Compare Ephesians 5:25-27, Ephesians 5:29 with the foundling story of Ezekiel 16:1-14. What elements of that story does Paul reflect in his own sketch? As Paul, in Ephesians 5:25-27, Ephesians 5:29, shapes his wedding-marriage metaphor for the church and its relationship with Christ, he draws creatively on the customs and roles of an ancient wedding. In relationship to the church as … Continue reading –>
Paul begins with a hinge passage, Ephesians 5:21, connecting Ephesians 5:1-20 and Ephesians 5:22-33, in which he advocates for church members to submit to each other (compare Mark 10:42-45; Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-4). Believers are to do so “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21, ESV), the first of several times Paul will identify the relationship with Christ as the most important and defining … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Ephesians 5:21-33; Philippians 2:3-4; Ezekiel 16:1-14; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Genesis 2:15-25. Memory Text: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not … Continue reading –>
Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr John McVay, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson (3)
Continue reading -->You can view an in-depth discussion of Living Wisely in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life. (1)
Continue reading -->Further Thought: Looking back at Ephesians 5:1-20 as a whole, we watch Paul take a strong stance against sin and evil, especially in the form of sexual immorality and crude speech. He is unwilling to accept the presence of corrupt behavior among the people of God. Instead, he calls the believers in Ephesus to a high standard … Continue reading –>
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT Forgive me (and I know you will because Ephesians 4:32 tells us to) for tarrying in last week’s Sabbath School lesson a little longer, but … Continue reading –>
Is this True or False? Covetousness/Greed is a less grievous sin than sexual immorality. Join us as we discuss Lesson 9, Living Wisely. (1)
Continue reading -->In Ephesians 5:18-20, Paul imagines Christians gathered to worship. What does he depict them as doing in that worship? In his final argument in Ephesians 5:1-20, Paul urges believers to turn away from the mind-numbing use of wine and instead experience together the presence and power of the Spirit. Paul bans drunkenness (probably with a quotation from Proverbs 23:31 in … Continue reading –>
Paul concludes Ephesians 5:1-20 with two clusters of exhortations, Ephesians 5:15-17 and Ephesians 5:18-20, completing a section with sustained interest in sexual purity. The first cluster begins with the exhortation, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15, ESV), restated as “do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17, … Continue reading –>
