Kids' CLUB - Ephesians 3:4-7
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Date: September 18, 2022
Introduction: Back in the Spring, we began looking at this letter written by the Apostle Paul. Paul writes to us about the blessings of salvation: 1) Transformation (being made holy, just like Jesus) Eph 1:4; 2) Adoption (being made God’s child instead of His enemy) Eph 1:5; 3) Redemption (being forgiven of our sins instead of facing God’s wrath for our sins) Eph 1:7; 4) Union (being brought together into the group of God’s children, the Church) Eph 1:10; 5) Inheritance (having a home in heaven) Eph 1:11; and 6) the Holy Spirit (God is with us always) Eph 1:13-14. We also learned that God has sought to rescue us from the penalty of sin that separates us from God and others by sending Jesus to save all who would put their trust in Him (Eph 2). At the Nerf War in May, we considered that Paul as the prisoner of Christ Jesus must always proclaim a message that he received from the Lord that he referred to as a mystery. Tonight, we’re going to consider what it is that we need in order to understand any message that God has given us in His Word.
Ephesians 3:4 “By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”
“By referring to this”
What is Paul referring to?
Ephesians 3:1-3 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.”
In directing Paul’s life, the Lord called Paul to proclaim a message that the Lord had helped Paul understand.
This was the Lord’s directing Paul’s life into the purposes that the Lord had for Paul, even being faithful while being imprisoned.
The Lord directs the life of all His people, whether in difficulty (like imprisonment) or otherwise.
Like Paul, we must trust the Lord to equip us to be faithful wherever He calls us to.
Illustration: When we have game time, Mr. Chad and Mr. Jared equip you to play the game by …
Giving you the rules to know what to expect in the game and how to win
Giving you the equipment to use to successfully play the game whether that’s a ball or otherwise
Application: We can trust the Lord to give us exactly what we need to be faithful where He has called us now.
Schoolwork: to faithfully learn what we need to since He has called you to be students.
Faithfully obedient at home, school, or otherwise.
Though it may seem hard, the Lord has called you to be a student and a child of your parents.
The Lord equipped Paul to faithfully proclaim an important message even though Paul was in jail.
The Lord equips us to be faithful where we are - we just need to rely on him by asking for His help in prayer.
“when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”
In Ephesians 3:4, What does Paul say that we “can” do based on what the Lord taught him?
We can “understand” the same mystery!
What does it meant to “understand” something?
You know what it means!
Math problem: you see the problem and you understand how to find the solution (eg. 2+2=…).
In Ephesians 3:4, Paul says that we can do something based on a message that the Lord revealed to Paul. What it that we can do?
Answer: We can understand the same message!
Dig Deeper Idea: Does this mean that anyone can understand this message?
Answer: Yes!
You can be young or old, tall or short and you can still understand this message
Ephesians 3:5 “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”
“which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men,”
What is meant by “other generations”?
People who lived before us.
What is meant by the phrase “was not made known”?
Something was hidden
These people who lived long ago did not understand what Paul understands now and says that we can understand.
“as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”
What does it mean for something to be “revealed”?
It’s been made known - we see it clearly!
To whom has this message not previously understood been revealed?
The Holy Apostles and Prophets
Who are these people?
People like Paul, Peter, Moses, Isaiah.
Can we still read what was revealed to the Holy Apostles and Prophets today?
Yes! Where?
In the Bible, God’s Word.
Who is the One Who “revealed” this message?
God’s Holy Spirit is the One Who helped Paul and the other Holy Apostles and Prophets to understand what was revealed to them that has now come to us in the Bible, God’s Word.
If we’re going to understand anything from God’s Word, we need the Holy Spirit to help us.
We want to understand God’s word because God gave it to us so that we could learn of Him and how we ought to live.
The only way that you can have the Holy Spirit help you to understand God’s Word is if the Holy Spirit lives inside of you.
Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will live inside of us as a blessing of being saved (Eph 1:13)
You need to trust in the Lord Jesus to be your Savior from your Sins in order to have the Holy Spirit inside of you Who will help you to understand God’s Word!
Illustration: When you need help to understand something, what should you do? Just ask for help!
Application: As you read God’s Word, ask the Holy Spirit for help to understand God’s Word so that you can learn more about God and how to live to please Him.
