Good Morning Girls Resources {Ephesians Week 4}
This is it! Our final week in the Book of Ephesians!
Are you wondering what’s next?
After we finish Ephesians, the Good Morning Girls will go on a break until our spring study begins.
If you are looking for a Bible Study to do on your own during break, you can find all of our past Bible Studies listed —> here.
Then, the next book of the Bible we’ll study for the “Reading Through the Bible Series” will be announced in March – so be on the look out for that announcement.
Now, let’s get back to this week’s study and finish strong!
If you are looking for guidance in the color coding and daily insight into the reading – please visit me on Instagram and visit the hashtag #WomenLivingWell – there are lots of women posting their pictures of their color coded Bibles and their reflections on our reading. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to do this and not all of our Bibles will look alike.
Here’s what mine looked like last week:
This Week’s Bible Reading Plan:
(Facebook Leaders: You can use this as your Facebook Header this week. Just right click and “save as” or screen shot it.)
This week’s Reflection & Discussion Questions
(Leaders: Copy and paste these into your groups. If you do not have a group, use these for a personal time of reflection.)
Ephesians 5:22-33
Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, when he says “a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.” This shows that this was not just said of Adam and Eve’s marriage but of every married man and woman today. God wants oneness in marriage and that oneness displays the mystery of Christ and the church. Jesus wants more than just a shallow friendship with us. He wants us to be united with him.
Paul gives believers clear instructions for how husbands and wives are to love each other. Christian marriages should look different from the world because they are a picture of Christ and the church. Five times in just these few short verses on marriage, Paul speaks of Christ and the church. If you are married, in what ways is your marriage like Christ and the church? Are there any instructions in this passage that you need to work on? If you are unmarried, in what ways does this passage of scripture reveal Christ’s deep love for you, as part of the church body – his bride?
Ephesians 6:1-4
As parents, we have the responsibility to teach our children how to obey. This is what is best for the family in the long run. But our authority as parents is not to be used to rule over our children harshly, instead a warning is given to not provoke our children to anger. Our child’s feelings matter to God and they should matter to us as well.
As adults, we no longer have to obey our parents, but the principle of honor still stands. I know this is a messy and complex issue for those who have had very bad parents. Some of your parents may have provoked you to wrath by their unkindness, neglect or evil towards you. They may never understand how much they have hurt you but God cares. They disobeyed God and should never have treated you the way that they did. For those whose parents have deeply wounded you, I want to encourage you to honor your parents from afar by writing a prayer for them below. For those who are in contact with your parents, what is one way you can honor your parents this week? Consider a thank you note, a phone call, a word of encouragement or praise, a listening ear, a helping hand or a prayer together.
Ephesians 6:5-9
As believers, we are not to work only for our boss but ultimately, we work for the Lord. This means we are to be respectful at work. Our attitude should be sincere and honoring to the Lord. We are to try to please the boss, even when they are not watching because God is always watching.
God cares about how we work. When we get saved, the way we work should change. We should be hard workers; whose work reflects a desire to honor God in all we do. All of us work whether we have a boss or not. Consider your work ethic, is it honoring to the Lord? Do you work hard willingly, or do you find yourself grumbling and complaining? If you have a boss, is your boss pleased with you? How can you honor God more in the work you do?
Ephesians 6:10-20
As we read through the book of Ephesians, we now come to a very popular passage of scripture in the Bible. Let’s put it into context. Paul has just spent 5 chapters talking about all Jesus did for us on the cross and the way a believer is to conduct themselves. And so, in light of all of this, there is a call to be strong in the Lord and take a stand against the devil and his schemes. There is a spiritual battle that cannot be avoided that all believers are in. Paul calls for prayer because our battle is not against flesh and blood but against evil and we cannot fight this battle and have victory without the armor of the Lord.
Though it is easy to focus on just what we see with our flesh, we must not ignore the fact that we are all in a spiritual battle with forces we cannot see. God has given us his armor and it is sufficient to battle the enemy. Paul tells us to put it on. This is a verb. This is something we have to do. We have to put on the WHOLE armor of God. Read down through the list of the armor. Are any of the pieces missing in your life? Are you battle weary? Paul closes this passage reminding us to pray at all times. Pray alone, pray in groups, pray in the car, pray before dinner, pray in the shower, pray out loud, pray silently, pray standing up and pray kneeling down. Keep on praying for yourself and for other believers who are in the battle with you.
Ephesians 6:21-24
Paul closes the book of Ephesians the same way he began, with a focus on grace and peace. This is a blessing spoken over all those who love God with an undying and sincere love.
Do you love God? Tell him how much you love him right now.
Though we might be in the midst of a spiritual battle, Paul reminds believers that God’s grace and peace is with us. How have you experienced more of God’s grace and peace during your time studying the book of Ephesians? What is the biggest lesson you have learned from this book of the Bible?
May you continue to experience God’s grace and peace. Keep walking with the King!
To print the 20 Reflection and Discussion Questions for Ephesians –> Click Here.
This Week’s Verses of the Day:
(Leaders: You can use these images in your groups by using right click and “save as” or screen shoting them.)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Here’s the Printable Bible Bookmark for Ephesians.
Here’s another explanation of the SOAK Bible Study Method and Bible Coloring Chart if you need more guidance:
Here is the SOAK method I refer to in the video:
And the Bible Coloring Bookmark:
Click HERE to Print the full page Coloring Chart
or Click HERE for the Bookmark Coloring Chart
Here are the highlighters, pens and pencils I refer to in the video:
Highlighters – Acid Free – Bible Hi-Glider
Fine Line Non-bleeding Pens – Micron Archival Ink and Multi-Colored Gel Pens
Colored Pencils – Crayola Twistables and Crayola Colored Pencils
I use the ESV Inductive Study Bible as my personal study Bible.
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Share your insights using the hashtag #WomenLivingWell.
Remember to leave at least 20 minutes for your reading each day. I am in prayer for you all and asking God to help us understand his word clearly.
Have a wonderful week in God’s Word – I’ll see you back here on the blog this Friday as we go deeper into God’s Word together! (Don’t forget to visit me Monday through Friday over on Facebook and Instagram. )
Keep walking with the King,
COURTNEY
Did you miss last week’s video? Here it is again!
The Ephesians Journal
is still available on Amazon!
If you’d like to purchase a printable-digital copy
(so you have it right away) at half the price
click HERE!
