The message of the gospel that Paul brought to Ephesus forever transformed its citizen's lives. Out of this city--filled with idolatry and Roman temples--rose up a new community that lived to proclaim the grace, mercy, and love of a God who had sent His Son into the world to forgive their sins. But things did not always go smoothly within this new group. Ephesus was a city of great cultural diversity, which meant that the church Paul founded was also a multiethnic group. It wasn't long before these various groups were finding it difficult to come together as one, put aside their differences, and get along. In other words, the church in Ephesus was having the same problems we face today.
In this six-session study (study guide sold separately), Pastor Derwin Gray of Transformation Church will guide you through Paul's letter to this group of diverse believers. You will see how Paul presented the revolutionary idea that Jesus came not only to forgive sins but also to create a unified family out of a people with differently-colored skins. Just like a multi-faceted diamond, the different "shapes" in the church actually help to reveal its beauty. It is actually the differences among believers that make them different for the better.
The 40 Days Through the Book series has been designed to help believers more actively engage with God's Word. Each study encourages participants to read through one book in the New Testament at least once during the course of 40 days (approximately 6 weeks of meetings). During the course, participants will be provided with (1) an understanding of the background and culture in which the book was written, (2) insights into key passages of Scripture, and (3) clear applications and takeaways from the particular book that they can apply to their lives.
Designed for use with Ephesians Study Guide (sold separately).
