always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the
fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the
husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the
assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly
is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in
everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it,
having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he
might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish. 28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as
their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no
man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as
the Lord also does the assembly; 30 because we are members of his
body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will leave his
father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become
one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and
of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own
wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Chapter 6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your
father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: 3
“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
4 You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them
in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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5 Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your
masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to
Christ; 6 not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men
pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; 8 knowing
that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again
from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
9 You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening,
knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no partiality with him. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and
in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our
wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities,
against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age,
and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14 Stand
therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist,
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having fitted
your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16 above all,
taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 with all prayer and
requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this
end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: 19 on my
behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to
make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20 for
which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus,
the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known
to you all things; 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that
you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord
Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

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Discussion Guide—July 3, 2016
“Rich in Christ”

“…we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace….”

“For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which

is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, don’t

cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to

you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what

is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his

inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his

power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength
— Ephesians 1:7, 15-19
of his might.”

Have you ever gone to a lawyer’s office to hear a will read? It’s a stock
dramatic situation in movies and detective stories. One funny old
cartoon showed a grieving, possibly greedy, family sitting in an ornate
office, waiting to hear the terms of their loved one’s last will and testament.
The lawyer solemnly read, “I, John Jones, being of sound mind and
body…spent it all!”
When Jesus Christ united His will to the will of His Father on the cross,
He made a generous inheritance available for His church. Instead of
spending it all, Jesus paid it all.
The first chapter of Ephesians contains a long sentence where Paul,
like a solemn lawyer, reads out the riches that Christ’s death and
resurrection made irrevocably ours: redemption, forgiveness, grace,
faith, love, thanks, prayers, wisdom, revelation, knowledge, hearts en-
lightened, hope, glory, greatness, power, and strength. God created us
to possess these riches. Jesus died to put the will into effect. And then
the Holy Spirit came to this church to serve as an advocate (yes, an
attorney) arguing on our side when we stumble and feel worthless.
Worthless?! We’ve been blessed, richly blessed. Through Ephesians, we
can see our worth differently, with the eyes of our hearts opened.

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Questions and Reflections—July 3, 2016
“Rich in Christ”

READ: Read chapter one of Ephesians.
1. What blessings have you received this past week?
2. Ephesians 1:4-14 says that we were predestined to be adopted by God
through Christ. Have you experienced a moment in your life that you
can identify as the time that this adoption took place?
3. What stories of your own life can you share with others as examples
of richness that God’s adoption has blessed you with? Or what stories
have you heard from others?
4. Do you live as if you are forgiven, or as if you owe God a great debt?
Explain.
5. What is the inheritance that Paul speaks of in the first chapter of
Ephesians?
6. How are the three persons of the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
present in this inheritance?
7. How would you live if you inherited a billion dollars? How should
you live in response to the inheritance you do have from God?

“Rich in Christ” is the first sermon of Galilee’s July worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Discussion Guide—July 10, 2016
“Rich in Peace”

Have you ever noticed something about peace? Mostly, it doesn’t happen.
Parties that are at war, stay at war. Or they claw their way to peace after
exhausting all other options. Most peace missions fail, and most peace
agreements don’t last.
The only “peace agreement” that has lasted—and that will last—is the
one made by our eternal God, sealed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Paul explained the nature of Christ’s peace mission in today’s scripture
from Ephesians:

“He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those
who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit
to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus
himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are
built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.”

— Ephesians 2:17-22

The sticking point in peace negotiations is always: what are you prepared
to sacrifice in order to overcome irreconcilable differences? In the
New Covenant that was made on the cross, Christ sacrificed Himself
in order to reconcile God and sinner, Jew and Gentile, stranger and
foreigner, man and his own nature.
In Christ, we experience otherworldly peace. Our hearts are changed.
We receive the astonishing power to live together, no matter how
irreconcilable our differences. It’s a gift! May our hearts be guided by
this rich gift toward patience and forgiveness…and peace.

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Questions and Reflections—July 10, 2016
“Rich in Peace”

READ: Read Ephesians chapter two.
1. How does God’s peace contrast with the way people refer to “peace”
today?
2. Paul says that peace was originally denied Gentiles (nonbelievers)
because they were without citizenship (in God’s chosen people),
without a covenant, without hope, and without God. Is this true of
nonbelievers that you know? If so, how?
3. Paul preached reconciliation through Christ. Gentiles are as entitled
to reconciliation as Jews. There is no difference. How does having
Christ in your life give you peace?
4. Why is reconciliation between God and man needed?
5. How would you live if you thought your bad deeds separated you
forever from God? What would you sacrifice to “make things right”
with God?
6. Does the teaching that God forgives all sin through Christ make it
more likely for you to forgive other people?
7. What kinds of people do you find it hard to love or forgive?
8. Is there a perfect place or practice that you go to in order to feel
more peaceful?

