Glory to God

Frank Thielman defines a doxologies as “expressions of praise to

God that speak of his glory, honor, or might.” Take time right now to

pray your own doxology, in your own words.

Paul often finishes his letters with doxologies. Read Rom.

16:25–27 ; Phil. 4:20; 1 Tim. 1:17; Jude 24–25. What similarities do

you see to Ephesians 3:20-21? What differences?

In what ways do we see our lives as all about us? Read Eph. 3:20.

What is life all about?

Do you ever question God’s ability? R. Kent Hughes says: “The God

to whom Paul makes these requests has a capacity that exceeds the

people’s capacity of asking—or even imagining!” How can you grow

in your ability to trust God’s ability?

Do you struggle trusting God because of the evil you see in the

world today? Or the suffering you have experienced? Read Isaiah

55:8-11. How does this passage give us a different perspective on

our situation?

God’s power is at work within us. Power to:

1. Witness

   
   

   Read Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:4-5; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 1:7

   
   

   How do these passages show us God’s power is at work in us to

   
   

   witness?

2. Hope

   
   

   Read Eph. 3:16, 18-19; Romans 15:13; 1 Cor. 6:14

   
   

   How do these passages show us God’s power is at work in us to hope?

3. Persevere

   
   

   Read 2 Cor. 12:9; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Thess. 1:11

   
   

   How do these passages show us God’s power is at work in us to

   
   

   persevere?

   
   

   Frank Thielman says: “The availability of God’s power to believers has

   
   

   been a prominent theme in the letter so far (1:19-2:10).”

Read Eph. 3:21. Doxa = glory (Ps. 29:2; 96:8). How is God’s glory seen in your life?

Benjamin Merkle says: “To give glory to God is not to give him something he does not already possess, but to praise him for who he is and what he has done.”

To God be glory in the Church. P. T. O’Brien says, “As the community of the redeemed, both Jews and Gentiles, the church is the masterpiece of God’s grace (2:7). It is the realm of his presence and authority (1:22, 23; 2:22), the instrument through which his wisdom is made known to the spiritual powers in the heavenly realm (3:10).”

How can you give glory to God in all generations?

Read 1 Cor. 6:18-20. How will you glorify God with your body this week?

What have you learned from the first half of the book of Ephesians? Chapters 1-3 summary. God has:

1. Blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3-14)

2. Displayed his power and given us spiritual insight (1:15-19)

3. Raised Jesus from the dead, subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church (1:20-23)

4. Brought us from death to life by His grace (2:1-10)

5. Brought Jews and Gentiles together to form a new people, the Church, tearing down walls of hostility (2:11-22)

6. Revealed the mystery of this oneness in Christ (3:1-13)

7. Loved us with a love that surpasses knowledge, filling us with all the fullness of God (3:14-20) Take time to pray and thank God for all his blessings in Christ.