Ephesians – Bear Good Fruit #1 – Study Questions

Kyle Bartholic   -   August 1, 2024

Who is God?

Ephesians 1:1-14 (CGS#1)

INTRODUCTION:  Paul’s letter to the Ephesian churches, that is, the churches in and around Ephesus, was likely written around 60 AD while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. Paul first encounters early believers in Ephesus while on his missionary journey in the area (Acts 19). Paul would go on to spend two years there ministering to those believers and preaching the gospel. And as we read in Acts, Paul also encountered serious resistance in Ephesus because of the worship of Artemis. The city of Ephesus was situated on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) at the mouth of the Cayster River. This thriving harbor city ranked with Rome, Alexandria, and Syrian Antioch as one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire.[1] The Ephesian church is, both geographically and culturally speaking, far away from the settings of the Gospels. The churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) were deeply entrenched in Roman politics, religious worship, and cultural dynamics that were vastly different from their brothers and sisters in the churches around Jerusalem. Though Pergamum was apparently the official capital of the province of Asia, Ephesus was its greatest city (population 250,000+). It was a large town and a seat of proconsular government (Acts 19:38). When a proconsul took up his appointment, he had to enter his province at Ephesus.[2] Religious worship included both Emperor worship and the cult of Artemis. Roman coins were inscribed with “PON MAX,” which stands for “Pontifex Maximus” or “Greatest Priest.” The title denoted the position of emperor as the head of the state religion. In 29 BC, a delegation from Asia Minor had asked permission to set up a cult to worship Caesar. Artemis was known as a goddess of fertility and as “mistress of the wild beasts,” a daughter of Zeus and Leto, and a sister of Apollo. In this cult, she was a virgin who helped women in childbirth, a huntress with a bow and arrow, and the goddess of death. Statues depict her as wearing a zodiac necklace, showing her authority over the stars and events. A weeklong festival to her, known as Artemision, took place each spring. Her shrine in Ephesus was a major site, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

 

All of this tells us that believers in Ephesus were facing challenging circumstances and did not hold the cultural values of their city. They were outsiders and exiles. So, how does Paul start his letter to them? He begins by expressing who God is and what he has done for them. Why? Because identity matters so much. How they saw themselves informed how they lived, interacted, and went about life in a city that was deeply opposed to every one of their held religious convictions. And their identity was not rooted in what they had done for themselves. It was rooted in what God had done for them. He was the one who blessed them, chose them, predestined them, adopted them, redeemed them, revealed himself to them, gave them an inheritance, and sealed them with the promised Holy Spirit. God did it. All of it. Wow! If God can do that, then it must be true, and it should change everything. Yes, Paul will get to how they are to live later on in the letter. But for now, he begins reminding them of who they are by reminding them of who God is. The truth is that a right view of self begins with a right view of God.  

 

GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. Who or what has shaped the way you see yourself the most, and how?

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions. [3]

  1. How does the culture and context of Ephesus match up with the world that we are living in?
  2. We are living in chaotic times. What difference does knowing where everything is heading in the future make to us as believers today?
  3. How do the words “sealed” and “deposit” help you to appreciate the work of God’s Spirit in you?
  4. How does this passage help you see God more clearly? How does it help you see yourself more clearly?
  5. If God has done this all for you now, do you delight in it on a regular basis? Why or why not?

 

 

 

 

[1] Clinton E. Arnold, “Ephesus,” ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 249.

[2] Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 63.

[3] Some questions are adapted from: Richard Coekin, Ephesians for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2015), 25.