Category / Bible Studies

by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

Ephesians 5:21-6:9

(21) Since Jesus submits to the Father, we will recognize proper lines of submission.

(22-33) A wife’s husband is accountable. Just as Jesus answers for the church, he will answer for his wife. As the church submits to Jesus, so the wife submits. Husband, imitate Jesus with a servant love for your wife. His love made the church godlier. Jesus made the church more beautiful and purer. Model Jesus.  Love her like your own body—you are one in marriage. Every sane person takes care of his body rather than abusing it.  We get to imitate Jesus in this. We are parts of his body. This oneness has always been God’s plan for marriage. A great marriage gives deep insight into Jesus’ love for the church. Husband, love her like yourself; wife honor him.

Ephesians 6

(1-4) God rewards children for obeying their parents. He attached the first promise of a blessing to honoring them. Good things and life expectancy are tied to obeying your parents. Dads must nurture faith rather than bullying their children.

(5-9) Superiors should be treated in the same way you submit to Jesus. Not only when they are watching you because you are mindful of God’s will for you. Give them the kind of service you would give God. You know God sees and rewards every good deed.  Your status doesn’t matter in this. Supervisors, treat your people with respect.  Don’t bully them since you know God is over both of you and he doesn’t play favorites.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will build respectful relationships.
  • I will be the kind of husband to whom  Debra finds it easy to submit.
  • I will have a saving influence in my leadership role.
  • I will lead like Jesus so Debra knows she’s blessed in my leadership.
  • I will be like Jesus—loving Debra with a sacrificial love.
  • I will love so that it makes her a better person.
  • I will lead her into increasing holiness.
  • I will love Debra with the protective love I have for myself.
  • I will care for her as I care for myself—better yet, love her as Christ loved the church.
  • I will reflect Jesus’ cares for me.
  • I will remember that oneness is God’s goal for marriage.
  • I will show Jesus’ love for the church in my marriage.
  • I will love Debra like myself so she can readily respect me.
  • I will obey my parents with a godly respect.
  • I will remember God’s promised blessing.
  • I will recognize God blesses my respect for my parents.
  • I will create a healthy environment that nurtures faith in Kenneth and Rachel rather than frustrates them.
  • I will have a respectful relationship with my accountability people.
  • Iwill be a man of integrity doing what’s right even when they are not looking.
  • I will give them the service I would give God as my boss.
  • I will recognize God will reward any good I do.
  • I will treat those who answer me with dignity and respect.  I will not strong-arm them because God will settle the score.
by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

Ephesians 5:1-20

(1-2) Our lives increasingly look like Papa God. They are shaped by the love of Jesus, our ransom price.

(3-5) Living righteously like God precludes sexual sins and fulfillment of any kind of lust or greed. Rather than “suggestive” speech, we should be known for our words of gratitude. Rest assured, rebellion against godly living disqualifies us from kingdom living.

(6-9) God will punish such living regardless of what talkers may say. Don’t join with their rebellion. You used to live that way, but Jesus enlightened you.  Shine! Light shows in goodness, holiness and honesty.

(10-14) Do what pleases Jesus. Reject rebellious ways.  Shine the light of Jesus on them. Don’t even whisper their hidden, rebellious ways. Under the light we see clearly. The truth becomes apparent. That is why we are told, “Wake up, live anew, Jesus will shine on you.”

(15-20) Make godly choices about your lifestyle. Use time wisely—too much of it is already wasted in rebellion. Recognize God’s ways and choose them always. Rather than being known for drunkenness, be full of God’s Spirit. Use your voices to sing God’s glory.  Praise him with your heart melodies. Through Jesus you can thank Papa God for all things.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will behave like God does out of love.
  • I will love others with a self-sacrificing love like Jesus.
  • I will be godly—stay sexually pure, honest and financially content.
  • I will replace “suggestive” speech with thanksgiving.
  • I will receive Jesus’ inheritance through growing purity.
  • I will be obedient and avoid God’s punishment for rebellion.
  • I will not join with the disobedient.
  • I will remember how God has changed me and live that change out.
  • I will be fruitful in godliness.
  • I will seek Jesus’ will.
  • I will avoid rebellion by being honest about it.
  • I will stay totally away from the rebellious.
  • I will bring the hidden out to the light.
  • I will let Jesus’ light test everything.
  • I will make good choices.
  • I will use time constructively.
  • I will seek God’s will.
  • I will not be a drunkard, but will fill up on God’s Spirit.
  • I will use my voice to teach others and praise God with wholesome words.
  • I will thank God through Jesus.
by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

Ephesians 4:1-32

(1-6) Reminded why Paul was imprisoned, he admonishes them to be righteous in their living. Love excludes haughty and harsh behavior.  It prompts compassion. Work hard to maintain the peaceful oneness the Spirit created: One family, one Comforter, one confident expectation. One master, one surrender, one washing. One Papa God reigning and living in each and every one of us.

