How can Paul’s advice to slaves be applied to our jobs? How about his advice to slave masters?

How would your co-workers describe your attitude at work? If you worked before knowing Christ and after, has your attitude about work changed since becoming a follower of Christ?

See Philemon Questions below

6:10-6:24
Make a list of each piece of armor described. What piece of armor is associated with it? Why might it be significant? Why is it needed for our battle? Paul doesn’t associate every piece of physical, Roman armor with something spiritual. Why does he choose what he chooses?

There’s no armor listed for prayer. How does it fit in? What can we learn from Paul’s prayers?

It is easy to see that Paul was on the front lines of the battle. What is your role in the battle?

In the past or in recent times, which piece of armor have you found most useful in your own life? What piece of armor is in most need of repair?

Want a really in depth look at the armor of God. Check out this Bible study.

Who was Tychicus (21)? Where else do we see him? In Acts 20, we see Tychicus listed with several others. What does this diverse group of people tell us about Paul and how he mentored people? Have you ever mentored someone or been mentored by someone else?

Philemon
To whom is this letter addressed? How many other letters in the New Testament does Paul write to individuals? How would you describe the recipient of the letter by Paul’s address of him?

What was Onesimus’ crime (consider v. 18)? What has happened to Onesimus since those crimes?

For those who have children: What did you name your kids and why? Have you ever been given any nicknames that have significant meaning—or that were meant to be ironic? What does the name Onesimus mean?

Considering Onesimus could be killed for his crimes, why doesn’t Paul just come out and demand he be released, etc.? What are the chances that Philemon did what Paul asked?

If Philemon is asked to forgive Onesimus, why does Paul send him back to Philemon? What obligation do we have to make things right with another believer we have wronged? If Philemon is asked to forgive Onesimus, how are we to respond when another believer wrongs us? Does this change when we deal with one who is not a believer? Paul plays a big part in the reconciliation of both people here. What role should believers play in the reconciliation of others?

What did you grow up believing about God? Paul is addressing people who lived apart from God for the first part of their lives. How difficult would it be for them to change their way of life? What might make it easier?

What does Paul mean when he says that the Gentile unbelievers have “darkened in their understanding” (18) and “lost all sensitivity” (19)? Compare these verses 1 Timothy 4:2.

Various translators use “debauchery”, “licentiousness”, “lasciviousness,” etc. to translate verse 19. What do these mean?

Have you ever played on a team? When players join a new team, they get a new uniform. How does the analogy of new uniforms describe what Paul describes as putting off the old self and putting on the new (4:22)? What part of the process is up to God and what is up to you? In other words, who is responsible here: you or God?

Paul admonishes the Ephesians to not sin in their anger? How is it possible to be angry but not sin? How difficult do you find it to be angry but not sin? Do you get angry about certain things that are harder to “not sin” about when you’re angry? (Note: F.F. Bruce observes “There is no doubt a proper place for righteous indignation; but there is a subtle temptation to regard my anger as righteous indignation and other people’s anger as sheer bad temper.” (F. F. Bruce, New International Commentary on the New Testament, note on Eph 4:26, p. 361))

Who’s the godliest person you ever knew? Was it easy to imitate them? Why or why not? Who is our model for love? What does it look like to “imitate” God? How did Christ demonstrate his love for us? How should we demonstrate our love for Him? What type of conversation or talking should characterize followers of Christ? Who are we not to “be partners with” (5:7)? How does that affect our relations at work? Marriage? Family?

Do you have a favorite piece of clothing that should probably be thrown out, but you keep wearing it anyway? In a spiritual sense, many of us find it easy to keep our old clothes—that is, keep doing the old things we were used to doing before knowing Christ. What contrasts do you see in 5:15-21? Which of these old clothes have you been able to get rid of? What old sin is hard for you to get rid of?

After the last three chapters explain God’s plan and our new position in Christ, how does Paul admonish us to live? Why? Is it easy? How does following Christ give us a new perspective that helps with this goal?

Why might unity be such a big goal for Paul? Are Christians knows better for unity or divisiveness? Why is unity so hard for many Christians?

Does unity mean ignoring our differences? What differentiation is there in the Body of Christ?

