GSCC Bible Study Material week of Sep. 30, 2006

Goal: Introduction to the Ephesians

*Read the following passages from Acts 19.

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior

and arrived at Ephesus.

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months,

arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became

obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul

left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the

lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the

Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the

Lord.

Q: Look up the map and find where “Asia” was when Paul visited Ephesus.

What do you think their discussions were about in those two years?

*Continue to read Acts 19:23-27.

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A

silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought

in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along

with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a

good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how 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. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose

its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will

be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the

province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

Q: Ephesus had a god which does not exist today. What do you think about

Demetrius using good income as his opening status? How does that reflect

his view of his god?

Q: Imagine yourself as a Christian living in Ephesus at that time, how do

you find a balance between your faith and the society you live in? How do

you today?

*Read Ephesians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Q: Being a Christian was very difficult in Ephesus. How would you feel

about those saints in Ephesus? What are the factors making them saints in

Ephesus?

Note: Saints are people who is holy and set apart to belong to God; not a

small group of elite Christians.

- God's will, Paul's and others' evangelizing, and their decisions.

Q: Like them, we are also the faithful in Christ Jesus. To be “in Christ

Jesus” is to unite with Christ. It also means to unite with His people,

which is the church. Can you think of examples to illustrate that

connection?

- branches is to the vine and to other branches

- being related to the head of the body and to other members of the body

* We are on a journey to study the Ephesians, where God reveals His

purpose to his church.