(7-13) Individually Christ gave us gifts. This is why the Word says, “Coming up he had the Victor’s entrance, leading his spoils and giving out gifts.” (The one coming up had earlier gone down from heaven to earth. The one who came down later went up to the highest place, so everything reaches fulfillment.) This Victor appointed some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastor/teachers. Giftings to equip God’s children to do edifying acts of servanthood. This building up continues until God’s family is mature compared to Jesus, walking like he walked.

(14-16) Such maturity will prevent us from being battered by false teachers who work hard to trip us up. Rather, lovingly saying what is right, we will become more and more like Jesus our Master. He is the one the family becomes stronger in by doing our own part.  Like a body growing stronger through focused exercise, we work together focusing on our mutual good.

(17-19) In view of all Jesus has accomplished, we must stop living the way unbelievers do, in their vain thinking. They don’t “get it” since their hearts are hard and they are spiritually dull and live a different lifestyle. Without a spiritual focus they keep choosing rebellion to God by seeking increasingly unholy ways to satisfy their human desires.

(20-24) Jesus changed our thinking. We came to know the truth about God through him when we were discipled. We were taught to stop living in self-destructive ways. We learned to be renewed in our thinking. We learned to be transformed to become more and more like God—doing what is right and holy.

(25-29) Integrity—being honest with our neighbors is expected because we are in the same family. When angry we must not sin—we will deal with our anger today so we limit Satan’s access to us. As people of integrity we avoid the temptation to steal by working hard to provide for ourselves and have some to share with the needy. We replace destructive speech with constructive conversation.  People who hear us are blessed.

(30) Our talking doesn’t sadden the Holy Spirit—God’s pledge of the coming redemption.

(31-32) Hatefulness, stirring up turmoil and lying about others are out of the question for us. Like God treated us with grace, we forgive and treat others with gentleness and empathy.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will live up to my calling to a righteous life.
  • In humility I will put up with a lot from the people I love in God’s family.
  • I will work hard to hold on to the peace God’s unifying Spirit creates.
  • I will remember the seven ones:  church, Spirit, hope. Lord, faith, baptism and Father unite us.  I will put work boots and gloves on this unity.
  • I will stay humble regarding Jesus’ gifts.
  • I will recognize only Jesus earned the right to give these gifts.
  • I will follow his example of humbly leaving heaven to become a man.
  • I will recognize God exalted him for his humility; he will exalt you.
  • I will accept the fact that Jesus set the kingdom up according to his purpose.
  • I will build up the body by using my gifts in serving others.
  • I will work for God’s goal of mature faith in Jesus.
  • I will measure up to the standard of Jesus.
  • I will seek maturity because it protects us from the damaging effects of false teachers.
  • I will lovingly speak the truth like Jesus so we grow to be more and more like our head.
  • I will remember it takes all of us working together under his guidance to be built up in love—each must do his/her part.
  • I will choose mature thinking, rather than thinking in the old futile ways.
  • I will keep my heart soft by doing whatever God calls me to do.
  • I will realize disobedience contributes to a destructive insensitivity and sets in motion increasing levels of rebellion.
  • I will remember how I started.
  • I will remember the truth about Jesus started me off so I will stay in it.
  • I will obey the truth I learn and stop the old way of living.
  • I will seek a godly attitude each day.
  • I will do righteous and holy things since God transforms me through them.
  • I will be honest with members of God’s family.
  • I will deal today with anger that arises.
  • I will limit Satan’s use of my anger.
  • Rather than stealing, I will use hard work to provide for myself and to share with the needy.
  • I will speak only helpful words so my words are beneficial to my hearers.
  • I will make sure what I say is appropriate for the Spirit to hear.
  • I will choose not to be hateful and/or a trouble-maker.
  • I will treat others with kindness and forgiveness because Jesus did the same to me.
by johnkking

Applying Ephesians to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

Ephesians 3:1-21

(1-5) Extending this amazing unity to non-Jews is why Paul was arrested. Haven’t you heard, God charged him to preach this amazing grace to those formerly excluded from it? Though this truth used to be hidden, God told Paul directly and he has just written about it some. Reading this pulls back the curtains so we can see too. You can trade on this “insider” information.  None of our ancestors had access to what we learned from the Spirit through his spokesmen.

(6-9) The shocking news is that the outcasts have been adopted and given equality with the natural children.  All who have this get it through Jesus—the Promised One. It took a mighty act of God’s grace to save Paul and entrust him with this newly revealed message. Nothing he had done earned him the right to tell this blessed news to the non-Jews. Only grace let Paul have the privilege of revealing this long-hidden truth of the Creator’s plan.

