Ephesians Lesson 1: Am I Grateful? скачать в хорошем качестве

Ephesians Lesson 1: Am I Grateful?

The Book of Ephesians: Identity In Christ Speaker: Dale Tubbs, Deacon Verses: Ephesians 1:1-5 Theme: God wants us to respond to the gift of salvation with thanksgiving and holy living. In This Lesson: Dive into the book of Ephesians with this in-depth lesson. We’ll focus on the opening verses and explore the theme of identity in Christ. This structured Bible study covers topics like salvation, spiritual blessings, divine election, and adoption. We’ll also provide context for Paul’s letter by describing ancient Ephesus, its devotion to the false goddess Diana, and the contrasting truth of Christian identity. We encourage personal reflection on gratitude, holiness, and sharing the gospel based on these biblical truths. Study Overview: Perhaps no word is as relevant to the present as the word “identity.” Identity politics seeks to separate people according to their color, pitting them against each other for political gain. Men are choosing to identify as women and vice versa. Some people are even choosing to identify as neither man nor woman or as both. Others find their identity in being “woke,” or aware of society’s injustices. Individuals trying to find identity apart from God’s truth will be confused, frustrated, or angered. Their search is destined to fail and contribute to society’s chaos. Paul lived in an equally confusing time. He addressed identity in his letter to Ephesus, a city divided by ethnicity, religion, and politics. The church at Ephesus needed his guidance into God’s truth.At the heart of Paul’s letter to Ephesus is the simple truth that all believers are “in Christ.” Christ gives us our identity and brings us together as one body. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to recognize their unity as a church and serve God together. As they did, their love would act as a light to the dark and confused world around them. Paul closed his letter with a warning that shining light into the darkness would raise the ire of Satan. He commanded the Ephesian believers to don their armor of God and carry their sword to protect them from Satan’s fiery attacks. Paul’s letter guides us to embrace our true identity in Christ—the only identity that brings joy, peace, and contentment. Encourage your class to live “in Christ” as they study Ephesians with you. New England Shores Baptist Church, Hampton, NH www.hamptonchurch.com www.instagram.com/hampton_nh_church www.facebook.com/nesbcnh Allowing God's truth in the Bible to transform lives today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.