New Series: Fully Alive - A Study of Ephesians
Fully Alive
A Study of Ephesians
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.
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Ephesians
1:1-2.
Discussion Questions
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.
END
