LESSON PLAN FOR EPHESIANS

BACKGROUND

• Written to members of the church in Ephesus.

• Written by Paul from prison  (Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, 6:20)

• Different tone. More instructive than corrective.

ICEBREAKER

• Hand each class member a small bathroom cup

• Turn it upside down

• Draw some kind of picture or symbol on that cup that represents you and then bring it to me.

• Arrange their cups close together in a group

• Take a single cup and place it under a square board. 

• Step up onto the board, and most certainly, the cup would smash under your weight. 

• Then take that same board and place it on top of the bottoms of the group of cups representing the class. 

• Then very carefully. Step up on to the board. And, hopefully, the cups will be able to hold all of your weight. (Need 20-30 cups)

• Now if my class were smaller, or if I was of more considerable heft, I might approach this differently. Perhaps I would grab a large weight from a weightlifting set and place that on top of the board instead. Certainly, the more cups you have, the more weight it can hold. 

A: What’s the moral of the object lesson? 

Q: Unity=Strength, there is strength in numbers. We are much stronger together than we are alone.

TRANSITION

Somebody might wonder why we need a church at all to live the gospel. Can’t I just live the principles of the gospel, you know, be kind, Christlike, and obedient to the commandments without all the hassle of organized religion? Why do I need to go to church every week and associate with people that I may or may not even like? My response to that attitude? YES! You bet we need the church. God did not intend us to take this journey of life and discipleship alone. We need the gifts and strengths of other individuals to help us to progress and they need our strengths. We need the opportunities to serve and to be served that a church provides us with. It allows us mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, to lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. We are far less likely to be deceived by the adversary and the world when we can get together and be taught one doctrine and one faith. 

And to me, that is the major message of Ephesians. UNITY. That is the hook for the lesson. The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about bringing things together. Making things one. 

One of the best places to see that idea of unity in the church is witnessed within the walls of the temple. Just like Ephesians, what we do in the temple is all about creating unity. Taking separate entities and making them one. I see at least 5 different onenesses that are manifested in the temple.

Q: Can you figure them out  What are those onenesses?

• Husbands/Wives

• Parents/Children

• Member/Member

• Living/Dead

• Man/God

Now you watch and see that the book of Ephesians is going to touch on almost every single one of those onenesses in some way. 

SEARCH: EPHESIANS 1

And now I’d like to send you into the Book of Ephesians and we are going to do a little marking activity. I want you to make a little label somewhere on the first page of Ephesians.

Everything you mark in Ephesians in that color is going to teach you something about Unity. 

Q: Can you find the “Unity” verse in Ephesians chapter 1?

A:10

THE BIG PICTURE

So he begins by giving us the big picture. Like a thesis statement or preamble Paul tells us what the major thrust of this epistle is going to be all about. Bringing all things together in One.  UNITY. And he tells us when that is going to happen. And When will it happen? In the dispensation of the fullness of times. Well That’s our day! The latter-days. And the major work of this dispensation is to gather all things together in One in Christ. That includes missionary work where we gather together the house of Israel from all corners of the globe, it includes temple work which creates all the onenesses that we talked about earlier, it includes the work for the dead where we unify ourselves with our ancestors, when the hearts fo the children turn to their fathers, and vice versa, it includes our own personal connection and oneness with Christ as we strive to become more like Him. All things are being brought together into ONE. 

BREAKING UNITY WITH THE WORLD

Q: We can't be unified with two opposing forces. We must choose to bind ourselves with either one or the other. According to Ephesians 2:1-3, before we can be unified with Christ, what must we break our ties or unity with?

A: The world. And you could mark that whole section in our unity color perhaps with a note on the side that read: We must first break our unity with the world. 

PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR

We have to break away from the prince of the power of the air (which is really interesting title for Satan) why the air? Because there is no foundation to his kingdom, it’s a kingdom that will fall. Do you remember Lehi’s dream? The great and spacious building was set high in the air. It may look imposing and powerful, but there is no substance under it, nothing to prop it up. And what happens to a building with no foundation? It will fall, just like Satan’s kingdom, the world, will fall, and just like Nephi said “and the fall thereof was exceedingly great . Interestingly enough, later in this chapter, Paul is going to talk about a different building. A building with a foundation. Vs. 3 tells us that  we must break away from those conversations, lusts, and desires of the flesh and mind that we once had. Remember that Jesus said “No man can serve two masters”  and “A house divided against itself cannot stand”, we cannot choose to be unified with both God’s kingdom and the world, we can’t bend the iron rod to run through the great and spacious building, choosing one means rejecting the other. 