(10-11) Higher spiritual beings are amazed that God could pull this reunion off—nothing prepared them for this glorious maneuver. It was actually his plan from the beginning to save both groups in one body by Jesus.

(12-13) Jesus gives us the way to come to God boldly and without hindrance. Paul’s imprisonment shouldn’t depress his readers since they actually flow out of getting them this amazingly good news.

(14-21) Paul prayed to Father God for their encouragement. This whole family gets its name from Papa God. Paul asks that the Holy Spirit will empower them internally so that Jesus will reside in their inner self through their trust.  Also he asked that love will ground them so they, along with all believers, comprehend the vast love of Jesus so they can experience this love that’s deeper than they can intellectually understand, so they will grow up to God’s provision for them fully! Praise be to God because his power working in us is greater than we can conceive—he does so much more than we ask. He gets the glory from Jesus and his church—always.  Let it be!

“I Will…” Statements:

  • I will remember my old state.
  • I will keep Satan’s reign as a thing of your past.
  • I will realize my old lifestyle was really a death wish locking me into punishment.
  • I will praise God for his loving mercy!
  • I will remember I am alive in Christ and this is all by grace.
  • I will live consistent with my high standing with Christ.
  • I will let the fruit of God’s kindness shine through my life.
  • I will live in the free gift of God’s grace—walk by faith, not sight.
  • I will not boast, but proclaim, “God did this, not me!”
  • I will do the good things God prepared for me to do.
  • I will remember this place of honor hasn’t always been mine to enjoy—I was on the outside looking in.
  • I will remember how it feels to be excluded.
  • I will remember how marvelous it feels to have a way to God opened up.
  • I will preach Jesus’ amazing role as the unifier we needed.
  • I will value his sacrificial work of unifying the great divide.
  • I will value Jesus’ body and its function of ending hostilities.
  • I will accept Jesus’ message of peace.
  • I will accept the people Jesus is reconciling to the Father.
  • I will love others as family.
  • I will build consistent with Jesus as my foundation.
  • I will be holy—worthy of God’s presence.
  • I will keep spiritual peace consistent with Jesus’ life and place.
  • I will realize someone may have suffered for me to have faith.
  • I will learn God’s will for my life, especially to use me to bless others.
  • I will join God in telling the secrets.
  • I will read Scripture for insight into God’s mysterious ways.
  • I will appreciate the “insider information” I have through Jesus.
  • I will join in God’s work of breaking down barriers that we are too comfortable accepting.
  • I will serve the gospel by God’s power in me.
by johnkking

Applying Ephesians to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

1:15-2:22 In My Words

(15-18) The apostle regularly asked God, through Jesus, to tune believers’ spirits by the Holy Spirit to be receptors of deep experiential knowledge of Jesus. Paul also asked for their enlightenment to give them a confident expectation of their rich inheritance and God’s absolutely unique power—like the most unique thing he’s ever done when he resurrected Jesus from the dead and gave him the supreme position.

(1:19-2:3) Jesus is over present and even future forces or positions of dominance. God placed him presiding over all to the benefit of the church which is his continuing presence in the world, completing the works he started. Sin brought spiritual death to us. Satan (the ruler of this world) had control over our lives just like the people we see rebelling against God. At some point in our lives all of us were just like them, doing what we wanted in rebellion to God and as a result we were in big trouble.

(4-10) Thank God his love and mercy are huge! In Jesus he gave us a spiritual resurrection—his grace saves us. Now, with Jesus, our spiritual place is the highest heavens. God did this to show off his amazing grace because he was kind to us through Jesus. God gave us the free gift of salvation based on our trusting him. We cannot boast; we didn’t earn his grace. God’s handiwork is evident in us since he enables us to do what he has always wanted us to accomplish.

(11-16) Don’t forget that in your former life you were on the outside looking in—you didn’t have God’s mark on your bodies. You were hopelessly outside the promises, outside the selected group, without Jesus. Shock of shocks, in Jesus, the rejects have been selected and given access through the Anointed One’s blood. Jesus bridged the chasm and broke down the separation that excluded you. The sacrifice of his body removed the law, which divided us from you, and he brought wholeness by uniting us. By the cross he opened a way for oneness with each other and with God—he ended our bitterness.

(17-22) He extends wholeness to the outsiders and insiders alike. People from both groups can approach God through Jesus by the same Spirit. This is great news!  We are now one big family—God’s children!  Our distrust for each other is over. We all stand on Jesus and the apostles and prophets he selected as the foundation. We are pieces of the majestic living household of God. He lives in us through the Holy Spirit residing in us as we become a united building.

