Series Ephesians: The Master’s Plan
This Sunday, we’ll start our new series, Ephesians: The Master’s Plan. I’ve titled this series and designed the introduction graphics before Pastor Jonathan could plan this out. Therefore, don’t come for me if he chooses a different title. The good news is that God’s Word is alive, and every time we read it, we can ask and expect to be blessed with new revelations. So, let’s go with The Master Plan because I must say that the planner in me is in love with the idea of a good plan.
“When reading Paul, let these words become strange and new to you again.”
Dr. Tim Mackie
Ephesians, like 1 John, is an epistle. According to dictionary.com, an epistle is “a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle” or “a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters.” So, what we call The Book of Ephesians is a letter, presumably to Ephesus, from Paul.
It’s a letter that Paul wrote while in prison. If you recall, Paul was imprisoned at least three times. I mean, in today’s culture, I’m not too sure we would think too highly of him. However, Ephesians is one of seven letters from Paul in our New Testament when we believe Paul is in prison.
I’ll allude to a scandal here. There is a bit of controversy on if Paul wrote this letter 🫢. We’re going to hang out on the side where Paul writes it, but there are questions, given that the language and style differ from some of Paul’s other letters.
In Ephesians, Paul seeks to reveal “the mystery” that was revealed to him about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He will reveal the master plan God had, to unite us back to himself, in Christ.
Introduction to Ephesians
- Ephesians is a letter written to the people of Ephesus or Asia Minor, as a whole.
- You might recall that we were introduced to the large port city of Ephesus in our Acts study. Ephesus is the setting for Acts 19, where Paul taught for two years.
- Ephesus was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire.
- As a result, the ethnic makeup of this city was expansive, as were the number of gods they worshiped.
- We presume that the letter of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul.
- Ephesians is the 10th book in the New Testament and the 49th book of the Bible.
- Ephesians was written while Paul was in prison.
- Ephesians and Colossians are like sister books as they are more similar to each other than any of Paul’s other letters.
- Major themes: newness (new life in Christ, new living in Christ, new humanity in Christ), unity for all mankind, and how the Gospel story links with our story.
I am looking forward to jumping into Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
Brief Outline of Ephesians
Ephesians discusses God’s master plan. It was a plan God had in motion before the first bite of that fruit was taken. A plan to unite all of creation.
- The Gospel Story | Ephesians 1 – 3
- beliefs
- Our Story | Ephesians 4 – 6
- behavior
“All things are done according to God’s plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.”
Ephesians 1:11
What a mighty God we serve.
-Lee