Elizabeth George - Understanding Your Blessings in Christ: Ephesians

As always, thank you to my dear husband, Jim George, M.Div., Th.M., for your able assistance, guidance, suggestions, and loving encouragement on this project.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

Copyright 2008 Elizabeth George

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

George, Elizabeth, 1944-

Understanding your blessings in Christ / Elizabeth George.

p. cm.(A woman after Gods own heart)

ISBN 978-0-7369-1247-1 (pbk.)

1. Bible. N.T. EphesiansTextbooks. I. Title.

BS2695.55.G46 2008

227.' 50071dc22

2008030535

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 /BP-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

F or some time I have been looking for Bible studies that I could use each day that would increase my knowledge of Gods Word. In my search, I found myself struggling between two extremes: Bible studies that required little time but also had little substance, or studies that were in-depth and demanded more time than I could give. I discovered that I wasnt alonethere were many other women like me who were busy yet desired to spend quality time studying Gods Word.

Thats why I became excited when Elizabeth George shared her desire to create a series of womens Bible studies that offered in-depth lessons that could be completed in just 15-20 minutes per day. When she completed the first studyon PhilippiansI was eager to try it out. I had already studied Philippians many times, but this was the first time I had come to understand exactly how the whole book fit together and how it can truly be lived out in my life. Each lesson was simple but insightfuland was written especially to apply to me as a woman!

In the Woman After Gods Own Heart Bible study series, Elizabeth takes you step by step through the Scriptures, sharing wisdom she has gleaned from more than 20 years as a womens Bible teacher. The lessons are rich and meaningful because theyre rooted in Gods Word and have been lived out in Elizabeths life. Her thoughtful and personable guidance makes you feel as though you are studying right alongside heras if she is personally mentoring you in the greatest aspiration you could ever pursue: to become a woman after Gods own heart.

If youre looking for Bible studies that can help you grow stronger in your knowledge of Gods Word even in the most demanding of schedules, I know youll find this series to be a welcome companion in your daily walk with God.

LaRae Weikert

Vice President of Editorial,

Harvest House Publishers

I n my book A Woman After Gods Own Heart, I describe such a woman as one who ensures that God is first in her heart and the Ultimate Priority of her life. Then I share that one crucial way this desire can become reality is by nurturing a heart that abides in Gods Word. To do so means that you and I must develop a root system anchored deep in Gods Word.

Before you launch into this Bible study, take a moment to think about these aspects of a root system produced by the regular, faithful study of Gods Word:

Roots are unseenYoull want to set aside time in solitudeunderground if you willto immerse yourself in Gods Word and grow in Him.

Roots are for taking inAlone and with your Bible in hand, youll want to take in and feed upon the truths of the Word of God and ensure your spiritual growth.

Roots are for storageAs you form the habit of looking into Gods Word, youll find a vast, deep reservoir of divine hope and strength forming for the rough times.

Roots are for supportDo you want to stand strong in the Lord? To stand firm against the pressures of life? The routine care of your roots through exposure to Gods Word will cultivate you into a remarkable woman of endurance.

Im glad youve chosen this study out of my A Woman After Gods Own Heart Bible study series. My prayer for you is that the truths you find in Gods Word through this study will further transform your life into the image of His dear Son and empower you to be the woman you seek to be: a woman after Gods own heart.

In His love,

M y husband Jim, when teaching the Bible, often shares a story of a millionaire who was found dead in his squalid apartmentwith money hidden and tucked away everywhere possible in his bare-bones home. He was a man who had riches galore, but failed to benefit from them or put them to use.

Sadly, many Christians live their daily lives as paupers when, in reality, they are princes and princesses in Christ. As you make your way through the New Testament epistle of Ephesiansreferred to by one Bible scholar as the Alps of the New Testament and Pauls third heaven epistlepay special attention to the treasure of your riches in Christ.

Now, learn what Paul, the writer of this encouraging letter, has to say about himself and spiritual blessings in Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. PaulWhat does Paul say about himself in verse 1?

And in Ephesians 3:1?

Using an English dictionary, what is an apostle?

How does Paul say he became an apostle (Ephesians 1:1)?

What else do these scriptures tell you about Paul?

Romans 1:1

Galatians 1:1

What these verses do not reveal is that Paul is writing from a prison in Rome, sometime between A.D. 6062.

2. Pauls readersHow does Paul describe his readers in verse 1?