Ephesians: Wholeness in a 
World
Week of July 17, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Ephesians 3:14-21
14When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for this Lord’s day, on which I may come together with other brothers and sisters through Your Son, Jesus, to worship and praise You, to rejoice in Your presence, and to thank You for all Your blessings! Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, The “wisdom and scope” of Your plan is so far beyond the ability of our puny human minds to comprehend, and yet You offer us the opportunity to be part of it, because of Your great love! Thank You! In Jesus’ name. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, I pray right now for the mighty inner power that only You can give. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that my thoughts, words and actions, will align themselves with Your will. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, I pray that today and everyday I will be rooted and grounded in Your love. Fill me with that love to overflowing that I may also share it with everyone I meet today. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, fill me with the life and power that only You can give! Pour Your Holy Spirit into my life afresh that everything that I do today will be in accordance with Your divine purposes. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, When I consider that you are able to do infinitely more than I can ever ask or imagine, I am truly amazed. Give me the courage of my faith to be bold in asking You to advance Your kingdom! In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, I give You glory and praise in the church and in my life! I pray that as I go about this day, You will glorify Yourself in me. Let my thoughts, words and actions, share Your new life with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. |
Background on the Text
As we turn to this week’s Scripture, The Apostle Paul is so overwhelmed by God’s great love, grace and power through Jesus that he can’t contain himself! Note that Paul reminds us that God’s love is beyond description, and that it is the one source of the life that is truly life. Paul actually breaks into a prayer of praise at the close of the section, even concluding with “amen.” That doesn’t mean that the letter is ended. It just means that Paul couldn’t contain himself once he started to consider the amazing nature of our God. As you read the text over and over this week, pause to consider what it means that God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. That promise makes it clear that God IS on our side. If we ever wonder whether God loves us or cares about our situation, we need look no further than Ephesians 3:14-21. This text reminds us that God desires more for us than we desire for ourselves! What an amazing truth to consider and to live each day.
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
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Fallen short areas
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What will I do with these insights?
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Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
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Share insights and growth points.
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Changed/transformed how?
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Saturday
Reflective Thoughts