Eph 3:1-7 NASB  For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles–  (2)  if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;  (3)  that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.  (4)  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,  (5)  which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;  (6)  to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,  (7)  of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

• For what reason is Paul referring to in verse 1?
• What does Paul refer to by “stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you? (verse 2)  Can you at all relate to our role as Christians today?
• What is significant to you about Paul\’s statement in verses 4-5?
  • What mistery?
  • What do you think Paul’s insight is?
  • What was not made known to the sons of men in previous generations?
• What stands out as the most important aspect of Paul’s ministry as indicated in verses 1-7?

Eph 3:8-12 NASB  To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,  (9)  and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;  (10)  so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.  (11)  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,  (12)  in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

• In verse 8 – do you sense false humility?  What does this reveal about Paul\’s nature?
• unfathomable (anexichníastos) synonyms:
  • Untraceable
  • Impossible to search out
  • Impossible to trace step by step
  • What do these show you about Christ and his blessings and riches?
• In verses 9-10, what does it indicate that God held a mystery for ages and revealed at this time?  What does reveal about God’s nature and His relationship to His people?
• Who is responsible for revealing God’s wisdom? (verse 10)
• To whom is the church sharing God’s wisdom?  What does this mean to you?
• What does Paul mean by “eternal purpose” in verse 11?
• In verse 12, through whom do we have confident access to whom?
  • Eph 3:12 AMP  In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

Eph 3:13-21 NASB  Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.  (14)  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  (15)  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,  (16)  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,  (17)  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  (19)  and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  (20)  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,  (21)  to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

• What does Paul teach us about those who serve, teach and minister to us and the sacrifices they make?
• What is Paul’s prayer?
  • What is the measure that Paul asks God to use in granting the blessing? (verse 16).  How much do you think God is willing give you to go to grant you strength?
  • What does Paul ask God to strengthen?  What do you think this means?  What would be the outer man?  Why doesn’t Paul ask for God to strenghten that? (See 2Cor 4:16)
  • What is the objective of this strength prayer that Paul asks?
  • What is the foundation of the second part of Paul’s prayer?  Does the prayer of blessing in verse 18-19 depend on this foundation (root and ground)?  What does that mean to you?
  • What is the ultimate objective of this two-part prayer?
• What evidence does Paul give that gives us hope that this prayer may be possible?
  • What does Paul mean – “according to the power that works within us?”
    • Mat 17:19-20  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”  (20)  And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

What characteristics of God have you seen in this study?

What themes do you see running through this study?

How can those themes be applied to your life?