First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Ephesians 3:1–13 reveals that the gospel is
not a last-minute plan, but God’s eternal purpose to unite all people in
Christ. What was once hidden has now been made known — through Jesus, everyone
is invited to become part of God’s family. This mystery has been entrusted to
the Church, calling us to boldly proclaim it to the world. Because we have
confident access to God and a secure place in His plan, we can live on mission
knowing that even our suffering is not wasted but used for His glory.
Ephesians 3:1-13
The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
[1] For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of
Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles — [2] assuming that you have heard of
the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, [3] how the
mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When
you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5]
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now
been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. [6] This mystery
is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers
of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [7] Of this gospel I was
made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the
working of His power. [8] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, [9] and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God, who created all things, [10] so that through the church
the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was according to the eternal
purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in whom we have
boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. [13] So I ask you
not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (ESV)
As a group, this means embracing the reality
that the gospel we’ve received is the mystery we’ve been entrusted to share.
Ephesians 3 reminds us that God’s plan has always been to bring all people into
one family through Christ, and now the Church is the vehicle through which that
message is made known.
As a group, this means we don’t turn inward —
we live with intentionality, praying for those far from God, creating space for
others to belong, and boldly speaking the truth of the gospel. We encourage one
another to see everyday moments as opportunities for mission, remembering that
we carry a message the world desperately needs to hear.
In Ephesians 2:11–22, we see how the cross of
Christ tears down the walls that once divided people — between Jew and Gentile,
insider and outsider — and replaces hostility with peace. Through Jesus, those
who were once far from God and one another are brought near and made into one
new people. In Christ, we are no longer strangers but members of God’s family
and living stones in His temple, where His Spirit dwells. Because we are united
with Christ, we are called to pursue unity and reconciliation with one another
as His church.
The Wall That Divided Us (v. 11-12)
Before Christ, there was a deep and painful
separation, not just between people and God, but between people themselves.
This hostility is one that mirrors our own racial, cultural, and political
divisions today.
The Cross That Unites Us (v. 13-18)
Through His death, Jesus tears down the wall
that once divided us. His blood brings those who were far near, creating peace
not only between us and God but also between one another. The cross doesn’t
just remove hostility; it replaces it with unity.
The Temple That Includes Us (v.19-22)
Because of Christ’s work, we are no longer
outsiders — we are fully included in God’s people. Paul describes this with
rich imagery: we are citizens of a kingdom, members of a family, and stones in
a temple.
Ephesians 2:11-22
Therefore, remember that at one time you
Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the
circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands — 12 remember that you were
at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in
the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our
peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing
wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in
ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so
making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you
who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both
have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure,
being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In Him you also
are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
What words or phrases describe who the
Gentiles were before Christ?
What specific things does Christ accomplish
in verses 13–18?
Where do you see division or hostility in the
world today that reflects this passage?
How does the gospel address hostility between
people, not just individuals and God?
Do you tend to drift toward isolation or
toward biblical community? Why?
Are there subtle ways you elevate differences
over unity with other believers?
What fears or barriers keep you from fully
engaging in community?
Closing Thoughts
This passage makes it clear: the gospel
doesn’t just save individuals — it creates a people. The people of God share an
eternal mission in which we are called to fulfill together. The sinful nature
still at work within us often hinders us from effective and collective Kingdom
efforts.
END
Teacher Notes:
Click Play to Watch
In Christ, those who were once separated — from
God and from each other — are brought near, united, and made part of God’s
family. Paul is writing to Gentile believers who once were outsiders — not just
socially, but spiritually. And yet, everything changed in Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-12
Therefore, remember that at one time you
Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the
circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands — remember that you were at
that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world.
What point is Paul trying to make here?
Separated from God, alienated from Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise – what does that mean?
Paul tells them to remember their past:
Separate from Christ
Excluded from God’s people
Strangers to the promises
Without hope
This isn’t to shame them — but to help them
appreciate grace.
We often lose our sense of wonder because we
forget how far God has brought us.
Ephesians 2:13-18
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace,
who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of
hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that
He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby
killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and
peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit
to the Father.
Where do you see division or hostility in the
world today between Jews and Gentiles?
Click Play to Watch
Jesus didn’t just bring us closer to God — He
also:
Destroyed the barrier (the dividing wall
between Jew and Gentile)
Made peace
Created one new humanity
Reconciled both to God
Jesus didn’t come to make
better individuals only — He came to create a unified people.
Why is unity among believers so important to
God?
Ephesians 2:19-22
So, then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ
Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built
together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
What does it mean to you personally to be
part of God’s family?
What helps people feel like they truly belong
in a church?
Paul shifts from past → present identity:
No longer strangers
Fellow citizens
Members of God’s household
Built on Christ as the cornerstone
Being built together into a dwelling for God
Christianity is not just
about believing — it’s about belonging.
We are not isolated believers — we are part of something God is building.