The roles described in verse 11 are often referred to as the Five-Fold gifts. Where do these gifts come from? What does each do? What’s the purpose of these gifts? Which of these gifts are still needed today? What other roles are described in Scripture? (See 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Romans 12:7-8.)

Excurses: Some argue against the concept of “Spirit Baptism” in Pentecostalism or baptizing people who were baptized as an infant and come to faith later in life. Can verse 5 be used to argue these points? Why or why not?

Since we’ve already started the class, here are the questions for Chapters 1 & 2 of Ephesians. Just reading the questions I hand out can be difficult. In class each question connects to the next through the dialogue. But, please give me some feedback or suggestions…

Chapter 1

1:1-14

If you were choosing players for a sports team, who would you choose?

Since Paul is “an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will (1)”, why do you think God chose Paul?

Why do you think God chose to save people?  What is the significance of God choosing us before “the foundation of the world (4)”?

How are we “holy and blameless in His sight”?

Who is the “agent” through which God adopts us (5)? How does this “agent” accomplish our adoption (7)?

What is the “down payment” that we have received?

With all that God has done for you, what do you think He expects in return?

1:15-23

What does Paul pray for the Ephesians? How would each benefit the Ephesians? Make a list.

If there is “great power for us who believe” (19) and everything is “under His feet” (22) and we are part of His body, the church, how should that affect our struggles?

If God answered Paul’s prayer completely in you, how would it change your life?

Chapter 2

2:1-10

What is the greatest gift you ever received?

How does Paul describe the Ephesians before knowing Christ? Who did they follow? What did they do? What background information that we discussed about Ephesus might give us insight into what the Ephesians might read this part of the letter?

How do people move from death to life? What do you think Paul wants people to understand about this? Why?

How do we express thanks to someone who gives us a great gift?

Notice the verb “walk” in v. 10. (Hint: the NIV translates the same word used in verse 10 as “live” in verse 2. Read the ESV version of verse 2.) Where else do we see that verb—in this book and in the rest of Bible? Describe the contrast between the first usage here and the second.

If you are a believer, how is your life different now than from before you became a Christian? What still needs to change?

2:11-22

Can you describe a people group that doesn’t get along with another group? What divides the group of people? What would it take for there to be peace between them?

How did Jesus tear down the “dividing wall of hostility” (14)?

Paul says Jesus abolished the “law with its commandments and regulations” (15). How does this relate to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:17? Romans 3:31 and 13:8-10?

How does the new Temple described in this chapter compare to the Temple in Jerusalem?

CLASS DESCRIPTION
Paul wanted to minister and serve in Rome. When finally arriving in Rome, Paul was in chains, but used that time in jail to spread the Gospel further as God used him to write part of the New Testament. Join us as we explore the message of each book along with the history and culture surrounding it.

I’d like to post the questions and resources as we go through the class. Feel free to follow along–or join the conversation!

I marveled at this because these were our solid, spiritually growing kids. Many of them regularly read their Bibles and shared what they were learning. It was at that moment I realized that even though I regularly emphasized reading the Bible, I had rarely given people the tools to study the Scriptures.

Regular Bible reading and study has changed my life more than any other spiritual discipline. Study methods come naturally for some people. But, for many, these methods must be learned and practiced. In Ephesians 4, Paul describes the role of church leadership as using their roles and gifts “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (v. 12)”. Since the morning of that Bible study, I have tried to equip people with the tools they need to study. Once practiced, these methods can become such a habit that we no longer need to think about each step of the method.

So, what tools should we use to study Scripture? Looking back, the method we used that morning was far from simple. It has been replaced with a simpler one, to which we were introduced. Here’s the simple method: SOAP.

SOAP is an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application & Pray. So, when reading the Bible, follow these steps…

Scripture
Start with the Bible. Have a reading plan, pick something out of the scripture that you like

Observation
Make some observations about what is happening in the passage. What do you know? What is God saying?

Application
Reading and studying Scripture is of no use unless you actually apply it to your life. (Matt 7:24) How can I apply this today??

Pray
Spend time talking to God like you would your friend. Ask for the wisdom and strength to apply what you just learned.

So, try doing these steps with a Scripture. Write out and journal (or blog) your thoughts and prayers.