EPHESIANS – WEEK 2
Good News & Bad News in Ephesus
APRIL 19, 2026
EPHESIANS 1:1-2 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus answers the question:
How does God save His people?
Ephesians answers the question:
Who are we and how do we live?
Ephesians Structure:
Chapters 1-3
Position (identity)
Chapters 4-6
Practice (how we live)
Timeline:
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- 52 AD – Paul arrives in Ephesus
- 54 AD – Paul returns
- 57 AD – Paul leaves
- 62 AD – Paul writes epistle
ACTS 19:18-20 – Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
ACTS 19:23 – About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.
ACTS 19:24-27 – For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
ACTS 19:28 – When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
ACTS 19:34 – …for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Ethos of Cities:
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- Hong Kong – Money and materialism
- New York – Ambition
- Oxford – Learning
- Paris – Romance
- Jerusalem – Faith
“Just like pastors in the Roman world needed to understand paganism, pastors in the early 20th century needed to understand scientific materialism and rationalism. Pastors in a Muslim world need to understand Islam or pastors in East Asia need to understand Confucianism. The predominant religion in the West and many parts of the world today is expressive individualism. It’s where man is at the center. It’s where we are at the center. It’s the belief that a person’s deepest identity is found in expressing their inner feelings, desires, and authenticity rather than conforming to external roles, traditions, or communities. It emphasizes self-expression, personal freedom, and the pursuit of living true to oneself is the highest good. It’s the self at the center.”
Jonathan Lehman
EPHESIANS 1:2 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
EPHESIANS 6:24 – Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.