SEARCH: CHRIST’S ALTERNATIVE

Well, what does Christ have to offer us in place of the fulfilling of those lusts and desires of the flesh?  

Find as many as you can in vs. 4-7.  

Q: What are they?

A: Mercy, great love, we are quickened together with Christ (hinting at a glorious resurrection), grace, we get to sit together in heavenly places, the exceeding riches of His grace, kindness. 

Q: Now take a look at that list, which one is your favorite? 

SEARCH: EPHESIANS 2:12-22

Q: I want you to read vs. 12-22 and mark all the unity words you can find. Any word that is associated with the theme of unity. I found at least 15. How many can you find?

• 12 Commonwealth of Israel

• 12 Alien

• 12 Stranger

• 13 Made nigh by the blood of Christ.

• 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

• 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

• 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

• 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

• 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

• 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

• 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

• 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

• 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

CHRIST DESTROYS BARRIERS

I hope you could see the main message of that section. Christ destroys all barriers between people. He breaks down the walls, the iron curtains, and the borders between people. Can you think of any walls of partition in your community or culture?  In the United States unfortunately, many put up barriers between black and white, Caucasian and Hispanic,  Republican and Democrat, rich and poor. Think of the world at large, there are groups of people fighting and killing each other over what. The fact that they are different. Well, what can the gospel of Jesus Christ do? It breaks down those barriers and brings people together. I honestly feel that the only solution to many of our world’s conflicts is the gospel of Jesus Christ. What missionaries do, is more effective at solving these world problems than any government program or initiative that I can think of.  I’ve been very lucky and have been able to travel to many parts of the world, and I have been able to worship with Saints in many different countries with different cultures, languages, and ethnicities. And none of those differences matter when you hold a common belief in Christ. There is an instant brotherhood and sisterhood that is created when you find out somebody is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. It’s an amazing thing to go to a temple and see white, and black, and Hispanic, and Polynesian, and Asian, and Native American. There are no labels in God’s kingdom, only disciples, no strangers, no foreigners, only fellowcitizens, all fitly framed together as the household of God.  Christ abolishes the enmity. 

PONDER

Q: What walls of partition are coming between you and others in your community or world? 

Q: How could the gospel of Jesus Christ break down those walls, and what part could you play in making that possible? 

SEARCH: EPHESIANS 3

Q: Moving on to chapter 3, can you find the unity words in the following verses? 

:6

:9

:15

A: 

:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

AN APOSTOLIC PRAYER: Ephesians 3:14-19.

 Paul offers a prayer, an apostolic blessing if you will on the Ephesians.

He wants us to know how much your Savior loves you, so that you can be strengthened and rooted and grounded in that thought. Though other relationships may have failed you in the past, that is one that will never fail. Even if you have been betrayed by parents, family members, friends, your community, the love of Christ will never fail. It’s too large, to wide, too tall to be overcome. 

Q: When have you been strengthened by the love of Christ?

THE CRESCENDO OF UNITY: EPHESIANS 4:2-7

You could basically mark that whole section in our unity color. The point is clear: WE ARE ONE! If that doesn’t make you feel like you are part of something special and unique and beautiful, nothing will. 

THE GREAT UNIFIER

Q: What will help us to stay unified as a church?

A: The organization of the church. Church leaders called of God. Prophets, apostles, bishops, we could include ym and yw leaders, mission presidents, relief society presidencies. The structure and authority and order of the Church.

Q:What blessings does the organization of the church and church leaders bring us?  See if you can find them?

• They help perfect us. Help us to be more righteous.

• They help us to perform the work of the ministry or They make us better missionaries and direct us in that work

• They edify us. To edify something is to build it up and strengthen. So they strengthen us and lift us higher.

