Table of Contents
Sunday – Paul: A Messenger to the World
Monday – The Hidden Mystery Revealed
Tuesday – God’s Wisdom Revealed through the Church
Wednesday – Christ, Living in Your Heart
Thursday – Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
Memory Text
Ephesians 3:20-21
KJV
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
CEV
20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
Sabbath – Introduction
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul shares a marvelous mystery with us. He reveals that God’s plan includes not only the Jewish people but also the Gentiles (everyone else). This was a radical idea at that time, but it shows God’s inclusive love for all people through Jesus.
In this lesson, we’ll explore some of the key points from Ephesians 3 and learn about Paul’s passion for spreading the gospel to everyone. We’ll also discover how Paul faced challenges, even while in prison, and how we can trust God in difficult times too.
Sunday – Paul: A Messenger to the World
Read Ephesians 3
KJV
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
CEV
1 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles.
2 You have surely heard about God's gift of undeserved grace in choosing me to help you.
3 In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways.
4 As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ.
5 No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news.
8 I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured.
9 God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind.
10 Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
11 God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all Christ Jesus our Lord had done.
12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so we can come to God by faith.
13 This is why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you.
14 I kneel in prayer to the Father.
15 All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him.
16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers
17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.
18 I pray that you and all God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.
19 I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
What main themes do you find in this chapter?
In Ephesians 3, Paul starts by calling himself a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” He was in prison, but he saw it as part of God’s plan for spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul then explains the mystery of the gospel, which is that Gentiles are now included as part of God’s family through faith in Jesus.
Paul’s excitement for the church and God’s mission is evident. He prays and praises God, thanking Him for His grace expressed through the church.
Monday – The Hidden Mystery Revealed
Read Ephesians 3:1-6
KJV
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
CEV
1 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles.
2 You have surely heard about God's gift of undeserved grace in choosing me to help you.
3 In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways.
4 As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ.
5 No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
What is the mystery that God revealed to Paul in this passage?
Paul writes to the Gentile believers, sharing that God gave him a special task to proclaim the gospel to them. He calls it the “mystery of Christ,” which was once hidden but is now revealed to everyone. This mystery is that Gentiles are now co-heirs, part of the same body, and share in the promise of salvation through Jesus.
It’s incredible news! Paul sees himself not as the inventor of this message but as a messenger chosen by God to share it with the world.
Tuesday – God’s Wisdom Revealed through the Church
Read Ephesians 3:7-13
KJV
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
CEV
7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news.
8 I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured.
9 God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind.
10 Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
11 God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all Christ Jesus our Lord had done.
12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so we can come to God by faith.
13 This is why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you.
What does Paul say about God’s wisdom in this passage?
Paul considers himself a minister chosen by God’s grace to preach the gospel. He humbly acknowledges that it’s not about his worthiness but about God’s love and mercy.
Paul reveals an amazing truth: God’s wisdom is demonstrated through the church! The unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church shows God’s plan to unite all things in Christ. Even powerful spiritual forces in the heavenly realms recognize God’s incredible plan through the church.
Wednesday – Christ, Living in Your Heart
Compare Ephesians 1:16-19
with Ephesians 3:14-19
KJV
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
CEV
16 So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers.
17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.
18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God's people.
19 I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used
KJV
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
CEV
14 I kneel in prayer to the Father.
15 All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him.
16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers
17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.
18 I pray that you and all God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.
19 I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
How are these two prayers similar?
In Ephesians 1, Paul prays for the Ephesian believers, asking God to give them wisdom and revelation in knowing Him better. In Ephesians 3, Paul prays again for the believers, this time for them to be strengthened with God’s power in their hearts through the Holy Spirit. He desires for Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith and for them to experience God’s deep and boundless love.
It’s a beautiful reminder that we can have a personal relationship with God, and His love can fill our lives in amazing ways.
Thursday – Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
Read Ephesians 3:20-21
KJV
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
CEV
20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
In this passage Paul concludes with a doxology a , a special kind of praise. What does he praise God for in these verses?
In these verses, Paul praises God for His unlimited power. He acknowledges that God can do far more than we could ever ask or think. Paul’s doxology reminds us that God’s power is at work within us and in the church through Jesus Christ.
It’s a powerful statement of praise to our amazing God!
Friday – Further Thought
In this lesson, we learned about God’s marvelous plan to include everyone in His family through Jesus. We discovered how Paul faced challenges with faith and how he prayed for the believers’ spiritual growth.
Let’s take some time to reflect on what we’ve learned and think about ways we can trust God more, share His love with others, and live as part of His marvelous plan.
Discussion Questions
1. How can we develop a deeper understanding of God's love and power in our lives, even in difficult situations?
2. How can we make sure that we do not exclude anyone from receiving the Gospel's message of love and salvation?
3. In what ways can we demonstrate unity and love within our church community, especially when we come from diverse backgrounds?
4. What practical steps can we take to be aware of Christ's presence in our hearts and live a life rooted in His love?
5. As young believers, how can we actively participate in God’s eternal plan and be witnesses to His wisdom in the world?