The field of war reporting has really changed over the last few years. As I’m filming this, the Iraqi government is fighting ISIS for control of the city of Mosul. The battle has been dragging on for many weeks. And throughout the fighting, reporters are actually embedded with front-line combat units, not just reporting from far off. They are definitely in harm’s way. But that means they are also seeing war for what it really is – terrifying, stressful, nothing like the movies.
One of the tidbits that has stuck with me recently is the sound – the sound of bullets striking the armor of the vehicle they’re in. And more terrifying – the sound of bombs crumpling part of the protective shell or destroying the wheels, leaving them as sitting ducks. And that stuck with me, because it highlights that you can get hurt even if the armor works. You can go deaf, you can get tossed about and injured, even if the armor works.
It’s kind of like those giant padded sumo wrestling suits – ever worn one of those? They are a fan favorite at youth group, because they let you fight with no risk of injury. Who could get hurt with all that padding, all that armor? Well, that’s what I thought, too, right up until the moment when one of the kids fell awkwardly in the suit and broke his arm. You can still get injured, even with all that padding, all that armor.
In Ephesians 6, we see how badly we need the whole armor of God. We need to protect our minds, protect our bodies, protect our hearts and souls. But like the armored vehicle transporting the war reporters, like the copious padding of the sumo wrestling suit, we can still get hurt by whatever life is throwing our way. We can survive anything thanks to the armor of God, but don’t be surprised when it still hurts.
As you read chapter 6, remember that Christians aren’t supposed to just float above the cares and concerns of life – we are supposed to be right there in the thick of it, so we’re going to take some hits. When have you been hurt, but kept your faith thanks to the armor of God? Enjoy chapter 6.
I grew up watching Michael Jordan play basketball, and he did it possibly better than anyone else who has ever lived. But he wasn’t known for being a great team player. He thought that it was best for the team if he scored all the points. And, to be fair, he got six championships out of that, so who am I to argue.
But one of his coaches certainly argued that point with him. After Jordan engineered a remarkable comeback victory, the coach told him, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Jordan responded, “There’s not, but there’s an ‘I’ in win!”
That “me-first” attitude worked for Jordan in basketball, but it wouldn’t get a passing grade from Ephesians 5. This chapter is basically setting out what it’s like to be on Jesus’ team.
We see that it’s not a free-for-all. There are some expectations of being on Jesus’ team. Expectations about how we handle our sexuality, our words, our relationships, our attitudes. And then Paul goes on to talk about expectations in marriage.
The biggest point for all these teams, including marriage, is that we are to be “Jesus first,” “you second,” and “I’m third.” Not exactly the Michael Jordan mindset. But then again, we don’t need to get the win – Jesus already won.
As you read chapter five, think about what kind of teammate you are as you suit up for Team Jesus. Enjoy chapter five.
I knew a woman who, if Protestants had saints, she would be on the short list of nominees. She had an incredibly deep faith. She had brought many people to Christ by her deeds and words. She was universally respected in our church and by the thousands of people who knew her around the world. She had been a part of praying for and seeing miraculous healing in others. But now she needed that miraculous healing herself. Cancer.
Those thousands of people around the world rallied in prayer for this saintly woman. And after a few months she had a vision of being overwhelmed by a brilliant light, and she woke up feeling differently. She proclaimed to everyone who would listen that she had been healed. She and her husband joyfully went to the doctor to confirm what they already knew. And as the doctor came back into the room with the test results, he shared the news: the cancer was worse than it had ever been. It was untreatable. She wasn’t healed.
As I read Ephesians 3, I see that Paul is a prisoner, someone who has suffered greatly and is suffering still. And like this saintly woman I knew, it’s not because he’s offended God. His suffering wasn’t a result of God’s wrath, and neither was my friend’s. Paul and my friend had plenty of people praying for them, but they still suffered.
I know some people who think when life is going great it’s because God is rewarding them. And when the stuff hits the fan God is punishing them. But I don’t see that line of thinking in Ephesians 3. I see that the faithful – like Paul – sometimes suffer even when they’re following Christ very closely. And despite that suffering, he encourages the church in Ephesus to “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”
When you’re suffering, do you still know the love of Christ? When someone you know is suffering, can you still see the love of Christ?
As you read the third chapter of Ephesians, think about the times you have experienced or witnessed suffering. Where was God?