• They helps us to be unified as a church. There is something wonderfully unifying about general conference in particular. It’s amazing to think that millions of people from all over the world are 

• They give us knowledge.  They teach and instruct us

• So they give us guidance in an uncertain world

• And help us to not be deceived by the craftiness of the world.

Q:  Is this true in your life? Have you ever been blessed in one of these ways by a church leader, a teacher, or fellow member? 

JEFFREY R. HOLLAND CONFERENCE QUOTE

I ask you to reflect in the days ahead not only on the messages you have heard but also on the unique phenomenon that general conference itself is—what we as Latter-day Saints believe such conferences to be and what we invite the world to hear and observe about them. We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people that God not only lives but also that He speaks, that for our time and in our day the counsel you have heard is, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, “the will of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.”3

If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.

Conference Report, April 2011 “An Ensign to the Nations”.

TESTIFY

Testify of your belief in the organization of the church and how it has blessed you.

DE-UNIFIERS

I would call Ephesians 4:17-Ephesians 5:21, the “De-unifiers” section. As you read it, I would invite you to mark all the things that will drive wedges between people. Use a different color, and label it “De-unifiers”. These are the things that will cause disunity in marriages, families, wards, communities, and nations. I would argue that almost all disunity comes  because somebody is not following the counsel of apostles and prophets. Sin causes disunity. 

UNITY AT HOME AND THE WORKPLACE

For this next section, lets do a little activity depending on what you are and I want you to study all the sections that directly apply to you. 

• If you are a wife: read Ephesians 5:22-24, 33

• If you are a husband: read Ephesians 5:25-33

• If you are a son or daughter: read Ephesians 6:1-3

• If you are a parent: read Ephesians 6:4

• If you are an employee: read Ephesians 6:5-8

• If you are an employer: read Ephesians 6:9

WIVES

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband. Now thank heavens for modern revelation because we know from living prophets that that doesn’t mean that women live in cowering subjection to the almighty commands of her authoritarian husband. And there is plenty of evidence that Paul doesn’t mean that either. For one, don’t get so hung up on the first part of that verse and miss the meaning of the second half, which is “as unto the Lord”. So how do we submit to the Lord. Is it because we are afraid of Him? Does he wants us to cower before his might and authority? God is always asking for a broken heart and a contrite spirit, a willing mind. He wants us to submit in love and respect. And then the next verse, he says that the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. In other words, the kind of relationship that the church has to Christ is the kind of relationship that a wife should have with her husband. Does Christ lead the church with authoritarian domination, and total control over every action of its members? No. He presides over the church, guides it, and maybe most importantly, he has a responsibility and stewardship over the church. Husbands, same thing, if it’s a hierarchy, it’s more of a hierarchy of responsibility, not so much authority. And what can wives do that will strengthen their marriages? They will support their husbands efforts to preside over the family in righteousness. And if the word submit still really bothers you, well, then just use the other word Paul uses to describe a wife’s role in creating a happy marriage. And that word is in vs. 33. What is it? And the wife, see that she reverence her husband. Oh, I love that word. I think that could be what he means by submit. Happy marriages occur when wives reverence their husbands. What does reverence mean. One definition of that word is deep love mingled with profound respect. Do you think marriages would be happier if spouses reverenced each other. The footnotes suggest courtesy and respect as alternate translations of that word. Now husbands need to be worthy of that reverence. It’s not all on the wives. A man who demeans, belittles, abuses, controls, or exercises any degree of unrighteous dominions, is not deserving of that reverence. But if he is, and he is trying to preside over his family in righteousness and love, then yes, marriages will be happier when wives reverence their husbands. 

