Ephesians 3: God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed and Paul Prays for Growth

This is the lesson plan for tomorrow night. If you would like to use it, feel free. Just don't claim it as yours.

Ephesians 3: God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed and Paul Prays for Growth

There are lots of things mysterious to the uninitiated that are not to those who have experienced them. Love is one. Boys make fun of falling in love until one day they do. Sex is a mystery as is holding a job or home ownership. For that matter, even the most mundane things can be “mysterious” if they have never happened to you. Getting hit in the face by someone, falling down, riding a motorcycle, eating an jalapeno, touching a very hot surface, losing a loved one. All kinds of things are mysterious – or at least unfamiliar – to those who have never experienced them personally. The same could be said for coming to know the love of God and being baptized in the Spirit. Those it has never happened to have not the foggiest idea of what it is like. To them it is a stone mystery.

But what is a mystery to one is familiar to another. When I went to Germany in the army, little children were able to communicate better than I could. German (with the exception of something that sounded like Kriskut Schatzi, Hi there Sweetheart, something taught to all GI’s and welcomed about by German women about like a cold slap in the face) was alien until I got a handle on it. When I did, it was no longer a mystery. It was still somewhat unfamiliar as I never got that good at German but it was no longer a mystery. Reading for a child is a mystery until one day it dawns on them. the same is true with math.

The apostle Paul said that he was appointed by God to show them the mystery of God’s plan, his grace and love for them manifested in Jesus. When they heard him and read what he wrote, they understood what he was talking about. It was a mystery to all of humanity before Jesus came, but now is available to all.

As he says in vv6-7, the mystery, the plan was simple. Everybody was welcomed into the kingdom. Not just Jews, but also the rest of humanity had an equal part in the kingdom of God. And Paul marvels at the fact that he was chosen to tell people about it, that God not only saved him, but appointed him a messenger of this plan.
God also uses the church to show this. The church is the sole sphere of God’s influence to humanity and as such is to teach this plan, this revealed mystery. And because of this mystery being revealed, we now know that we can come into the presence of God without the mediation of anybody other than Jesus. We do not have to ask permission or go to a special group of leaders. We just, as Hebrews 9 says, boldly approach the throne of grace.

Paul writes a doxology in vv14-19, a poem of sorts about the greatness of God and his love. Many of these were early church songs that were sung in the assembly. As Ephesians 5:19 says, the early church was singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. This was one of those early hymns. Psalms were from the Psalms and spiritual songs were lighter melodies.

He ends with a comment on the greatness of God. He is not only able to great things, he is able to do greater things than we can even imagine. And all glory is his forever.

QUESTIONS:

1. How can something common be a mystery? Isn’t it just a matter of perspective?

2. Why would Paul keep on being so amazed at God’s intervention in his life? Doesn’t it seem like he would begin to accept it sooner or later? Wouldn’t his continual surprise be lack of faith in God’s ability to save and forgive?

3. If explaining the grace of God is a privilege, why do more not do it?

4. V10 – How is God’s wisdom shown in this whole thing? What is so wise about it?

5. Why do you think the early writers of the Old Testament couldn’t figure this all out? It seems awfully plain to us.

6. Have you ever experienced that love and power in your life?

7. How can God work more than what we can think?

romans 16 lesson plan

Here is the lesson plan for tonight’s class on Romans. We are finishing up this study and will begin a study on Hebrews next week.

If you are interested in this lesson series, send me an email and I will be happy to send it to you. There is no charge for it, but if you claim it to be yours, the angels in heaven will weep for your dishonesty and there will be shame, shame. And you will probably get indigestion.

Romans 16: Personal Greetings

Paul is winding up his letter. This sections, as was the last section of Chapter 15 (vv14-22), is filled with personal comments.

To have not been to Rome, Paul surely knew a lot of people there. As an apostle, and as a traveling preacher, he came in contact with a lot of people. He was also the kind of guy who could probably remember them, especially with the help of his secretary (also called an amanuensis).

The people who are mentioned all have one thing in common. They are all hard workers in the kingdom. Many also were converts from Paul’s works or who had worked with Paul somewhere.

QUESTIONS:
1. Phoebe is mentioned here as a deaconess or minister. The church also is encouraged to help her in any way it can. How do you think they did? Do you think there were many like here that traveled?

2. Priscilla and Aquila came into contact with Paul in Acts 18. They were tentmakers as he was, so they found each other quickly. They were the ones who taught the orator Apollos the full gospel. How would you feel if you had been leaving things out for a long time and a couple came to you and told you so?

3. They even had a house church. House churches are big right now in church planting circles. What, in your mind, constitutes a house church?

4. Epenetus is mentioned as the first convert in the province of Asia. How would it feel to be the first?

The little girl in this picture is listed on the back of the photo as the first convert for the Lincoln Foursquare Church in the early 1940’s. No name is given.

5. He also mentions Andronicus and Junias, evidently relatives of his who were in prison with him. He calls them outstanding among the apostles. Did this mean they were apostles themselves?

6. V10 Apelles is mentioned as being tested and approved in Christ. Are you?

7. V16 Why do we no longer greet each other with a holy kiss?

8. V17 He closes with a warning about those who cause division. Why does he mention this so much?

9. A bunch of other people that we know nothing about are mentioned also, including one who was the city’s director of public works. There were some high placed officials in the early church (cf Philippians 1:12-14). How would that affect the early church?

10. V20 is surely an odd picture: a God of peace crushing his enemy, don’t you think?

11. Timothy is mentioned in v21. He was one who is very close to Paul. Paul came in contact with him first in Acts 16. How would people like Timothy make it easier on people like Paul?

12. V22 Tertius is mentioned as the secretary, giving his greeting. Does it matter if Paul did not write the letters himself? Are they still his?

13. V25 He ends with a doxology on the power of God manifested through the revelation of his will. This was probably an early church song.