When I was growing up I was a bit of a perfectionist. And I was tired of having sin in my life. Now, I’m a pretty systematic guy, so I naturally came up with a rational, orderly plan for eliminating sin. First, I created a calendar with the days of the week at the top. Next I created a list of sins on the left. And my plan was to take one sin at a time, track how often it occurred each day, and get that sin down to zero by the end of the week. Then I could just move on to the next and within a few weeks, PRESTO! No more sin! What could go wrong?
So I started with lying. Three times on Sunday. Twice on Monday. Eight times on Tuesday. Down to zero by Saturday.
Then I moved on to lust. Once on Sunday. Once on Monday. Five times on Tuesday – it was always worse on Tuesday. Down to zero by Saturday.
But I noticed that every time I moved on to the next week, the previous sin always came back. I could suppress one sin at a time – and even then I was probably fooling myself – but I could never keep them all at bay.
So with that context, maybe you can see why I think Ephesians 2:8-9 pretty much saved me from my perfectionist self: “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.”
I would really like to be perfect. I gave it the good ol’ college try, and I failed miserably. But this text reminds me that I’m not saved by my perfection even if I could ever obtain it. I’m saved by Jesus, and that’s enough. I can crumple up that sin calendar and all the shame and judgment and pressure that it represents, because in Jesus I can be confident of God’s love just as I am.
Do you still feel like you have to earn God’s love? Do you feel like you have to be perfect or God’s going to start hurling lightning bolts at you?
As you read the second chapter of Ephesians, receive the gift of God’s love, the gift of God’s forgiveness, the gift of God’s grace.
A few weeks ago I was telling my wife that I was going to be one of the pastors at an upcoming funeral. The person attended the church at the same service my wife typically does, and so she asked, “Now who was he?”
That’s a difficult question. “Who was he?” How could I describe this person, knowing full well that my wife had never met him? Have you ever tried to do that? Did you start with gender, hair color, height, weight? Or maybe their job, or their friends, or where they live?
For that matter, how do I describe myself? One of the hardest parts of writing this book was writing the author biography for the back cover. It’s really weird trying to describe yourself to people who’ve never met you.
And yet that’s one of the things that Paul knows like the back of his hand. He nails his bio in the first verse: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” If you know Paul’s story at all, you know that Jesus changed his name from Saul to Paul. It’s like saying, “I’m a new man because of Jesus.” Then he’s an apostle – someone personally sent by Jesus. And is this something he aspired to? No, it’s by the will of God. He knows who he is. He knows what he’s about. And he knows the “why” behind the “what” of his life.
In the first chapter of the book I tell the story of Hendrik Kraemer, who was credited with telling some Dutch Christians who were debating what to do about the Nazi treatment of their Jewish neighbors: “If you know who you are, then you will know what to do.”
Do you know who you are?
As you read the first chapter of Ephesians think about who you are. Think about what you’re about. And do you know the “why” behind the “what” of your life? Because if you know who you are, you’ll know what to do.
How do you respond to life’s challenges? How does God want you respond? Join Rev. Cody Sandahl on a journey through the book of Ephesians. Get a bird’s-eye view of the whole story of Scripture through a book that has something for everyone – the big picture, the day-to-day, exaltation in Christ, and opposition by the devil! Whether you have five minutes a day or five hours a week, this study is designed to help you grow closer to Christ and recognize God’s Plan.
Each chapter has a short devotional followed by in-depth analysis of the words, phrases, and ideas found in each section. “Going Deeper” questions help apply the Bible study to your life. These questions can be used personally or within a small group or class format.
Those who love to know the historical setting will enjoy the background section that unpacks Ephesus the city, Ephesus the church, and the original context when the letter was written.
When I was in high school and college, it would have been mighty pleasant to be able to peek at the questions before the exam. I used to wish that my teacher or professor would line out the future exam questions along with the syllabus I received on the first day of class. I actually had a class in college that had take-home exams, and my initial glee was quickly subsumed under a self-imposed pressure. I would have gladly taken a 92 on the test, but since I had the time and ability and even invitation from the professor to check my answers before turning it in I felt I had to get a 100 on it. I might be a perfectionist at heart. When that professor gave us an option on the final – take-home or normal in-class exam – I actually chose the in-class exam so I wouldn’t stress out as much about every single question.