“Rich in Peace” is the second sermon of Galilee’s July worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Discussion Guide—July 17, 2016
“Rich in Love”

“For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he
would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to
comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth, and to know Christ’s love which surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to
him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in
the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”

— Ephesians. 3:14-21

One of the great treasures in Ephesians is that the letter tells us what Paul,
the great apostle, actually prayed for. There are two prayers in the book.
In the first, found in Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prayed for enlightenment.
In the second, printed above, Paul emphasizes enablement. knowing
all the riches that God prepared for us, Paul asks for the strength and
power to use them.

The length, breadth, depth and fullness of God’s love is ours. God
created us in love, Christ lived and died and lives again for us in love,
and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, a gift from God of love. We know
all this. Our confidence of who we really are, God’s adopted sons and
daughters, should be greater than any trial or circumstance we face.

We should be enabled by our inheritance through Christ to overcome
any obstacle. All we need to do is, like Paul, to bow our knees to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him for the strength to love.

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Questions and Reflections—July 17, 2016
“Rich in Love”

READ: Read Ephesians chapter three.
1. Think about the prayers you said these last several days. What did
you ask for?
2. Do you have confidence that your prayers are heard by a God “who
is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think?”
3. What did Paul want his readers to have the strength to do?
4. How does the Holy Spirit strengthen us?
5. Why is it necessary for a Christian to be rooted and grounded in
love? Whose love for whom?
6. How strongly aware are you of God’s incomprehensible love for you?
What is the evidence in your outlook on life and your habits?
7. What impresses you most about Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21?
Why?

“Rich in Love” is the third sermon of Galilee’s July worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Discussion Guide—July 24, 2016
“Rich in Unity”

“He gave some [the gift] to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the

saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the

Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the

fullness of Christ; that we may no longer be children, tossed back and

forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of

men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love,

we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; from

whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which

every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each

individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in
—Ephesians 4:11-16
love.”

Paul’s account of our richness in Christ would please any certified
accountant, because it is so balanced. One the one hand, Paul talks
about our unity. On the other, our diversity. According to Paul, all
spiritual gifts come from one source, God. Yet this one Being showers
us with an infinite variety of talents. We are each of us given a different
assortment of these gifts, but we are called to knit ourselves together as
one church. From one, many. From many, one.
Christian unity is about each of us expressing the individuality that
God created in us and finding in our true, God-given personality the
tools to build one another up. God created us to live in unity. God’s
peace is the unity made possible by gentleness, humility and patience,
bearing one another’s burdens in love, and giving ourselves fully to the
use of the Spirit.

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Questions and Reflections—July 24, 2016
“Rich in Unity”

READ: Read chapter four of Ephesians.
1. Read Ephesians 4:1-16 where Paul emphasizes a major factor in the
success of the church: unity. What is the unity of the Spirit? What is the
basis for unity among believers?
2. What kind of balance is needed in a sports team to achieve success?
Balance between individual brilliance and cooperation? Between
personal glory and togetherness?
3. Why is disunity (squabbling, cliques, power struggles, complaining
about those of other faiths) unworthy of our Christian calling?
4. Why does God give different gifts to different people?
5. What do we mean when we call the church, “the Body of Christ?”
What parts are represented by various sorts of people?
6. What is some evidence of spiritual growth in your life? Is personal
spiritual growth necessary to contribute to the church?

“Rich in Unity” is the fourth sermon of Galilee’s July worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Discussion Guide—July 31, 2016
“Rich in Defense”

Sooner or later every believer discovers that the Christian life is a
battleground, not a playground, and that we face an enemy much
stronger than ourselves—if we’re not fighting alongside God.
Fortunately for us, God supplies us with spiritual weaponry from an
arsenal rich in defense.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but
against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers
of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wicked-
ness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done
all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your
waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having
fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above
all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

—Ephesians 6:10-17

Evil is a powerful force. There is a Devil and he does have helpers.
But in Ephesians, Paul assures us we are not alone! In Chapter 5, he
admonishes us to live an upright life, so that we will have allies in our
family and our friends. In Chapter 6, which we quote here, Paul
catalogues the armor of spiritual defenses that God makes available to
those who call upon Him.

You could take down Iron Man with armor like that.

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Questions and Reflections—July 31, 2016
“Rich in Defense”

READ: Read chapters five and six of Ephesians.
1. “The Christian life is a battleground, not a playground.” Do you agree
with this statement? Why?
2. Sometimes the best way to win a war is not to fight. Chapter 5 of
Ephesians has been called a recipe for making peace in your home. It
lists traits to emulate and hazards to avoid. How does your home match
up?
3. In Ephesians 6:11, Paul tells us “Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” What do you
think the “wiles of the devil” are? How are they expressed in your life?
4. How is each of the pieces of armor that Paul mentions in Ephesians
6:14-17 helpful in your experience?
5. Which piece of armor would you love to have God make even
stronger? Why?
6. In this month’s study of Ephesians, we’ve learned how we are rich:
rich in our worth to God, rich in our changed hearts, rich in
confidence that God loves us, rich in each other’s gifts, and rich in
spiritual strength. Where do you feel you have the most wealth?
7. Wearing every piece of God’s armor, do you feel that you need to be
defensive? Or do you feel like you could attack? If you could enjoy any
victory over any enemy foreign or domestic, what would it be?

“Rich in Defense” is the final sermon of Galilee’s July worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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