Ephesians 1:1-2
Saints in Christ: Apostolic Authority and Gospel Blessing
God's people are saints in Christ who live under grace and peace from the Father and the Son.
Scripture Teaching
Ephesians Teaching
A teaching guide through Ephesians, shaped by biblical, Christ-centered, and cross-centered reading.
Overview
A teaching guide through Ephesians, shaped by biblical, Christ-centered, and cross-centered reading.
Teaching Guide
Teaching paths help you move through the book with a clear purpose. Use the right rail to focus the chapter plan, or stay in the full book view to read every passage in canonical order.
Best for: church-wide formation, annual series, big-picture discipleship.
Each week can point to Study, and some weeks also link to an outline when one is available.
Chapter Plan
Blessed in Christ and Enlightened to Know His Power
Paul argues that believers must understand their identity and calling from God's eternal purpose in Christ before they can live faithfully as the church. The Christian life begins with doxology because salvation is God's work from beginning to end.
Ephesians 1:3-6
Chosen Before Creation: Holy, Adopted, and Praising His Grace
Before the foundation of the world, God chose His people in Christ to be holy, adopted, and filled with praise for His grace.
Ephesians 1:7-10
Redemption and Forgiveness: God's Purpose to Unite All Things in Christ
In Christ, God lavishes grace through redemption, forgiveness, revelation, and His cosmic purpose to sum up all things in Christ.
Ephesians 1:11-14
Sealed for the Inheritance: The Spirit's Guarantee of Our Redemption
In Christ, God gives His people an inheritance, seals them with the Spirit, and keeps them for the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:15-19
The Eyes of Your Heart Enlightened: Knowing God's Power and Promise
The church must not merely possess gospel blessings in Christ but grow in Spirit-given knowledge of the God who called, enriched, and empowers His people.
Ephesians 1:20-23
The Resurrection Power: Christ Exalted as Head Over All Things
The risen and exalted Christ reigns above all things for the good of His church, which is His body and fullness.
Made Alive by Grace and Made One in Christ
Paul argues that the gospel does two inseparable things: it raises dead sinners by grace and reconciles divided peoples through the cross into one new covenant dwelling place for God.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Dead in Sin: The Condition Before Grace
Before grace made us alive with Christ, we were dead in sin and deserving wrath.
Ephesians 2:4-7
God's Mercy and Love: From Spiritual Death to Resurrection Life
Because of His great love, God made the spiritually dead alive with Christ and seated them with Him to display His grace forever.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Saved by Grace for Good Works: The Exclusion of Human Boasting
We are not saved by good works, but we are saved by grace in Christ for good works.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Brought Near by His Blood: From Alienation to Covenant Access
Those once far from God and His covenant promises are brought near in Christ by His blood.
Ephesians 2:14-18
Christ Our Peace: Reconciliation Across the Dividing Wall
Christ our peace reconciles divided sinners to God and to one another through the cross, giving both access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
From Alienation to Belonging: The Spirit-Built Temple of God's Household
In Christ, the far-off become fellow citizens, family members, and part of God's Spirit-filled temple.
The Mystery Revealed and the Church Strengthened in Christ’s Love
Paul argues that Gentile inclusion in Christ is part of God's revealed eternal purpose, that the church displays God's manifold wisdom before cosmic powers, and that believers need Spirit-given strength to comprehend and embody the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-6
The Revealed Mystery: Gentiles as Full Heirs in Christ
The gospel reveals God's once-hidden mystery: Gentiles are full fellow heirs, members, and sharers in Christ.
Ephesians 3:7-13
God's Manifold Wisdom Revealed Through the Church
God's grace makes known Christ's boundless riches and displays His manifold wisdom through the church.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Spirit-Strengthened Hearts: Christ Dwelling Through Faith and Love
The church needs Spirit-given strength to know Christ's love and become a God-filled people for His glory.
Walking Worthy: Unity, Maturity, and the New Life in Christ
Paul argues that the grace and unity established in Christ must now become a worthy walk in the church. The ascended Christ gives gifts to mature the body, and the new humanity must reject the old life and embody truth, holiness, and forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:1-6
Walk Worthy: Guarding the Spirit's Unity in Humility and Love
The church must walk worthy of God’s calling by guarding Spirit-given unity through humble, patient, loving life together.
Ephesians 4:7-16
Christ's Gifts Equip the Body for Maturity in Love
The risen Christ gives gifts to equip His people so the whole body grows into maturity and builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:17-24
Put Off the Old Self, Put On the New: Living as God's Renewed People
Those who have learned Christ must put off the old self, be renewed in mind, and put on the new self created for righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:25-32
Put Off the Old Self, Put On the New: Living as God's Forgiven People
The new life in Christ puts away destructive sins and puts on truth, edifying speech, honest work, and forgiving grace.
Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order
Paul argues that the church's new identity in Christ must be embodied through imitating God, rejecting darkness, walking in wisdom, being filled with the Spirit, and ordering marriage according to Christ's self-giving love for the church.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Beloved Children: Imitating God's Self-Giving Love
God's beloved children imitate their Father by walking in the self-giving love of Christ.
Ephesians 5:3-7
Holiness Defined: What Christ's Love Refuses
God's holy people must not partner with the impurity, greed, speech, and deception that belong outside Christ's kingdom.
Ephesians 5:8-14
Children of Light: Living Out Your New Identity in Christ
Those who are light in the Lord must walk in what is good, right, and true, exposing darkness by the light of Christ.
Ephesians 5:15-21
Walking Wisely in Evil Days: Spirit-Filled Worship and Mutual Submission
The wise walk is Spirit-filled, worshiping, thankful, discerning, and humbly submitted under Christ.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Marriage as Christ's Mystery: Headship and Submission Reflecting the Gospel
Marriage is designed to display Christ's loving headship and the church's devoted response.
Household Faithfulness and Standing Firm in the Armor of God
Paul argues that Christ's lordship governs household relationships, daily labor, parental authority, spiritual conflict, prayer, and gospel mission. The church must live faithfully in ordinary responsibilities while standing firm against extraordinary spiritual opposition through God's strength and armor.
Ephesians 6:1-4
Household Order in Christ: Children's Honor and Fathers' Formation
Children honor the Lord through obedient honor, and fathers serve the Lord by raising children without provocation in His training and instruction.
Ephesians 6:5-9
Serving Christ: Masters and Servants Under One Lord
All service and authority stand under Christ, the impartial Master in heaven.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Standing Firm: Spiritual Armor Against Cosmic Darkness
The church stands firm against spiritual darkness only in the Lord's strength, God's armor, persevering prayer, and bold gospel witness.
Ephesians 6:21-24
Faithful Ministry and Grace: The Church Sustained and Blessed
Faithful gospel ministry strengthens the church, and grace rests on all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.