Ephesians 2:1–10 reminds us of the radical
transformation that only Jesus can accomplish. We were not just struggling; we
were spiritually dead in our sin and unable to save ourselves. But because of
His great love and mercy, God stepped in and made us alive in Christ by grace
through faith. Now, as His workmanship, we have been given new life and a new
purpose to walk in the good works He has already prepared for us. Only Jesus
can bring the dead to life, and that changes everything about who we are and how
we live.
Ephesians 2:1-10
By Grace Through Faith
[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and
sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in
the sons of disobedience — [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of
our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by
nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in
mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were
dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have
been saved — [6] and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages He might show
the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8]
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
[10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Why do you think Paul describes our condition
as “dead” rather than just “lost” or “broken”?
What stands out to you most about God’s
character in verses 4–7?
Why is it important that salvation is
described as a gift and not something we earn?
In what ways do people (even Christians) try
to “earn” what God has already given freely?
What does it look like practically to live as
someone who has been “made alive” in Christ this week?
Closing Thoughts
Living on Mission
Living on mission as a group begins with
remembering who we were and celebrating what God has done. Ephesians 2 reminds
us that we were once dead in our sin, but God, in His mercy, made us alive in
Christ — not because of our works, but by His grace. As God’s workmanship, we
now live with intentionality, looking for the good works He has already
prepared for us. This involves
motivating individuals to regard daily environments — such as neighborhoods,
workplaces, and schools — as platforms to communicate their beliefs to others. As a
group, living on mission looks like praying for specific people, caring for
tangible needs, speaking the gospel with boldness, and holding each other
accountable to step into obedience. We don’t go on mission to earn God’s favor —
we go because we’ve already been brought from death to life, and we want others
to experience that same resurrection power.
END
Teacher Notes:
Today we’re going to look at one of the most
powerful passages in all of Scripture Ephesians 2:1-10.
It answers a question that every one of us
has had to face at some point: What is my true condition apart from God… and
what has God really done for me?
What can this child do to change his
condition?
Click Play to Watch
This scene is powerful because we all
recognize what’s happening — a completely helpless situation… and someone steps
in to change it.
This is what God does this morning in
Ephesians 2:1-10 where we read that our condition was just as serious as the
little boys’.
Ephesians 2:1-3
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of
disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh,
carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children
of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Paul tells us that our lives were shaped by
three powerful influences:
The world around us
The enemy against us and
The flesh within us
This means our problem wasn’t just what we
did — it was who we were.
Looking back over your life, when did you
first realize you weren’t just “off track,” but truly in need of saving?
Do you think it becomes harder or easier with
age to admit our spiritual helplessness? Why?
Many people spend their lives trying to “be
better,” but this passage reminds us — we didn’t need improvement, we needed
resurrection.
How does the 1st (be better) miss the 2nd
(resurrection)?
Ephesians 2:4-9
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the
great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised
us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved
through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a
result of works, so that no one may boast.
Can you identify a moment in your life where
you clearly saw “But God…” change your story?
What is the difference between serving God
out of gratitude versus serving Him out of obligation?
How would your daily walk change if you truly
lived as though you had nothing left to prove?
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in
them.
Click Play to Watch
How have you seen God use
your life experiences — both joys and hardships — for His purposes?
If God has resurrected, you from death - what
do you think He wants you to do with that?
No matter your stage of life, God is not
finished with you. There are still steps to take, still works to walk in, still
purpose to fulfill.
Grace doesn’t just rescue you from the past — it calls you into a meaningful future.
In Ephesians 1:15–23, Paul prays that
believers wouldn’t just know about God but would truly know Him — deeply,
personally, and transformationally. He asks God to open the eyes of our hearts
so we can grasp the hope we’ve been given, the riches of God’s inheritance in
us, and the immeasurable resurrection power already at work in our lives. When
we truly know God, everything else in life is reframed — our fears, our
identity, and our purpose come into clarity. This week, our next step is simple
but profound: ask God to help you know Him more, place your hope fully in Him,
and live in the power He’s already given you.
Our Prayer is that God Would Open Our Eyes to
See:
Hope - Biblical hope is confidence, not uncertainty-
are future is secure based on God’s calling on our lives in Christ. Our hope in
Christ for future resurrection gives us motivation to obey, endurance through
trials, and joy day to day.
Value - In Christ, we receive an inheritance of
immense value, but we also are a part of God’s inheritance ourselves. God not
only gives you something of priceless value, you are of priceless value- we are
His own.
Power - The same power that raised Jesus Christ from
the dead lives and works within the believer. We do not have weak optimism as
we face the trials of this life, but resurrection power rooted in the supremacy
of Jesus. If you are in Christ, you are not alone, you are not stuck in sin,
and you are not helpless in the fight. In our weakness, we have the greatest
and highest power.
Ephesians 1:15-23
For this reason, because I have heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease
to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and
of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is
the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the
working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from
the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above
all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all
things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which
is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
What does this prayer reveal about what Paul
believes we need most as Christians?