According to Ephesians 3:5, others were unable to understand God’s Word until Someone helped the Holy Apostles and Prophets. Who was it that helped the Holy Apostles and Prophets to understand God’s Word?
Answer: the Holy Spirit
Dig Deeper Idea: What are some reasons that we should want to understand God’s Word?
To learn more about God
To Learn how to live to please Him
If we need the Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Word, how do we get the Holy Spirit in our life?
We ask the Lord Jesus to save us from our sins (feel free to elaborate further on the tents of the Gospel: Jesus lived a perfect life; we’re sinners; Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin; Jesus lives never to die again and offers new life to all who trust Him
Ephesians 3:6 “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”
“to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs”
“to be specific” is Paul’s way of saying that he’s going to give us the clear details of the message from God’s Word that only the Holy Spirit can help us understand.
“the Gentiles” refers to people from backgrounds other than being a Jew - so, this really refers to anyone form any background!
“are fellow heirs”
Using the word “fellow” means that you have something in common with others.
“We are fellow CLUB-bers” - you are a student along with others in the CLUB ministry.
God’s people include people from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles!
“heirs” refers to inheriting something.
This is actually one of the blessings of being saved: an inheritance in heaven or the kingdom of heaven.
So, anyone can go to heaven! (but wait, there’s more!)
“and fellow members of the body,”
What does it meant to be a member of something?
You are part of a group!
So, anyone can be part of God’s people!
“and fellow partakers of the promise”
What does it mean to “partake”?
To participate, to have an active part.
Illustration: taste-testing ice-cream
The promise that anyone gets to participate in is having God’s Holy Spirit live inside of them!
“in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”
This is how all of this is a reality: only through Jesus Christ.
Through the Gospel refers to what Jesus Christ did that then is the Gospel message:
Jesus lived a perfect life of obedience, never having done anything wrong - unlike you and I who are sinners.
Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins - unlike you and I who cannot satisfy God’s wrath against our sins.
Jesus rose victoriously from the dead, never to die again and gives new life to all who trust in Him to save them from their sins.
Anyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus as their Savior from their sins now has a home in heaven, is made part of God’s people, and has the Holy Spirit living inside of them!
According to Ephesians 3:6, what makes it possible for anyone to be granted a home in heaven (fellow heir), be made God’s child (fellow member of the body), and receive the Holy Spirit (fellow partakers of the promise)?
Answer: Jesus Christ and His life, death, and resurrection (the Gospel message)
Ephesians 3:7 “of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.”
“of which I was made a minister,”
What does it mean to be a minister?
To serve others.
Who is the one that is doing the serving?
Paul
What is it that Paul was made a minister of?
Proclaiming that trusting in the Lord Jesus as one’s Savior makes them God’s child regardless of where they have come from.
If Paul was made a minister of this message that was revealed to him by the Lord, what does that mean about us?
If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, then you also are made a minister to share this same message.
“according to the gift of God’s grace”
What is Paul’s attitude about his opportunity to be a minister?
It’s a gift!
Gifts are often something really great, so Paul thought that sharing the Gospel was something great that God gave to him!
Whose gift was this ministry of proclaiming the Gospel to give to Paul? - God’s
“which was given to me according to the working of His power.”
Following the reference to God’s grace, what do we see at the end of v. 7?
Power
What is power?
Could be strength.
Here it means giving someone the ability to do something.
God’s grace also includes His giving His people the ability to be faithful in what He has called them to do, proclaiming the Gospel or otherwise.
According to Ephesians 3:7, what was Paul’s attitude about being made a minister of proclaiming the Gospel to all people?
Answer: it was a gift of God’s grace
Dig Deeper Idea: If Paul thought that it was a privilege and blessing to proclaim the Gospel to others, how should we view the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to others?
Answer: as a blessing to us also!
According to Ephesians 3:7, Who empowers believers to proclaim the Gospel message?
Answer: God
Conclusion: CLUB-bers, if Jesus is your Savior, you have the Holy Spirit who gives you understanding from God’s Word and God promises to empower you to share the Gospel with others. If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, talk with one of your table leaders or me about what it means and we’d love to share with you how you can know Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,” (3X)