Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr John McVay, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasC6PLFUCU?si=yKeRi6Ir7TazHJd4&w=560&h=315]

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You can view an in-depth discussion of Ephesians in the Heart in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgykxV2sjjI?si=tfiwXy3RVL_RluZh&w=560&h=315]

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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I actually thought I was the only one concerned about how little Bible study is actually done in Sabbath School. It seems we study the quarterly more than the Bible. Then I found this quote from 1991, and found out I am not alone, and have not been for years.

“Too often I find that what passes for Bible study in many Sabbath School classes is little more than a rehash of familiar sayings, personal opinion, and Ellen White quotations. It isn’t Bible study, but simply comments about the Bible…..Our “lesson study” has the guise of Bible study but isn’t. It is more a study of the Sabbath School lesson quarterly than the Bible.” –Myron Widmer, Adventist Review, September 12, 1991.

During the quarantine I would ask people what they have been finding in their personal Bible study time, only to get answers about what they heard a television preacher say. I never got any direct answers to my question about personal Bible study time. This greatly concerned me. In Acts 17:11 they were not only listening to Paul preach, but they were searching (not just casually reading) the Scriptures (Not a quarterly or periodical) daily, not just every now and then.

Group Bible Study

This is why I enjoy Michael Fracker’s teaching plans. These plans make Sabbath school a Bible study that may casually reference the quarterly, instead of a study of the quarterly that may casually reference the Bible. Quarterlies are great as they direct us to the Bible, but we need to follow those directions and go to the Bible. By the way, after using Michael Fracker’s lesson plans for twenty years, I have also helped write his lesson plans on occasion and even edit them. In the process I have also developed a somewhat similar set of lesson plans  following Michael Fracker’s vision of making Sabbath school time Bible study time. While some use my plans and many more use Michael Fracker’s teaching plans, I talk to several Sabbath School teachers who feel more comfortable making their own teaching plans. That is really best. The suggested plans are just to get you started. What is most important is making sure Sabbath School time is Bible study time.

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Why is it both important and exciting to be part of God’s church? Ephesians 3:1-21.

We are encouraged when we hear church members say positive things about the church. However, the most enthusiastic among us falls short of Paul’s exuberant testimony in Ephesians 3:1-21 about the church.

Image © Jim Gerlitz at Goodsalt.com

Paul starts a report of his prayers for believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:1; compare Ephesians 1:15-23, NKJV) but breaks off to discuss God’s creation of the church (Ephesians 3:2-13), and then completes his prayer report (Ephesians 3:14-21). Along the way we come to understand important things about God’s “plan” or “mystery”:

• In eternity, God conceives of “the mystery” or “the plan” about the church (Ephesians 3:3-5, Ephesians 3:9, Ephesians 3:11).
• Through the life and death of Jesus, that long-hidden plan is “accomplished” (Ephesians 3:11, NKJV; compare Ephesians 2:11-22).
• By revelation, Paul learns “the mystery” of the church and the astonishing fact that Gentiles are to be full partners in it (Ephesians 3:3-6).
• Paul participates in spreading this good news as preacher to the Gentiles of “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8-9).
• With many won to Christ, the church, composed as it is of both Jews and Gentiles, displays “the manifold wisdom of God” to “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10, NKJV), announcing their coming doom (compare Ephesians 6:10-20). The plan to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10) is underway, and their time is short.

This understanding of the church motivates Paul to pray for believers. Why not imagine him praying the heartfelt prayer of Ephesians 3:14-21 about you? Why not imagine him praying that you will be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) and participate fully in the amazing, unfolding mystery of a unified church?

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Key Thought : Paul’s writings to the Ephesians has a greater scope and reach. Paul was writing to believers everywhere. His messages were meant to reach our world and thought.
September 30, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. If God chose us before the foundation of the world, what does that tell you about His foreknowledge?
3. Personal Application: How do you react to the thought that God not only knew you before you were born but that He had chosen you to be saved and to live with Him throughout eternity? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Does this mean God chose some to be saved and some to be lost, or did He choose everyone to be saved? How can I take this personally when it seem either universally or personally selected?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 3.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Is it both exciting and important to be a part of God’s church? Why or why not?
3. Personal Application: What kinds of barriers between believers exist in our church that should not be there? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why don’t we see the power in our lives to go exceedingly, abundantly above what we ask or think? Is the power not there? Are we asking incorrectly? Or is it because we haven’t tapped the power? Do we lack faith? The promise is there. Why haven’t we seen it?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What things does Paul tell believers to stop doing, and what things does he tell believers to do
3. Personal Application: What are ways that we can contribute to the unity of our church, both at the local and worldwide levels? Why is it important to do what we can? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Why do many churches believe in pastors, teachers, and evangelists; but not in prophets? These are gifts to help pring unity in the faith, to perfect the saints, and to edify the body.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does Paul ask us to live out the gospel in our relationship with others?
3. Personal Application: How can we walk in love as imitators of God in our lives? What hindrances do we face in that kind of walk? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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