HUSBANDS

Now it’s interesting that he only takes 3 verses to teach the wives their part, and 9 verses for the husbands. He knows that men need a little more help maybe. But what is a husbands part. Husbands love your wives, and how should they love their wives, well same idea as the women, as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. How did Jesus lead the church, in love, in service, in sacrifice. He gave himself for his church. Husbands, give yourselves to your wives in love. Sacrifice for them. And then he continues, and I’m going to make some substitutions here to help you get the meaning of it. Husbands, seek to sanctify and cleanse your wives through ordinances and by word, that you might present her glorious to yourself without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  That is my responsibility as a husband. It’s to help her to be the best person that she can. Why? For her, and for you. What kind of wife do you want to present yourself for eternity, one that cowers and is controlled and intimidated by you. Or do you want a glorious, clean, and holy wife that reverences you. So treat her as such. vs. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies, he that liveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but (here are some more great words) nourisheth,and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church. It’s the golden rule applied to marriage. Do unto your spouse as you would have them do unto you. Then vs. 31: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. There’s that unity phrase again. Husbands and wives are to be one. According to the doctrine and covenants we know that we can not really become like God by ourselves. Husband and wife is the basic unit of eternity and Godhood. You see that it D&C 131. And for me one of the greatest reminders of that principle is my children. When I see my children, I am seeing literally the uniting of myself and my wife. They have features and traits that noticeably come from me, and features and traits that noticeably come from her. They are a living manifestation of my wife and I becoming one flesh. They remind me of my commitment to her and the type of unified relationship that I should be seeking to have with her.

CHILDREN

Another oneness he wants us to create. Parent to child. How can unity within families be created? 

What is a child’s responsibility? To obey their parents in the Lord and to honor their parents. And I think it’s important that he adds the phrase in the Lord, because I suppose there may be some instances where a parent asks a child to do something that isn’t right. You would only justify not obeying your earthly parents if they ask you to do something that disobeys your Heavenly parents. But I imagine that’s more rare. So youth out there: How can you better obey and honor your parents?

PARENTS

Then parents, Paul turns to you now. How should you treat your children. Well, don’t provoke them, which means, don’t over-correct them. Don’t come down too hard on them. And then, the best parenting advice that I’ve ever received. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Nurture and admonition. I’d like to do this little exercise with you. 

Q: What other words come to mind or would you say are synonymous with nurture? 

A: Love, cherish, support, nourish, encourage, praise, comfort. 

Q: What about admonition though? 

A: Correct, discipline, teach, warn, instruct.  

Q:Which should parents use? 

A: Both. Great parents find the balance between the two. Usually if there are problems with children in a household, it’s because the parent is out of balance. What if all I do is nurture? What happens to my children? They grow up spoiled, entitled, and unprepared for the real world, because the real world is usually not a very nurturing place. On the other hand, what if I overemphasize the admonition side? They grow up intimidated, insecure, and at some point, more likely to rebel. So parents kind of have to be acrobats. They have to constantly be trying to balance these two sides. And the balance may be different for each child. Some may need more nurturing and others more admonition. But I believe that all need both. 

EMPLOYEES

Be obedient, follow instructions, keep the rules and policies of your employer

Be respectful of your employer

Work with singleness of heart or whole heartedly. Give your best.

Don’t give lip service or be a kiss up. 

Work with good will, be cheerful, be a loyal employee.

EMPLOYERS

All these same things apply to you. Be respectful of your employees, keep the rules, be cheerful and give your best

Don’t be a tyrant

Remember that you are no better than your employees. Just because you are in charge doesn’t mean you are more valuable individual than they are.

EPHESIANS 6:10-18. THE ARMOR OF GOD

ICEBREAKER

Take out a hymnbook and take a look at the following hymns. 

Q: What do they all have in common?

60, 246, 250, 251, 253

• 60 The Battle Hymn of the Republic

• 246. Onward Christian Soldiers

• 250. We are all enlisted

• 251 Behold a Royal Army

• 259 Hope of Israel 

A: War. Each one uses war imagery. 

TRANSITION

Q: So why so many war hymns? Does that mean we, as a church, in general are a warlike people? That we love fighting. Any chance we have to get into a war, we jump at it? God likes war? 

A:  Because These hymns are not about fighting literal battles, but spiritual ones. War is a  symbol for mortality. The spiritual conflict we face in this life. 

Q:  How are our lives like a war?

A:  It’s serious.  It’s difficult. We have an enemy. Etc. 

Q: What should you take with you into a war?  Armor 

PURPOSES OF ARMOR

Q: What is the purpose of armor? 

