Dive Deeper | Week Three Wrap-Up
Ephesians 3 : 1 – 21

 

DEFINE

This week we used Strong’s Concordance to define:

Dispensation – (oikonomia) management of a household or household affairs; (a) specifically oversight or administration of other’s property; (b) office of a manager or overseer; (c) administration

Minister – (diakonos) one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master; (a) servant of a king, (b) a deacon, one who, by virture of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of the money; (c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink

Fellowship – (koinonia) association, community, communion, intercourse; (a) the share which one has in anything; (b) intercourse intimacy – (1) the right hand sign and pledge of fellowship; (c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection

Filled – (pleroo) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full; to render full, i.e. to complete
to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting

Power – (dunamis) strength power, ability; (a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; (b) power for performing miracles

INVESTIGATE

We used Bible commentary to answer:

• Paul begins Chapter 3 with the words “for this reason” – What “reason” is he referring to? Paul is referring back to Chapter 2 – we/Gentiles are being built up as the body of Christ
• What is the “mystery” Paul was speaking of? The Gentiles are now partakers in Christ
• Why was God gracious toward Paul? Because God has a purposed plan for Paul – to preach the gospel to the Gentiles
• What are the “unsearchable riches of Christ”? All of God’s promises and blessings from His Word which He lavishes on His children

VISUALIZE

We continued the habit of reading the entire chapter several times each day to understand the overall context of the passage, yet focusing in on each smaller group of verses for study.

EMBRACE

Ephesians 3: 1-13

• Paul states he is the “least” of the saints and yet God saved & changed him so he could walk in his purpose – ministering to the Gentiles.
• Paul declares the mystery of God – Gentiles are fellow heirs with Christ; salvation has been extended to anyone who would accept it.

Ephesians 3: 14-21

• Paul prays for us (again) that we would:
  • grow strong because of the power of the Holy Spirit working in us (vs 16)
  • have a foundation, rooted and grounded in love (vs 17)
  • see God’s love (vs 18)
  • know the love of Christ in new ways (vs 19)
• Finally, Paul reminds us when we face impossible situations God can do more than we could ever imagine.  Our impossibles are possible with God.

Share your Wow! moment(s) from Ephesians chapter 3 in the comments below

 

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