Ephesians 2

Day 1

Read Ephesians 2.

Pick one verse and do a 3 column study on the verse. So you will write out the entire verse in the first column. In the 2nd column you will write out the verse in your own words. In the last column you will write out action steps for that verse. Here is an example of one: http://smallways.wordpress.com/tag/3-column-bible-study/

A better explanation of the 3 column study:http://worldmissionsevangelism.com/the-3-column-bible-study/

Also, pick a verse you want to memorize and write that down somewhere. Maybe you can carry around with you throughout the week. You could even pick the verse you did your 3 column study on. 

Day 2

Read verses 1-3.

God helps those who help themselves, right? Maybe you believe that, but I think these verses tell us something different. We are helpless. We cannot help ourselves. Are you like me and you sometimes depend on yourself to be the solution to your problems? How are you fighting the truth that God is the answer and that we cannot help ourselves? 

In what way can you identify with the description that Paul paints of the unsaved person? He says the unsaved are:

-dead in the trespasses & sins

-following the course of this world

-following the prince of the power of the air (Satan)

-living in the passions of our flesh

-carrying out the desires of the body & mind

-by nature children of wrath

In what ways do you see this represented in the world today?

Day 3

Read verse 4-10

Now for the Good News. God didn't leave us in the state of verses 1-3. Praise the Lord, right?! If you're feeling it, take the time to thank God for not leaving us in our wordly state. Maybe you're like me and you are looking for new ways to thank God and praise God for who He is. This is a little off course, but here are a few names that God has been called throughout the Bible (this came from here):

1) Elohim: meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7).

Compounds of El:

• El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1, 2).
• El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2;Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
• El Olam: “The Everlasting God.” Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness (Gen. 16:13).

(2) Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).

Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character.

• Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
• Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
• Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
• Yahweh Sabbaoth:“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
• Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes (Ex. 31:13).
• Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
• Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
• Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
• Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).

(3) Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).

(4) Theos: Greek word translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use teaches: (1) He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30); (2) He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4; 16:7); (3) He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6); (4) He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). This name is used of Christ as God in John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1.

(5) Kurios: Greek word translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Col. 3:22), or even refer to idols (1 Cor. 8:5) or husbands (1 Pet. 3:6), it is used mostly as the equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ meaning (1) Rabbi or Sir (Matt. 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11).

(6) Despotes: Greek word translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4).

(7) Father:A distinctive New Testament revelation is that through faith in Christ, God becomes our personal Father. Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11).

Back to Ephesians 2. I looovvvvee verse 10: "For we are his workmanship, created in CHrist Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." We are His workmanship and He designed us to good things. That's exciting to me. So no questions for today. I hope you'll use this time to praise God. Write out specifically which names above you identify with God. For example, maybe Elohim (meaning strong one) is the name of God that you identify with. Maybe now you need a strong God that you can lean on. Maybe you need a Master (Despotes). Our whole lives are different because of what God has done for us as shown in verses 4-10. Let's be thankful for that! 

Day 4

Read 11-13. 

So we're all Gentiles (I don't think any of us come from Jewish descent). Without Jesus' death on the cross we had no hope. To the Jews, Gentiles were the outsiders. I think modern day Christians can sometimes live in a bubble and unintentionally exclude non-believers. We also speak Christianese that can be isolating to non-believers and sometimes new believers as well. So come up with a way to explanation salvation without using Christian terms. For example. try to take out words like "salvation" and "sin." I think we could all say something like "Jesus died on the cross and saved us from our sins so that we can live with him for eternity." But what does that mean? Break it down, yo. 

For inspiration and as promised, an excerpt from The Jesus Storybook Bible: 

"It's not about keeping rules! Paul told people. You don't have to be good at being good for God to love you. You just have to believe what Jesus has done and follow him. Because it's not about trying, it's about trusting. It's not about rules, it's about Grace: God's free gift- that cost him everything... God loves us! he wrote from prison. Nothing can ever- no, not ever! - separate us from the Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love of God he showed us in Jesus!" 

Verse 11 says that the Jews were proud of their circumcision even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. Throughout the Bible the Jews seemed to get caught up in the appearance of things and sticking to rules without have their hearts changed. In what ways do you or have you put on the appearance of being Christ-like but you really don't have a heart change? 

Day 5

Read 14-16

Christ is/was the unity between the Jews and the Gentiles. He is the peacemaker, but we have to allow Him to be that. In what ways have you seen God bring reconcile a hostile relationship in your life? And/or how could you allow God to reconcile an broken relationships you currently have? 

To me these verses are about unity and oneness in Christ. We have thousands of different Christian denominations which is insanse. What do you think Christ's vision of "The Church" is? Where do we go wrong? How can we help people (and ourselves) focus on that definition of church and not on a building? (question reworded/inspired from here)

As previously discussed, no church is perfect. Our church is certainly not perfect and we've had our issues. However, God keeps revealing to me that church is so much more than what happens on Sunday morning. He's also been convicting me about complaining about it. Complaining is never going to bring about unity, so write a list of the things that you are grateful about your church (both the universal church and your local church). 


Day 6

Read 17-22

The Message for 19-22: "That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home."

I love this. We belong. We've all felt like we didn't belong somewhere, but we all belong in the Kingdom of God. I think we have to really soak that in sometimes. I think the Enemy really attacks us here. He likes to make us feel like outsiders, but we all have a purpose and a place in the church.

How does Satan make you feel like you're an outsider? What can you do to combat this? Do a little digging around the Bible to find a specific Scripture that helps you fight the lie that you don't belong. 

How can we make other people feel more welcome (both in the church and in regular day life)? This seems like a generic question but write out real life practical ways you could do this in your everyday life and at church. 

We've all visited a church for the first time. Write about experiences where you felt welcome and not welcome.