What are some ways we unintentionally replace
knowing God with just knowing about Him?
How is Paul’s prayer different from the way
you pray for yourself or others?
How have you personally experienced growth in
your knowledge of God over time?
What is one truth you know in your head but
struggle to fully believe in your heart?
How would your daily life look different if
you were more anchored in eternal hope?
Closing Thoughts
Spiritual growth happens not when we do more
things, but when we realize more what has already been given to us in Christ.
Think what could happen if we were a church who not only prayed this prayer,
but believed God will do exactly what we ask. Imagine the depth of our walk
with Christ, the impact it would have on Upstate of South Carolina.
This week, we stepped into one of the richest
passages in all of Scripture. Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long, beautiful sentence.
Paul erupts in praise, reminding us that God has already blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in Christ. In a world that constantly tells us we need more;
Paul redirects our attention. The Christian life is not about chasing
blessings. It’s about recognizing the blessing we’ve been given in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places, 4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He
predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of His will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He
has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which
He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery
of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ 10 as a
plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven
and things on earth in Him. 11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having
been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according
to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ
might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until
we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
When you hear the word “blessing,” what do
you usually think of?
How does Paul redefine blessing in this
passage?
Which trust stands out to you about the
identity Christians have: being chosen, adopted, redeemed, or sealed? Why?
What does it mean that you are “sealed with
the Holy Spirit”?
Paul repeats, “to the praise of His glory”
three times. What does that tell us about the purpose of our lives?
Closing Thoughts
This identity should propel us outward. Three
times, Paul says our salvation is “to the praise of His glory,” which means our
lives are meant to point beyond ourselves. As we live in community (loving one
another, forgiving one another, walking in unity) we become a testimony to the
world of what God has done in Christ. Mission is not just something we do; it
is something we are together. When we live as people who are secure, forgiven,
and adopted, we invite others into that same reality. A gospel-centered
community becomes a living display of God’s glory, drawing others to see and
savor Jesus.
The book of Ephesians reveals the
breathtaking scope of God’s grace and the new identity believers have in Jesus.
In this series, we’ll discover how the gospel transforms everything — from who
we are, to how we live to how we relate to others. Paul reminds us that we are
chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit,
invited into a new life marked by hope, unity, purpose, and love.
As we walk through Ephesians together, we’ll
see that the gospel is not just something we believe — it’s a new reality we
live. From being made alive in Christ to learning how the Spirit shapes our
relationships, families, church, and everyday lives, this series calls us to
step fully into the life God designed for His people.
Sermon Recap
In the opening verses of Paul’s epistle to
the Ephesians, he reminds believers of a foundational truth: our identity is
rooted in Christ and secured by God’s grace. Before addressing practical
living, Paul reminds the church who they are. Their identity does not come from
culture, performance, or personal achievement — it comes from being in Christ.
Because we belong to Christ, we live as blessed people, united together in a
new identity given by God’s grace.
Who is Paul?
Paul’s authority is not self-made but
God-given. His apostleship is rooted in grace, not his own merit or
achievements (Acts 9 conversion). Paul was a Jewish Pharisee before his
conversion, trained in the law of God. After his conversion, Paul became the
Apostle to the gentiles. The Ephesians first met Paul in Acts 19, where his
Spirit-filled preaching disrupted idol worship and shook the city’s economy.
Paul writes Ephesians from prison as he is awaiting trial. Paul’s authority and
message were tested in a culture hostile to Christ.
Who Are the Ephesians?
Ephesus was one of the largest and most
prominent cities in the 1st century. It was also the center of
worship for the goddess Artemis, marking the city with idolatry, occultic
magic, and power. Paul spent two years with the Ephesian church; Christians
were a small minority to the growing population, and were often met with
opposition, reviling, and persecution. During such cultural chaos, Revelation
tells us of the believer’s endurance in the midst of such trials.
What Does God Offer?
In Acts 19, Ephesus was a city of chaos —
economic unrest, spiritual warfare, riots, and hostility. Into that mess, Paul
proclaims grace (God’s unearned favor) and peace (shalom, reconciliation with
God and one another). Grace and peace aren’t just polite greetings; they are
the gospel in summary form. What the world cannot manufacture and what we cannot
earn are freely given in Christ.
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the
will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why do you think Paul starts his letter by
reminding believers of who they are in Christ?
How does understanding that you are “in
Christ” reshape the way you see yourself?
What are some identities people often build
their lives around (career, success, reputation, relationships)? Why are those
identities ultimately unstable?
Paul addresses believers as “saints.” What do
you think this word means, and how is it different from how the world typically
uses the term?
How might forgetting God’s grace affect the
way someone approaches their faith or relationship with God?
Closing Thoughts
Because we are in Christ, we share a new
identity and a new way of living. This new identity is not individualistic;
rather, we share this identity as a collective whole. We are all connected with
one another as the family of God, called to live unified in a world of sin and
chaos.