Protection

Confidence

Intimidation

Recognition

SEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Who are we fighting against?  :11-12

2. What word do you feel is the most important word in vs. 11 or 13? Why?

3. How many pieces of the armor of God are there? What do they stand for? Mark each of them.

4. What does vs. 18 add to our understanding of winning this war?

1. Who are we fighting against?  :11-12

A: Principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. Wow! Our foe is formidable. The enemy is well organized and determined. There are people out there right now plotting against Christ’s church, your family, and your well being. The alcohol industry, the pornography industry, Hollywood, many celebrities, social media personalities. I’m telling you, a lot of these people don’t care one wit about your well being or what’s best for you. They will cater to the lowest common denominator to try and for what motivation? Usually, money. They want you money. So they target your natural man, and manipulate him, to get what they want.  These rulers are powerful. Don’t underestimate them. We have to be just as strong.

2. What word do you feel is the most important word in vs. 11 or 13? Why?

WHOLE

Take on the whole armor of God. We can’t afford to leave any piece off. In a battle sense, if you are my enemy, if I leave off a piece of my armor, where are you going to aim your attack? My weaknesses. If I don’t wear my helmet, you’re going to go for my head, if I don’t have breastplate, you’re going for my heart. It only makes sense. That’s why we can’t afford to be lax in any area of our obedience. Satan doesn’t care if he defeats us with word of wisdom problems or chastity issues. He could care less if he gets us with pornography or pride.  Drugs or dishonesty. He just wants our soul. It’s the ends that matter to him, the means are inconsequential. So we absolutely must seek to obey all God’s counsels. I like this quote from president nelson:

RUSSELL M. NELSON QUOTE

““[You] will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, one keeps all of His commandments”

Russell M. Nelson

“Face the Future with Faith, Ensign, May 2011, 34).

ALL

What does that suggest about the fight? It’s going to require your all! This will not be easy. Expect it to be tough, expect there to be setbacks, and wounds, and pain. You are going to have to endure if you want to win. You can’t ease up at all, you must constantly be on your guard. This fight, will take your ALL.

STAND

Stand for something. It’s an active word, not a passive one. Like Custer last stand. It didn’t mean he just stood there. It was his last fight. We need to fight in this battle. The word suggests determination and tenacity. When God asks us to Stand in holy places, I don’t think he meant for us to cower and hide in them. He meant for us to make a stand for our beliefs and our standards. 

3. How many pieces of the armor of God are there? What do they stand for? Mark each of them.

• Loins girt about with truth

• Breastplate of righteousness

• Feet shod, or boots, with the preparation of the gospel of peace

• Shield of faith

• A helmet of salvation

• And a sword of the spirit which is the word of God.

4. What does vs. 18 add to our understanding of winning this war?

• Prayer and supplication

• Watching

• Perseverance

Q: How have these things helped you to resist the adversary and temptation? I invite you to ponder that for some time.

• TRUTH

• RIGHTEOUSNESS

• PREPARATION

• PEACE

• FAITH

• SALVATION

• THE SPIRIT

• THE WORD OF GOD

• PRAYER

• WATCHING

• PERSEVERANCE

THE TWO EDGED SWORD

Perhaps on thought though, I do love the fact though that the SWORD represents two things. It’s a two edged sword. The Spirit, and the word of God. These are our greatest tools in defeating Satan. My favorite example of somebody using the word of God as a sword is Jesus Christ himself. Just go back and watch Him on the mount of temptation. Every time Satan throws a temptation at Him, Jesus answer by saying. No Satan, IT IS WRITTEN, and then he quotes a scripture. So Satan comes along and says, turn these stones into bread, and Jesus says, no, Deuteronomy 8:3 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. I picture him swinging his sword of the scriptures at the adversary.  Satan says jump off the pinnacle of the temple, and Jesus says no,Deuteronomy 6:16, take that. Satan says, I’ll give you all the glory of the world, and Jesus says Exodus 34:14 just temptation after temptation, Jesus fights him off with the word of God.  All of the other pieces of the armor are defensive. But God doesn’t expect us to go through life just being beat up by the adversary, hoping that our armor doesn’t fail. He gives us a weapon! We can go on the offensive.  We can take the fight to Satan. We’re not just trying to survive, we’re trying to win! 

APPLY

Q: How can you fight against Satan? What can you do to defeat His purposes? What is one idea on that list that you need to “PUT ON” in your life? 

TESTIFY

Express confidence in them to win the war.