Warren W. Wiersbe - Ephesians: Gaining the Things That Money Cant Buy

THE WIERSBE BIBLE STUDY SERIES: EPHESIANS
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All Scripture quotations in this study are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

In the Be Rich excerpts, all Scripture quotations, are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.)

All excerpts taken from Be Rich, second edition, published by
David C. Cook in 2009 1979 Warren W. Wiersbe, ISBN 978-1-4347-6734-9

ISBN 978-0-7814-4568-9
eISBN 978-1-4347-0220-3

2008 Warren W. Wiersbe

The Team: Steve Parolini, Karen Lee-Thorp,
Amy Kiechlin, Jack Campbell, and Susan Vannaman
Series Cover Design: John Hamilton Design
Cover Photo: iStockphoto

First Edition 2009

Contents

Introduction to Ephesians

The Author

Some names in history we identify immediately, and Paul is one of them. Originally named Saul (Acts 7:58), Paul faithfully served God as a devoted rabbi. As a strong-minded Jew, he became the leader of the anti-Christian movement in Jerusalem, but in the middle of this activity, Saul was arrested by Jesus Christ and was converted. He then became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

Around the year AD 53, Paul first ministered in Ephesus, but he did not stay there. Two years later he visited again and remained for two years. During these years he founded a strong church. Nearly ten years later Paul wrote this letter to his beloved friends in Ephesus.

The Saints in Ephesus

Are you surprised that Paul addresses his letter to saints? No word in the New Testament has suffered more than this word saint. Even the dictionary defines a saint as a person officially recognized for holiness of life. Nine times in this brief letter, Paul refers to his readers as saints. The word saint is simply one of the many terms used in the New Testament to describe one who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. The person is alive physically as well as spiritually.

How did these people become saints? The answer is found in two words: faithful and grace . Faith and grace go together, because the only way to experience grace is through faith.

The Purpose

Each book in the Bible has its own special theme and message, even though it may deal with many different topics. The theme for the book of Ephesians is the Christians riches in Christ. Paul examines the source of our blessings, the scope of our blessings, and the sphere of our blessings in this letter.

The fact that Paul is writing about wealth would be significant to his readers, because Ephesus was considered the bank of Asia. The great Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was in Ephesus, and was not only a center for idolatrous worship, but also a depository for wealth. In this letter, Paul compares the church of Jesus Christ to a temple and explains the great wealth that Christ has in His church. Paul is saying to us, Be Rich!

Warren W. Wiersbe

How to Use This Study

This study is designed for both individual and small-group use. Weve divided it into eight lessonseach references one or more chapters in Warren W. Wiersbes commentary Be Rich (second edition, David C. Cook, 2009). While reading Be Rich is not a prerequisite for going through this study, the additional insights and background Wiersbe offers can greatly enhance your study experience.

The Getting Started questions at the beginning of each lesson offer you an opportunity to record your first thoughts and reactions to the study text. This is an important step in the study process, because those first impressions often include clues about what your heart is longing to discover.

The bulk of the study is found in the Going Deeper questions. These dive into the Bible text and, along with excerpts from Wiersbes commentary, help you examine not only the original context and meaning of the verses but also modern application.

Looking Inward narrows the focus down to your personal story. These intimate questions can be a bit uncomfortable at times, but dont shy away from honesty here. This is where you are asked to stand before the mirror of Gods Word and look closely at what you see. Its the place to take a good look at yourself in light of the lesson and search for ways in which you can grow in faith.

Going Forward is the place where you can commit to paper those things you want or need to do in order to better live out the discoveries you made in the Looking Inward section. Dont skip or skim through this. Take the time to really consider what practical steps you might take to move closer to Christ. Then share your thoughts with a trusted friend who can act as an encourager and accountability partner.

Finally, there is a brief Seeking Help section to close the lesson. This is a reminder for you to invite God into your spiritual-growth process. If you choose to write out a prayer in this section, come back to it as you work through the lesson and continue to seek the Holy Spirits guidance as you discover Gods will for your life.

Tips for Small Groups

A small group is a dynamic thing. One week it might seem like a group of close-knit friends. The next it might seem more like a group of uncomfortable strangers. A small-group leaders role is to read these subtle changes and adjust the tone of the discussion accordingly.

Small groups need to be safe places for people to talk openly. It is through shared wrestling with difficult life issues that some of the greatest personal growth is discovered. But in order for the group to feel safe, participants need to know its okay not to share sometimes. Always invite honest disclosure, but never force someone to speak if he or she isnt comfortable doing so. (A savvy leader will follow up later with a group member who isnt comfortable sharing in a group setting to see if a one-to-one discussion is more appropriate.)

Have volunteers take turns reading excerpts from Scripture or from the commentary. The more each person is involved even in the mundane tasks, the more theyll feel comfortable opening up in more meaningful ways.

The leader should watch the clock and keep the discussion moving. Sometimes there may be more Going Deeper questions than your group can cover in your available time. If youve had a fruitful discussion, its okay to move on without finishing everything. And if you think the group is getting bogged down on a question or taken off on a tangent, you can simply say, Lets go on to question 5. Be sure to save at least ten or fifteen minutes for the Going Forward questions.