“I Will…” Statements:

  • I will realize authority extends to disciples of disciples.
  • I will be faithful to thank God for the fruit he brings from my disciples.
  • I will persist in prayer for the spiritual enlightenment of the people God is touching through the CPM.
  • I will pray for hope to take root in the hearts of the believers.
  • I will pray they will know God’s resurrection power in their own lives.
  • I will pray for Jesus’ continued exaltation.
  • I will claim the benefits of Jesus’ place above all spiritual forces.
  • I will submit to Jesus’ reign over the church.
  • I will build the church so it fulfills Jesus’ purposes for it.
  • I will remember my old state.
  • I will keep Satan’s reign as a thing of your past.
  • I will realize my old lifestyle was really a death wish locking me into punishment.
  • I will praise God for his loving mercy!
  • I will remember I am alive in Christ and this is all by grace.
  • I will live consistent with my high standing with Christ.
  • I will let the fruit of God’s kindness shine through my life.
  • I will live in the free gift of God’s grace—walk by faith, not sight.
  • I will not boast, but proclaim, “God did this, not me!”
  • I will do the good things God prepared for me to do.
  • I will remember this place of honor hasn’t always been mine to enjoy—I was on the outside looking in.
  • I will remember how it feels to be excluded
  • I will remember how marvelous it feels to have a way to God opened up.
  • I will preach Jesus’ amazing role as the unifier we needed.
  • I will value his sacrificial work of unifying the great divide.
  • I will value Jesus’ body and its function of ending hostilities.
  • I will accept Jesus’ message of peace.
  • I will accept the people Jesus is reconciling to the Father.
by johnkking

Applying Ephesians to My Life

Showing a 3-column study is not easily done in a blog format. Yes, I could scan the pages in and provide a link, but then there would be the struggle with reading my handwriting.

Periodically people have asked me for examples of my personal studies. I have shared with them my efforts to work through the book of Ephesians using this method of personal study. It is my plan to publish these studies here over then next several days.

I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.

One of the reasons I selected Ephesians is my studied conviction about Paul’s third missionary journey. The three years he spent in Ephesus (Acts 19) he launched a Church Planting Movement (CPM) in the Roman province of Asia. Even his enemies became disturbed and said, “this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all” (Acts 19:26).

While Paul lived and worked in Ephesus for those years, people he trained there spread the news about God and Jesus. Colossians 1:6-8 reveals that Epaphras was one of those trained church planters who took the gospel back to Colossae: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”

I believe this letter from Paul was a circular letter–one written for all those churches planted in Roman Asia. I believe it gives us glimpses of the ways God wants emerging churches to shine as lights. It reveals how we as believers should view ourselves in Christ.

Ephesians 1

In My Words

(1) Paul greets his hearers as holy and true to their commitment to Jesus.

(2) He seeks God’s grace for their lives.

(3-8) God is to be praised for the exalted spiritual place we have in Jesus. In Christ we were chosen to be godly, prior to creation. Our inclusion into his family was God’s plan and for his joy. God gets the glory due for his free gift of grace through Jesus. God bought us back from our sins by the blood of Jesus—the ultimate price of grace. His extravagant love shows remarkable insight. He revealed this to us, though it had been hidden, since it was his plan to adopt us through Jesus. God’s plan is to submit everything here and above to Jesus’ rule at the perfect time.

(9-12) Like a well-timed, well-scripted maneuver, God pulled off his plan through Jesus to select the first disciples. This plan brought God exaltation. Later believers also were chosen to Christ’s team through a faithful response to the good news and were stamped with the Holy Spirit mark of approval. The Spirit’s presence serves as a down payment confirming God will complete what he’s started—to his divine praise.

(13-14) When Paul first learned of these believers and their devotion to others he thanked God. He persisted in thanksgiving for them and seeking their blessing.

How I Will Obey

  • I will ground my conversations with other believers in the mutual relationship we have with Jesus.
  • I will ask God to give grace and peace to the people in the churches we plant.
  • I will praise God for where I dwell spiritually—in heaven (need to internalize this truth).
  • I will choose godly living since it is my eternal divine destiny.
  • I will give God cause for joy—by living as his child should.
  • I will praise God for his grace; accept it as a free gift (avoid legalism).
  • I will realize I’m forgiven and be shaped by the high price of my forgiveness.
  • I will relish God’s love and learn from him to love extravagantly.
  • I will spread this news–God has pulled off the covers.
  • I will submit to Jesus now since it is going to happen when the time is fulfilled.
  • I will act in God’s ability to accomplish whatever his will is!
  • I will bring God praise.
  • I will act like God—he’s in the inclusion business.
  • I will trust in God’s guarantee, the Holy Spirit proves he’s going to follow through on every promise he has ever made!