• Ephesians 1:9
• Ephesians 1:13.

[Sorry, no audio for this lesson due to technical difficulties.]

• Mark 9:35 - We are not to try to compete with each other to be first. We are to show humility. This applies even to elders, deacons, and preachers, who are to be servants. We are all ultimately merely servants of God.
• Mark 9:38-40 - This does not authorize any kind of “independent religion,” i.e. “I can be in fellowship without being a member of the church or practicing ‘traditional’ worship.” We must all obey the same commandments from God.
• Mark 9:43-48 - We must do whatever it takes to remove sin from our lives. The message here is figurative, but we must sometimes take drastic measures to get away from sin.
• Mark 9:49 - This could be referring to the purifying effect of persecution.

• Differences of the two laws:
  • Old:
    • Keep Sabbath
    • Animal blood
    • Mechanical music
  • New:
    • Meet on Sunday
    • Jesus’ blood
    • Vocal music
• This is all true, but if this was the only difference, we would still be under the same system but with different commands.
• System of law demands:
  • No man could fully follow the law as the system demanded and be made perfect in God’s eyes.
• System of faith demands:
  • No man can have faith enough to justify himself. He needs the grace of God to carry him the rest of the way.
• Philippians 3:13-14 - We must press on toward the goal!

• Proverbs 25:11
• Proverbs 16:24 - The power of good speech.
• A word fitly spoken is a word spoken with …
  • Planning
    • I Thessalonians 5:14 - These are things that require planning to accomplish.
    • James 1:19 - Be slow to speak.
  • The right attitude
    • Proverbs 15:1 - Give gentle answers.
    • I Peter 3:8-9 - Don’t return evil for evil.
    • Ephesians 4:15 - Speak the truth in love.
    • “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
    • II Corinthians 2:4 - Paul wrote with an attitude of love.
  • Desire for positive change
    • Proverbs 9:8-9 - Constructive criticism can produce positive change.
    • Proverbs 25:12 - The power of a wise reprover.
    • Colossians 4:5

• The old city of Ephesus is fairly well preserved and many ruins still exist.
• The letter was written by Paul, probably while he was imprisoned in Rome. (Ephesians 3:1
• Paul at Ephesus:
  • Acts 18:18-22
    • Dropped off Priscilla and Aquila
    • Reasoned with the Jews (Acts 18:19
  • Acts 19
    • Imparting of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6
    • Paul performs miracles (Acts 19:11-20
    • Paul confronts idol craftsmen (Acts 19:21-27
    • Uproad: town clerk quiets the crowd (Acts 19:28-41
  • Acts 20:17-38
    • Paul sends for Ephesian elders from Miletus.
    • Paul gives “farewell address” to elders (Acts 20:25.
    • Encourages strength (Acts 20:28-31
• Paul’s purpose
  • Remind them of their calling in Christ (Ephesians 1-3
  • Encourage them to walk as a Christian (Ephesians 4-6
    • Ephesians 4:1 - Walk in a manner worthy of your calling.
    • Ephesians 5:1 - Be imitators of God.
    • Ephesians 6:10 - Be strong in the Lord.
• Ephesians 1:5 - “Predestined” here means that God intended for us to be adopted as sons. There are still conditions we must meet for this to be true.