Church of Christ of Greater Daytona
  • Home
  • Sermons
  • Bible Study
  • About Us
    • Minister Bio
    • Photos >
      • Our New Home
      • Our First Home
  • Contact Us
  • Directions
  • From the Bulletin
  • Resources
    • House to House Publications
    • Links
** Outline ** Right Click To
File Size: 43 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The First-Century Church
The Church in Ephesus

Introduction:

        1.    The New Testament contains a tremendous amount of information that was written "about" as well
               as "to" various congregations in the first century
.
        2.    By examining this information we can learn the Lord's will for His church today.
        3.    Many passages relate to the church in Ephesus.
               a.     We read about the establishment of this congregation in Acts 18-19.
               b.     The apostle Paul wrote a letter [Ephesians] to this congregation.
               c.     The Lord also sent a message to this congregation (Revelation 2:1-7).
        4.    Previously, we made several practical observations from passages that relate to the establishment
               of the church in Ephesus.

               a.     God works providentially in His church.
               b.     There is one way to enter the church.
               c.     The church will sometimes face opposition.
        5.    This lesson is a study of information revealed in Ephesians, the letter that the apostle Paul wrote
               "to" the church in Ephesus.


Discussion:

I.                   IN  EPHESIANS  WE  LEARN  ABOUT  THE  IDENTITY  OF  THE  CHURCH


        A.   The church is the Lord's body (1:22-23; Colossians 1:18).
               1.    "There is one body" (4:4).
               2.    Since the church is the Lord's body, and there is one body, He only has one church.
        B.   Christ made it possible for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God in His body (2:14-16).

II.                IN  EPHESIANS  WE  LEARN  ABOUT  THE  CHURCH'S  RELATIONSHIP  WITH  CHRIST


        A.   Christ is "the head over all things to the church" (1:22).
        B.   In addition to being the head of the church, Christ is "the Savior of the body" (5:23).
        C.   Christ "loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (5:25; Acts 20:28; John 15:13).
        D.   Christ nourishes and cherishes the church (5:29).

III.             IN  EPHESIANS  WE  LEARN  ABOUT  THE  CHURCH'S  RESPONSIBILITIES  TO  CHRIST


        A.   God is glorified in the church (3:21).
        B.   The church is subject to Christ (5:24; Colossians 3:17).
        C.   The church is to "be holy and without blemish" (5:27).

IV.            IN  EPHESIANS  WE  LEARN  THAT  THE  CHURCH  MAKES  KNOWN  "THE  MANIFOLD
                WISDOM  OF  GOD,  ACCORDING  TO  THE  ETERNAL  PURPOSE  WHICH  HE  PURPOSED
                IN  CHRIST  JESUS  OUR  LORD" 
(3:1-12)


Webmaster Gary L. Wade
  • Home
  • Sermons
  • Bible Study
  • About Us
    • Minister Bio
    • Photos >
      • Our New Home
      • Our First Home
  • Contact Us
  • Directions
  • From the Bulletin
  • Resources
    • House to House Publications
    • Links