Ephesians: Wholeness in a World

Bible Studies from the Book of Ephesians

Have you ever heard of Hetty Green – known as America’s greatest miser? Hetty lived in the late 1800’s. Her family became financially secure from the whaling industry in her native New England. Hetty had great wealth – but was known for her stinginess. She never turned on the heat or used hot water. She wore one old black dress and undergarments that she changed only after they were worn out. She would sit on the floor of her bank – surrounded by trunks full of her business papers – because she did not want to pay rent for office space. She lived on cold oatmeal. She was harsh with her children. Her son broke his leg as a child, but Hetty tried to treat him at home. Gangrene set in and the leg had to be amputated. Her daughter was only permitted to marry once her suitor renounced all claims to her money. Hetty suffered for years with a hernia because she would not pay for a simple operation to repair it. She is reported to have died (at the age of 80) of apoplexy over an argument about the virtues of skimmed milk. When her estate was probated in 1916, it was discovered that Hetty’s net worth was over $100 million dollar.

Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? For someone who had such great assets to go through life poor and miserable. She lived the life of a pauper, when abundant wealth was available to her. Hetty was a broken woman who never experienced wholeness in her life.

But the same could be said of many Christians today. In Jesus Christ, all believers have countless spiritual blessings – blessings that are wonderful, but unappreciated by many. As a result, many believers live what Thoreau called “lives of quiet desperation” – broken in spirit and not experiencing the wholeness and joy available from God.

God wants His children to rejoice in His spiritual blessings – riches – for us. One particular New Testament book describes many of them. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus (the epistle or letter to Ephesians in our Bible) so that the believers then – and us now – would understand the “rich and glorious inheritance” God has given to His children. We are made whole through God’s love!

This summer, senior pastor Chris Marshall and pastor Tim Fulkerson will walk us through the letter to the Ephesians where we will be able to work on our areas of brokenness and can “mine” for the riches that are ours as believers in Jesus.

Don’t become a spiritual equivalent of Hetty Green! Let’s daily tap into the assets – the blessings – that we can claim through our Lord and Savior. Paul’s words to the believers in Ephesus are just as true for us today. Come and explore God’s great and glorious love for us and live your new life – your abundant, whole life – in Jesus in joyful expectation!

Week Beginning...	Scripture	Message
June 5, 2005	Ephesians 1:1-14	“Divine Appointment!”
June 12, 2005	Ephesians 1:15-23	“In the Spotlight!”
June 19, 2005	Ephesians 2:1-10	“The Seat of Honor!”
June 26, 2005	Ephesians 2:11-18	“From Far, Faraway, to Very Near!”
July 3, 2005	Ephesians 2:19-22	“Citizen’s of God’s Kingdom!”
July 10, 2005	Ephesians 3:1-13	“The Secret Plan!”
July 17, 2005	Ephesians 3:14-20	“Infinity x 10!”
July 24, 2005	Ephesians 4:1-16	“Saints Alive!”
July 31, 2005	Ephesians 4:17-32	“A New Life to Live!”
August 7, 2005	Ephesians 5:1-14	“Waking the Dead!”
August 14, 2005	Ephesians 5:15-21	“God’s Power Source!”
August 21, 2005	Ephesians 5:21-33	“Re … Wives and Husbands …”
August 28, 2005	Ephesians 6:1-9	“God’s Authority and Ours …”
September 4, 2005	Ephesians 6:10-20	“Spiritual Warfare!”