Ephesians, with its birds-eye-view of God’s story unfolding in Jesus’ birth, life, teachings, crucifixion, resurrection, and promised return, is like having a take-home exam. Almost all of the essentials of the faith are found in this short book. Almost all of the ways we are to respond to our faith with our daily lives are found in this short book. If the hefty size of the Bible causes your mouth to suddenly dry up like the sands of the Mojave Desert, Ephesians is for you! It’s like the Cliff’s Notes version of the Bible.
But it is also a challenging book. As you read it, you may feel the same pressure I did in my college course – the pressure to be perfect. The pressure to get everything right in your life. The pressure to figure everything out. Ephesians has you covered, there, too. We are reminded that we are not saved by being perfect (thankfully):
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
In addition to its marvelously succinct approach to the sweeping arc of God’s story, Ephesians also walks us through very earthly conversations as well. How should men and women interact with each other? How should children and parents interact with each other?
For those who like a good fight, there are controversies galore. If you want to take your life into your own hands, try quoting Ephesians 5:22 to my feminist mom: “wives be subject to your husbands…” (NIV). I have $20 on my mom if it comes to fisticuffs.
For those who are interested in social justice, Ephesians dives into slavery and power imbalances. We will explore the ups and downs of how Christians throughout the ages have attacked, defended, or accepted the practice of slavery.
For those who enter into spiritual battle through prayer, Ephesians contains some of the most strident depictions of evil and the devil. We are assumed to be under attack at all times, but the author also shows us the way out.
The book of Ephesians has something for everyone. From the big picture to the day-to-day. From exaltation in Christ to opposition by the devil. From encouragement to challenge. My prayers go with you as you grow closer to Christ through the letter to the church in Ephesus.
Mind, Heart, and Body
In addition to the chapter-by-chapter analysis of Ephesians, I have also included a Personal Devotional at the start of each chapter. We are encouraged to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 NIV), but we are also reminded that God “will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26a NIV). Our spiritual growth involves our minds and our hearts. The personal devotionals are designed to reach the heart since the Bible study reaches the mind.
If you are walking through Ephesians with a small group or Bible study, the devotionals are also there for you if you are running out of time this week and just have five minutes before the group gathers. Don’t worry – I won’t tell anyone. This study is flexible enough to be anywhere from six to fourteen weeks long. You can find a week-by-week guide listing the suggested reading plans near the end of this book.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you are a history buff or a church history wonk or a Bible trivia collector, first let me greet you as a brother or sister. We have so much in common! If you also like Star Wars we should meet – we’ll be fast friends. At the end of this book (in the Background section) you will find information about the city of Ephesus, the church in Ephesus, and how Ephesus plays a major role in the unfolding of God’s story after Jesus’ ascension to heaven. If you want to know how archeology, prostitution, and the Word of God interact with each other in Ephesus, check out the Background section.
Hopefully this book will help you grow closer to Christ whether you have five minutes or five hours this week to contemplate the book of Ephesians.
Devotional: Ephesians 1
As I read Paul’s opening to his letter to the church in Ephesus, I am struck by how often he mentions blessings and reasons to give thanks to God. He starts off with the blessings and thanksgivings that apply to every Christian. God “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (v3). He highlights the “good pleasure of his will” (v5) and gives “praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us” (v6). Paul celebrates “the riches of his grace that he lavished on us” (v7-8). We have an “inheritance” in Christ (v11, 14) and so we have “hope” (v12).
Then he moves on to the special ways God has blessed and worked through the church in Ephesus. They are famous for their “faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints” (v15). Paul is praying for them constantly (v16). God has the power to work in them and through them (v19-20). And lest anyone think their problem is too big for God, Paul reminds them that God “has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church” (v22).
I don’t know about you, but I often find it all too easy to focus on my reasons to complain rather than my litany of blessings. As I write this, I am staring out a window as a light rain transforms into a heavy rain/snow mix. Gotta love mountain weather. I’m going to leave and get into my car in a few minutes. Oh, and I also forgot my coat. My first thought was somewhat less than thankful toward the provision of this precipitation. But as a neighbor recently reminded me, “at least we won’t have to worry about water this year.” One person’s annoying rain or snow is another person’s gift of life-giving water. The difference is our perspective.
GOING DEEPER
What are the blessings and thanksgivings you can think of that every human or every Christian or even every American should remember?
What are the special blessings and thanksgivings God has placed in your life?
Is there some part of your life that could use a switch to a thankful perspective?
Paul was continually praying for others – even people he had never personally met. Where might God be calling you to expand your prayer this week to include new people or situations?
