Tag Archives: New Life

The Church At Ephesus

The Church at Ephesus – A Deeper Look

The book of Ephesians is a vital letter for every believer. It helps us understand who we are in Christ and how that identity should shape the way we live each day.

Paul shows us what it means to be made new — from being spiritually dead to being alive in Christ. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are now clean before God and called to walk in the new life He’s given us.

Ephesians doesn’t just give head knowledge — it encourages us to know and experience God personally. And from that relationship, we’re called to live lives that reflect His calling and purpose for us.

Paul and the Ephesian Church

  • Founder: Paul (Acts 18–19)
  • Initial Visit: On his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19–21)
  • Extended Stay: Returned during his third journey and stayed for about three years, longer than anywhere else (Acts 20:31)

During that time:

  • He taught daily in the hall of Tyrannus
  • Many people came to faith and the church was planted

Powerful Ministry and Spiritual Impact

 (Acts 19)

  • God performed extraordinary miracles through Paul
  • People who had practiced sorcery burned their magic scrolls as a sign of repentance
  • Paul’s message disrupted the idol-making industry for the goddess Artemis (Diana), sparking a major riot

Paul’s Emotional Farewell

 (Acts 20:17–38)

When Paul later met with the Ephesian elders in Miletus:

  • He gave a heartfelt goodbye
  • He warned them about false teachers who would try to harm the church
  • It was a moment filled with tears, love, and deep spiritual concern

Why Ephesus Still Matters Today

The Church at Ephesus is one of the seven churches Jesus addresses in the book of Revelation. That alone tells us how important it is. Paul also prayed in Ephesians 3:19 that we would “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”

Without this love — both for God and for one another — our faith can become dry, lifeless, and purely intellectual. And that leads to dead works instead of living faith.

Let’s take a look at this great book together!

When I Think of All This

  • What is Paul thinking of?
  • Is it important?
    • Eph 3:1 Eph 3:14 Repeated thought! Important?
    • We are blessed with every spiritual blessing Eph 1:3
      • Because we are united with Christ.
    • God Chose us to be holy and without fault in His eyes ( We are innocent) 1:4
    • God has adopted us 1:5
      • Through Christ Jesus
      • It gave Him pleasure
    • He is rich in kindness and grace
      • He purchased our freedom with the blood of Christ
      • forgave our sins
      • Showered His kindness on us
        • along with wisdom
        • and understanding
    • We are under the authority of Christ 1:10
    • We received an inheritance 1:11
    • God makes everything work according to HIs plan.
    • We are identified as His own 1:13
    • He has given us His Spirit
    • We are guaranteed this inheritance.
    • He purchase us so that we can praise and glorify Him.
  • This is our identity.
    • Understand the power of this
    • Paul is praying that we understand this
    • That we understand the implications of who we are because of who’s we are.
  • Christ is now the authority of everything
    • Both in this world
    • and in the one to come.
  • We are made compete in Christ
  • Chapter 2
  • We are alive with Christ
  • We are free from sin
    • We used to be under the power of sin
    • now we are free
    • We used to obey Satan
    • Now we can obey Christ
  • We are seated in the heavenly realms with Christ 2:6
    • Because we are united with Christ
  • We are an eternal testimony of God’s great mercy and kindness
  • We are saved totally by God’s gracious gift. We can not save ourselves
  • We are citizens with the people of Israel (True Jews, sons of Abraham)
  • We have been brought near to God
  • We believers, globally are one with each other and with Christ
  • The Law is done away with. 2:15
  • We are reconciled to God with all believers 2:16
  • We are members of God’s family 2:19
  • We are God’s house 2:20

3:14-21

  • Paul is praying that we would truly understand and receive all of this
    • That we would be empowered by the Spirit of God
    • From His unlimited resources
    • Through His Spirit
  • That we would understand the Love of God for us
    • How great it is
    • That we would experience it
    • Then we would be made complete
      • With the fullness of life
      • and the power that comes from God
  • God wants us to understand who we are
  • God wants us to understand Who’s we are
  • God gets all the glory for what He does in and through us
  • If we don’t understand who we are we can’t bring glory to God
  • If we understand who we are and walk that:
    • What would we do
    • How would we behave
    • what would life be like?