Ephesians 1:1-2
Sermon Discussion Guide
Over the next several months our teaching team will be walking us through the Epistle of Ephesians. Today we will
begin our discussion and application with a brief overview of the epistle and the first two verses of the first chapter.
I. Introductory Quote:
“The Epistle to the Ephesians is a complete Body of Divinity. In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the gospel; in the
next, you have the experience of the Christians; and before the Epistle is finished, you have the precepts of the Christian faith.
Whosoever would see Christianity in ONE treatise, let him ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ the Epistle to the
Ephesians.” – Charles Spurgeon (1890)
II. Background:
Ephesus was an ancient Roman city on the far western coast of modern day Turkey. Ephesus had a population of 33,600
to 56,000 people, making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor, and the church at Ephesus was made up of both
Jewish and Gentile believers. Thus, the overarching theme of the book is unity. This theme begins in the first chapter,
and the scope of our unity is developed in a descending order from the unity of the entire universe to the lone individual.
Paul is the undisputed author of this letter, and most scholars agree it was written during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome
around 62AD, the same time as Paul’s letter to the Colossians. However, the epistle’s general nature and lack of specifics
to the Ephesian church makes it a very unique. As the letter does not address any specific problems that point to a
particular congregation, the only real debate is whether or not it was intended specifically for the church at Ephesus.
III. Discussion and Application:
READ •Ephesians 1:1-2
Three Identifiers from Paul’s Greeting to the Church at Ephesus
1. Paul Identifies Himself:
A. An Apostle
First off, numerous times in his epistles Paul identifies himself as an Apostle, but what is an “Apostle”?
Throughout his writings Paul gives us clues: An Apostle is a person who saw the risen Lord (•1 Corinthians 9:1); a
person whom Christ had given his own unique sphere of work (•Galatians 2:8 – Paul to the Gentiles and Peter to the
Jews); and a minister who did not labor in the fields of others but, rather, brought Christ to new lands (•Romans 15:20).
Why is it important for Paul to immediately identify himself as an Apostle? What does it mean for us as we read this letter?
B. By the will of God
READ •Acts 9:10-18
On the heels of Paul’s conversion, God tells Ananias to find Saul and lay his hands on him so Saul may receive his sight.
Why does Ananias hesitate in his response to God’s command? How might we relate to his hesitation?
God responds in verses 15 and 16 by stating His will for Saul was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and suffer for it.
Why does ministry and suffering often go hand in hand? However, why does this look very different to us today?
2. Paul Identifies the Ephesians:
Paul continues in verse 1 by stating this letter is “to the saints who are in Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus”.
Paul identifies these believers as saints and as faithful, and numerous times in his epistles, Paul uses these words (A few
examples: •1 Corinthians 1:1-2; •2 Corinthians 2:1; •Philippians 1:1; •Colossians 1:2; •Romans 8:27).
A. Saint
If you are Christian, how do you feel about being called a “saint”? Is this a difficult title to accept? Why or why not?
How might it benefit each one of us to consider ourselves “saints” rather than “sinners”?
B. Faithful
And lastly, to what does Paul tie our being faithful? How might this differ from how we view being faithful?
C. In Christ Jesus
The key to both of these words, however, is in the three-word phrase at the end of that verse: In Christ Jesus.
If Christ, through His Holy Spirit, has drawn us into His kingdom and we have given our lives to Him, we are now saints
and faithful ONLY because we are found in Him and He is found in us.
3. Paul Identifies His Desires for the Ephesians:
Finally, in verse 2 Paul says to them, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
This greeting is similar to others Paul writes (Examples: •Romans 1:7; •1 Corinthians 1:3; •Philippians 1:2; and •2
Thessalonians 1:2), and his desires for these saints and faithful in Christ Jesus is simple: grace and peace.
A. Grace
READ •Ephesians 2:4-7
In this passage, what are the two great effects of God’s grace on our lives?
Why would we as believers be wise to consider grace the key component to our sanctification and not just our salvation?
B. Peace
READ •Philippians 4:4-7
Paul states very clearly in this passage that the peace that comes from God will guard our hearts and minds.
Why, in the world and age we live in, is the guarding of our hearts and minds so necessary to the believer?
C. The Origin of Grace and Peace
Lastly, Paul rightfully points out, however, that grace and peace come “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Why do we need to remember this simple truth when we are tempted to seek grace and peace elsewhere?
IV. Review:
As we open the book of Ephesians, Paul identifies himself as an apostle by the will of God, he identifies the believers
in Ephesus as saints and as faithful in Christ Jesus, and he identifies his desires for them as grace and peace that
comes from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Questions/Comments?